Don't Lose Your Mind won the Silver Ennie for Best Writing. I was the minor-key element in that -- I did the layout, sure, and came up with the high concept for the book, but it was Benjamin "Bailywolf" Baugh's killer writing and Ryan Macklin's insightful, demanding editing job that honed that crazy blade to a keen edge. I'm very proud of them for this win.

Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies won the Silver Ennie for Best Setting. Chad Underkoffler gets a mountain of credit here as well, though I am all the same still very smug and satisfied about this one, as I really pushed Chad hard to deliver the kind of setting presentation that *I* could remain interested in (I am a notoriously hard sell when it comes to setting writing). Seeing it win was a real validation of the hard work Chad put in to make that goal a reality.

Great job, guys! And thank you so much for being a part of the Hat.

That makes three silvers in three years for us, I think (the first went to Spirit of the Century a couple back). Crazy-pleased, that's me. :)

You can pick up both products at the Evil Hat webstore: http://www.evilhat.com/store/

As well as IPR and DriveThruRPG!

(Ennie-Nominated) Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies, seen at the IPR booth at GenCon:



You can pick up all of Evil Hat's games there, including A Penny For My Thoughts (look around and see if Paul's there, so he can demo it for you), Don't Rest Your Head, (Ennie-Nominated) Don't Lose Your Mind, and (Ennie-Silver-Winner) Spirit of the Century.

And as mentioned on @IPRTweets, IPR's booth number at GenCon is 2139. Drop on by (wish I could)!

So, the 2009 Ennie Award Nominations are out this morning:

http://www.ennie-awards.com/nominations/nominees.asp

As someone on Twitter said, my fingerprints are all over 'em. This is good, because I like the Ennies, and it's really great when the Ennies like me back. I'm already a proud papa lately, but this magnifies the feeling, and for my other 'babies' to boot. :)

Evil Hat's Nominations

• Best Writing - Don't Lose Your Mind
  
• Best Setting - Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies
  
• Product of the Year - Don't Lose Your Mind
  
• Product of the Year - Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies

One Bad Egg's Nominations

• Best Electronic Book - The Death Mother
  
• Best Electronic Book - Hard Boiled Armies

I declare TRIUMPH with chadu at this point, since we went back and forth on the presentation of the Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies' setting so much, and lo and behold a BEST SETTING nomination. Yes, I'm jazzed as all hell for having two entries on Product of the Year (out of 10), but the setting nod is the real marker there as ultimate validation of the goal we had in producing S7S.

And Ben Baugh getting BEST WRITING for his work on Don't Lose Your Mind? Well, yeah. He did such wonderful things with language and vignettes and all that in DLYM, I would have been sorely disappointed if that hadn't gotten a specific nod, too.

The One Bad Egg stuff is a happy thing, finally, as that's the place where I actually wrote some stuff this year instead of doing higher-level production and layout stuff. I'm a little startled that Armies and Mother beat out Cultures (Cultures has been a consistent strong seller) for nomination, but they're both results from me working at the top of my game at OBE, so I'm pretty tickled.

It doesn't stop there, though, as I look towards the question of "What non-Fred IPR-carried products got the nod?"

IPR Nominations

• Best Cover Art - 3:16 (BoxNinja)
  
• Best Interior Art - HELLAS (Khepera)
  
• Best Interior Art - Mouse Guard (Archaia)
  
• Best Writing - Hot War (Contested Ground)
  
• Best Production Values - Mouse Guard (Archaia)
  
• Best Production Values - HELLAS (Khepera)
  
• Best Rules - Starblazer Adventures (Cubicle 7)
  
• Best Setting - Dreadful Secrets of Candlewick Manor (Arc Dream)
  
• Best Setting - Hot War (Contested Ground)
  
• Best Podcast - Voice of the Revolution (IPR!)
  
