Malcolm Barter now attending Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014

I am pleased to be able to announce that The Forest of Doom artist Malcolm Barter is also going to be attending FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014 on Sunday 7 September.

Malcolm's illustrations of the Fire Demon, Yaztromo's Tower, the Werewolf, and the like, are well known to Fighting Fantasy fans, and have recently had colour added for the Tin Man Games' app version of the gamebook.

If you first experienced Malcolm's work when you were a child, you could introduce your own child to the man himself, by purchasing one of the Adult and Child tickets that are now available (in strictly limited numbers).

To find out more, click this link.

YOU ARE THE HERO and the problem with Kickstarter projects

I often find myself feeling guilty that YOU ARE THE HERO is six months overdue and still not out yet, although I feel less guilty than I used to, especially when I've been doing this all evening...

And when we have something akin to a publication date in place...

I think many people underestimate how long it will take them to (a) run their Kickstarter campaign, (b) finish their project, and (c) get the thing made/published/downloaded so that everyone who pledged to the project can enjoy the finished product. I know I certainly did. Which got me thinking about all the various Kickstarters I backed in the run-up to launching the YOU ARE THE HERO campaign, during it and since it successfully funded.

So here are some fun, throwaway stats for you:

• To date, via Kickstarter, I have run 2 projects. One funded, raising 142% of its target funding goal. One failed to fund, only achieving 40% of its target before it ran out of both time and steam.
• However, I have backed 31 projects. Of these, one was cancelled and one failed to fund. 
• Of the remaining 26, 9 I supported without asking for any reward. That leaves 17.
• Of those 17, I have received the finished product from 10. 
• That still leaves another 7 unaccounted for. Of those 7, all but one are overdue, the worst by over a year.

YOU ARE THE HERO is going to be about 8-9 months late by the time it comes out, but at least it is coming out, and it's ended up being three times the length originally anticipated. And you could join myself, Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone, Russ Nicholson, Chris Achilleos, Tony Hough and Philippa Dickinson at the official launch of the on Sunday 7 September.

May I'll see you there...

Fighting Fantasy 2014 - Official Press Release

For immediate release!

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014

The first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention, with Special Guests of Honour Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, featuring the official launch of YOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks by Jonathan Green.

Sunday 7 September 2014 will see the first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention take place at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Ealing, West London. Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, co-creators of the publishing and gaming phenomenon that is Fighting Fantasy, will be Special Guests of Honour at the event, where they will be joined by legendary fantasy artists Russ Nicholson, Chris Achilleos and Tony Hough. A highlight of the day will be Steve and Ian’s own talk on the History of Fighting Fantasy.

Fighting Fantasy Fest will see the official launch of Jonathan Green’s YOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, along with an exhibition of rare FF memorabilia – including original artwork and other more obscure artefacts connected to the series – as well as trade stands, and an auction of Fighting Fantasy treasures. Arion Games will be running Advanced Fighting Fantasy role-playing game sessions during the day, while Tin Man Games and Inkle Studios will also be in attendance, talking about their digital versions of such classic gamebooks as Ian Livingstone’s The Forest of Doom and Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! epic.

Tickets for the event cost £50 each, and every attendee will receive an event-exclusive Adventurer’s Backpack containing various Fighting Fantasy Fest and YOU ARE THE HERO goodies.

“The success of the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter project demonstrated that there is still an active community of Fighting Fantasy fans out in the world who would relish the chance to not only meet their heroes, but to get together and share their stories of battling the horrors of Deathtrap Dungeon or braving the perils of Kharé – Cityport of Traps,” says Jonathan Green, author of the History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks, “ideally whilst quaffing a flagon of ale in Port Blacksand’s infamous Black Lobster Tavern.” (The event will even feature a themed bar!)

Ian Livingstone, co-creator of Fighting Fantasy said, “It’s crazy really that it’s taken 32 years for a dedicated Fighting Fantasy event to take place!  But that’s going to make it all the more special. It will be brilliant to see old friends, artists, authors and fans again after all this time. I’m going to bring along some special Fighting Fantasy items that have never been seen in public before. It certainly will be a Return to Firetop Mountain! I can’t wait.”

Steve Jackson, who is famed for his Sorcery! series, said, “Amazing to think it’s almost 40 years since the first Games Day was held, at Seymour Hall and Baths in Central London. There was a great buzz at that event. Visitors – and organisers – felt they were attending a special occasion. I’m sure it will be the same kind of buzz at Fighting Fantasy Fest. FF celebrities will be there, dealers and memorabilia, game demos and a special auction of items from the Jackson and Livingstone personal archives. This will be an event not to be missed by FF readers. I’m really looking forward to it.”

For more information, or to arrange interviews with the organisers of Fighting Fantasy Fest, please email Jonathan Green at info@jonathangreenauthor.com.

@fightingfantasy @stevejacksonuk @ian_livingstone @jonathangreen @You_Are_TheHero #FightingFantasyFest2014

Sunday 7 September 2014 • The DoubleTree Hilton, Ealing, London, UK

Artists • Panels • Book Signings • Games • Exhibition • Special Guests • Auction

www.FightingFantasy.com

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014

FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014

The first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention, with Guests of Honour

Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone

who will be giving a talk on the History of Fighting Fantasy.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 will also feature the official launch of

YOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks

by Jonathan Green

as well as 

Fighting Fantasy Artists Russ Nicholson, Chris Achilleos and Tony Hough, Panels, Book Signings, Games, a Fighting Fantasy Exhibition, Special Guests, Trade Stands, and a Fighting Fantasy Auction.

Tickets go on sale Saturday 31 May 2014 at 8.00am (BST)!

To find out more, click this link.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 and Howl of the Spanish Werewolf

This week I had a very productive meeting with Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone at which we decided to make the following public...

Fighting Fantasy Fest is the first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention, featuring guest appearances by the co-creators of the world's premier gamebook series, artists who have contributed to the books over the years, and the official book launch of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. You can register your interest in attending the con here.

When I arrived at the pub... I mean, our meeting... Steve had a rather nice surprise waiting for me - copies of the first Spanish translation of one of my gamebooks.

German, French and Spanish editions of just three of my fifty books. 

El Aullido Del Hombre Lobo is unusual because it is the first time I have been credited as Jon Green in any published work. Although I refer to myself as Jon, I always use my full name for published projects. This was something of a surprise, but then so was the publication of Howl of the Werewolf in Spanish. ;-)

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014

I am very proud to announce that the first ever dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention will be held on Sunday 7 September 2014 in Ealing, West London. Featuring guest appearances by Mr Steve Jackson and Mr Ian Livingstone, it will also include the official book launch of YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks.

Save the date, register your interest here, and tell your friends. Tickets go on sale soon!

YOU ARE THE HERO and the Kickstarter of Doom

30 chapters, over 100,000 words, and over 400 images... YOU ARE THE HERO has been sent to the publisher for laying out. At last.