How did you originally get into authoring gamebooks?
I have to admit this right off the back id never really heard much about Gamebooks or Interacitve fiction until maybe only about 5 years ago. I originally started out writing hardboild 1940's era crime fiction, and had at the time published 4 of these novels. But they never did well, it wasn't until the last novel came out that a book reviewer said the characters and plot from that novel would make a great gamebook. So after hearing that I soaked up as much gamebook knowledge as I could which enabled me to write my first Gamebook I VIRUS using my own gaming system. Since then I've published around 6 gamebooks with a seventh on the way.
Tell us about your recent gamebook: I VIRUS
I VIRUS is a gamebook that I created years before the pandemic hit, in it you play a sentient virus (yes you the reader/player are the virus) as you travel across the UK trying to spread and infect as much as you can. This gamebook was also the first time I'd truly got involved in game design, and eventually created a gamebook system that takes elements from Solo RPG's, Wargames and Gamebooks. I created my own system for two reasons firstly to see if i could and secondly I'm major dyslexic and struggled with a lot of the plotting and organization of traditional gamebook writing. My systyem basically let me create a story in a way that worked with and not against me. Its the only gaming system I use in my books now.
There are many who would ask: How does a gamebook author plan and organize a book into a non-linear page format?
As i mentioned I struggled with the 'traditional' way of creating these books. So to answer your question I'd say chuck out the rule book, yes the die-hard lovers of these books will hate you for it. But there is no law that says these are hard and fast rules. Find or create a system or format that works for you, and go from there yes it maybe a hard slog to begin with....but by finding YOUR way it will make it a much more enjoyable process, not to mention. Positive change or a new way of doing things is a great way for a hobby like gamebooks to grow and stay fresh.....so yeah find your own way. I always say have a brief idea of the start, middle and end before you start work on them first and then fill in the gaps.
The Gamebook Authors Guild is emerging as Facebook's largest gamebook group. How did you come to start this group?
After trying in vain for a long time trying to publish I VIRUS mainly due to the costs in self publishing i slowly started putting out feelers and found there were many people in the same boat as me. I created the Gamebook Authors Guild to mainly help other start-up authors get a published book out there. The plan was it would work (and still does work) on a FREE skill bartering system. For example if someone needed a book editing, they could offer a proof read or cover design in exchange for the edit. My one golden rule for the group is and will always be not a penny, pound, cent or dime of real currency will ever change hands between members (of course buying someone's book from the guild is different) I am still blown away by the community it's created; we have a vast mix of professional (mainstream) authors and up-and-coming writers all working together. It's truly great to see.
What would you say is the biggest advantage of gamebooks over modern-day video games?
FREEDOM to be you. Modern video games these days have their own asthetic and rigid system of what they think people like and want in things like artwork, character and overall narrative. But in a Gamebook even the most basic ones offer something I think most modern video games can't and that's true freedom to do things your way. Not to mention they are a fraction of the price and you don't have to waste money on extra content every few sodding months. Nope its all there for you to unpack whenever you want and enjoy.
How do you see the future of gamebooks? Is it conceivable that gamebooks might reachieve the level of popularity they enjoyed in the 70s and 80s?
Honestly I don't think the golden age of the hobby will ever come back, but is that a bad thing? Look at comics, we had the golden, silver age of comics, and in both of them 'ages' there were some huge cultural and collective stories and creations that will continue to be in the public mind for decades to come. I think the same can be said for gamebooks, the 70's and 80's were without doubt the golden age of Gamebooks, and I honestly feel with the creation of self publishing and print on demand we truly are in our own silver age, with great new talents coming out of the woodwork every few months....its an excitiing time.
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