Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Eberron, At Last


So I’ve got an announcement to make. If you’d rather skip my self-indulgent, long-winded build-up (it's more for me than you), just scroll down the bottom of the post.

The story goes like this:

- 2002: Wizards of the Coast (WotC) held an open call to create a new campaign setting for them to develop...i.e. a new fantasy world for the D&D game that would lead to new sourcebooks, novels, comics, and even computer games. My brother and I pitched an idea—one of the 11,000, apparently—but nothing came of that. The winner for that contest was Keith Baker, who introduced to the fantasy genre the new setting of Eberron. I was skeptical at first, but I've since joined the fold. It's an excellent world.

- 2003: Wizards of the Coast held an open call to write a Forgotten Realms novel that would be called Maiden of Pain. Even though hundreds were denied, many were kindled to write again, and I was among them. I'd known since I was a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up —even if I couldn’t make a career of it, which very few can—but I only dabbled and procrastinated for so many years. This contest kicked me into motion. Thanks, Wizards!
The message board discussions that resulted from this contest introduced me to some good friends. Ed Gentry I met on the WotC boards due to a Rush lyric in his signature. (How appropriate.) Soon enough—although I probably exchanged posts with him prior to this—Ed introduced me to Harley Stroh. In the wake of the Maiden contest, both Ed and Harley landed short stories in the book Realms of the Dragons II. I didn’t make even the “short list” on that one. Kameron Franklin was the winner of the Maiden of Pain contest. That book has now been out for a while. Through Ed and Harley and their many online acquaintances I have since come to a few other wordwrights, such as Marcy Rockwell. And through these acquaintances a fair amount more.

- 2004: Wizards of the Coast hosted another open call, this time for a novel set within the world of Eberron. I joined in along with approximately 500 others, but this time I did make the “short list.” I pursued that course for more than a year when, and, well, it took me long enough, but I finally succeeded.

The announcement, then:

I have signed a contract for an Eberron novel, what will be book #4 in the upcoming stand-alone series The Inquisitives. The first three will be authored by Ed Bolme, Paul Crilley, and the aforementioned Marcy Rockwell, respectively. I'm truly happy to be given this opportunity—owing many thanks to many people—and honored to be among such company.

Details about the book may trickle down in time, but this is all I can say about it for now.

17 Comments:

Blogger Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

7:18 PM  
Blogger Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell said...

Take 2:

Congrats, Jeff! I'm glad I can finally say that out loud! ;)

7:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You rock, you rock, you rock rock rock rock rock rock ROCK! You're my hero. :)

7:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WOOT!

//H

8:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

THAT'S GREAT NEWS!!!!!!! Jeff is the man!!! Autograph my copy first! :D

2:08 AM  
Blogger Jw said...

Tremendous. I'm very happy this is happening.

10:59 AM  
Blogger Mike said...

FANTASTIC!

Congratulations, man. Hard work, persistence, and talent does pay off eventually ... :)

Can't wait to read it!

11:20 AM  
Blogger Stuart said...

That's fantastic!!! Congratulations Jeff!!

I'm looking forward to reading it.

Stu

12:58 PM  
Blogger Harley said...

For the record, you and I had a fight on the forums long before you and Ed had that little Rush love fest. >:)

//H

1:25 PM  
Blogger Jw said...

Fight! Fight! Fight!

2:16 PM  
Blogger Harley said...

You had asked what music everyone was listening too while writing their proposals.

I listed mine and tagged on line dismissing my music choice as boring and typical. You took my post to mean that your THREAD was boring and typical.

Shortly thereafter, you caught Ed's quote and mutual adoration ensued. :)

//H

4:27 PM  
Blogger Jeff LaSala said...

Thanks for the kind words, everyone.

And Harley? We'll settle this in a proper arena another day! ;)

4:36 PM  
Blogger Kameron said...

You will officially be my second Eberron book. Congrats, again.

5:17 PM  
Blogger Kameron said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

5:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats man. It's your reward for keeping at it.

J

5:12 AM  
Blogger laurenhat said...

Hey, Jeff -- I just heard about this and am reappearing after long silence to say congratulations! This is fabulous news. :)

-- neural

7:18 PM  
Blogger Jeff LaSala said...

Wow! Lauren! Welcome back from...er...your silence. It's been a long, long time...hasn't it? :) And thanks!

7:51 PM  

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