Today is the fortieth anniversary of my birth. For two score
revolutions around that big ball of fire in the sky, I’ve made my home on this
third stone from the Sun. They’ve been a mixed forty years, filled with many
pleasures and many sorrows, much like everyone’s life, but the hills usually outnumber
the valleys, and it sure beats the alternative.
I have big schemes in mind for the coming year, and if the
universe is kind, I’ll see them to fruition and be able to share them with you,
the loyal and long-suffering reader who has shared the past five years of my
journey here on the Society of Torch, Pole and Rope.
Looking back on the trip, I remain in awe of how different
my life is now than it was when I first posted “Saha” back on
August 21st, 2008. I’ve gone from a lapsed gamer to an industry
professional. The men and women who I idolized in my youth are now my
colleagues, and in some cases, my friends. I get to share my words and my
creations not with a handful of friends around the gaming table, but with
thousands of people around the world. The bizarre ideas that percolate in my
head are no longer granted the breath of life by my ill-trained hands, but by
an incredible array of talented artists and cartographers. I get to take this
little dog-and-pony show of mine on the road, where I meet fellow gamers, sign autographs
for fans who seem genuinely pleased to meet me, and greet people who I hitherto
only knew from online correspondence, putting names to faces and sharing some
laughs around the dealers’ tables. It’s a strange celebrity, a type that my
non-gaming friends and family don’t quite understand, but one I cherish
immensely. And none of this would have happened if I hadn’t had the support of
you, dear reader. To every one of you who ever bought something with my name
slapped on the credits page, who took the time to read my words here, who
signed up to play in one of my games, or simply offered a hand in friendship,
you have my sincere and utter thanks.
I wish I could celebrate my birthday in true hobbit-fashion,
giving you all gifts for coming along on the journey so far with me, but alas,
there are too many of you now and doing so would strip my smial bare (worse than even the Sackville-Baggins did poor Bilbo’s).
Please accept my thanks and the knowledge that I’m very grateful of your
ongoing support, instead.
For those who practice non-hobbit birthday traditions and
would like to do something nice to celebrate my slow journey away from the
hunter’s fire to that of the clan elders, I’d ask this: Help spread the word
and keep me employed! Purchase a copy of my work and give it to a friend. Write
a review of Emirikol Was Framed! or
the new Dungeon Alphabet. Add the new
Stonehell Dungeon Google+ page to your circles. Pre-order one of my upcoming
adventures from Goodman Games. Even a kind word to a friend about something I’ve
penned would mean a lot to me. I’ve gone far in these past forty years, but if
I’m blessed, my journey’s far from over and I hope there’s still some life in
these seven-league boots of mine. With your on-going support, I intend to keep
walking this professional path and sharing my dreams (and nightmares) with
others.
-Mike