First things first: thank you, sweet backers, for pledging over ten thousand dollars(!) to our humble project. Thank you!! We’re not even a week in and I’m already running out of ways to say thanks. Gratitude overload. It feels kinda nice. 

Anyway, on to the main focus of today’s update. I get to introduce you to Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, co-authors of the contemporary Star Crossed story par excellence - This is How You Lose the Time War. It’s a story told in correspondence across pasts and futures, two people intertwined by a conflict that seems not just endless but beginning-less(?), falling for each other. You probably already know this because it is a famous and beloved book that won Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Aurora and British Science Fiction and Fantasy awards. (And then earned the love of perhaps the last great Twitter Main Character, bigolas dickolas, but that’s a story for another time.)

What you really need to know is that I read it because my friend Jenn read it, and loved it so much she immediately sent a copy to me. Not her copy - my own. Overnight delivery. A pretty strong recommendation. 

Amal doesn’t just write time-twisting enemies-to-lovers award winners, though. She writes beautiful poetry, and thoughtful critique, and more. We somehow missed each other when we both lived in the same city (for years!) but had a lovely correspondence when she was using one of my games as a teaching tool in her creative writing class. I’ve been hoping for a chance for us to work together again, and I think we can all agree that Love Letters is the perfect fit. 

I met Max at a house con many years ago, and I can say that besides being an acclaimed writer he is a delightful player to have at the table. You’ve probably heard of his many beloved fantasy novels, so please do me a favour and check out his games: Choice of the Deathless and Deathless: The City’s Thirst, because I know you want to play text-based necromantic legal thrillers. 

I have a hunch one or both of these two will be making TTRPGs next. Just calling it now. Because wow they know how to make a compelling Pairing. In Tender is the Knight, a solitary dragon and the knight sent to confront them find a surprising connection. From the introduction:

^This is how you capture the player’s imagination in a way that catapults them into their own dreams. 

Sovanny Vorn

Sovanny is also someone I’ve been itching to work with for a while. Her work glows with texture and feeling, and always gives me the sense there's more happening (physically and emotionally) than the viewer can immediately see.

She is also really good at drawing cool birds and handsome gentlemen of a certain age. So when I said, “bird dragon and silver fox knight, please!” she needed no further instruction. 

“Dragon and Knight” might sound like an action-focused pairing for some, but Sovanny went with a much more intimate and, well, tender image. I love it. It’s so quiet and subdued. Somehow, the word that comes to mind when I look at this is: cuddly. I just want them to have a nice little nap together! 

Okay, that’s enough fangirling for one update. If you want to keep up with these talented folks, check out Max’s work here, Amal’s here, and Sovanny’s here. 

And stay tuned for tomorrow’s update: we’re getting some bonus content from Jason Morningstar!

<3
Alex