• Best Game - Starblazer Adventures (Cubicle 7)
  
• Product of the Year - Mouse Guard (Archaia)
  
• Product of the Year - Starblazer Adventures (Cubicle 7)

I'm mixed, of course, in my feelings about Mouse Guard. Mouse Guard is a fine work, worth the nods it has gotten (and more that it curiously didn't). But Luke and I are on the outs (something I don't really want to talk about, but also don't want to pretend isn't true) after he decided that it was more important to spit in my face than accept an apology for a big goof-up I made earlier this year. As such, I am doubtful that I'll be continuing The Summer Revolution past this year, and am on the fence as to whether I'll use that promotional site this year at all, since it was based on a partnership with Luke, and Luke's temper makes him a poor partner for me. I might be giving Mouse Guard some vote love, but that love's all for Archaia at this point.

Anyway, enough of that drama.

Overall, that's a pretty good spread. It's a great spread from the Evil Hat perspective, too, given that Starblazer Adventures is based on the Spirit of the Century SRD, but I'm also intrigued that IPR's catalog includes three of the five Best Setting nods, given that I think there's a sort of general perception out there that "indie means setting light". I'm sad that Master Plan isn't on the Podcast list, but Ryan's influence is still strongly felt, as he's been doing the audio production on Voice of the Revolution, which has improved the show's quality in all sorts of subtle-but-palpable ways. Don't Lose Your Mind author Ben Baugh is getting some love for Candlewick, too, which is good & just; he's probably one of my top five setting authors these days anyway, and it's *hard* to get me to love setting writing.

In the end sum, it's important to realize that in one very big way, the Ennies are already done for us (speaking in the smaller EHP/OBE sense, and in the larger IPR sense). Nominations are hard-won and carefully considered by the judges each year, but the voting is in the hands of the general public. It's particularly hard getting actual wins from that everyone-in-the-world vote; our catalogs do their best work not in quantity, but in quality, so to some extent creating the product familiarity necessary to garner a vote is the biggest obstacle of all.

So when you hear folks on the above list say things like, "It's an honor just to be nominated" -- and it is! -- listen a little closer. That nomination they're talking about is a win all by itself.

Edit: Chad's post: http://chadu.livejournal.com/743514.html

Second Edit: Somehow I failed to mention I did the layout on Starblazer Adventures, so I have an actually-palpable connection to that product beyond contributing to the SRD on which it's based.

I goofed up and didn't do an IPR summary on April 15th. I plead taxes. So this is a double-feature, hitting both the close out of last quarter, and the beginning of this.

2009Q1: January-March, IPR

What's particularly interesting about our IPR sales is the volume to retailers. Do some quick thumbnailing to figure out the approximate percentages, and you'll see what I mean.

DLYM PDF: 16
DLYM SC: 62 (41 to retailers, 3 at cons)

DRYH PDF: 29
DRYH SC: 85 (52 to retailers, 2 at cons)

SOTC PDF: 14
SOTC SC: 174 (107 to retailers, 2 at cons)

SOTS PDF: 9
SOTS SC: 8

S7S HC: 56

2009Q1:
DLYM PDF - 16 + 16 = 32
DLYM SC - 0 + 62 = 62

DRYH PDF - 39 + 29 = 68
DRYH SC - 1 + 85 = 86

SOTC PDF - 62 + 14 = 76
SOTC SC - 0 + 174 = 174
SOTC HC - 4 + 0 = 4

SOTS PDF - 18 + 9 = 27
SOTS SC - 0 + 8 = 8

S7S HC - 0 + 56 = 56

Lifetime:
DLYM: 374 + 16 + 62 = 452
DRYH: 1964 + 29 + 85 = 2078 (milestone!)
SOTC: 3354 + 14 + 174 = 3542
SOTS: 480 + 9 + 8 = 497
S7S: 56

A solid quarter in a downturned economy. I'm happy.

---

2009Q2: April - OBS, Lulu, e23, YGN

Q2 2009 starts off with S7S getting into the mix. Remember, I don't include IPR numbers until the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter, so this is strictly other sales sites.

OBS:
DLYM PDF - 10
DRYH PDF - 14
SOTC PDF - 20
SOTS PDF - 2
S7S PDF - 44

Lulu:
DRYH PDF - 3
DRYH SC - 1
SOTC PDF - 3
SOTC HC - 1

YGN:
DRYH PDF - 1

e23:
DRYH PDF - 2
SOTC PDF - 2
SOTS PDF - 1

2009Q2:
DLYM PDF - 10
DRYH PDF - 14 + 3 + 1 + 2 = 20
DRYH SC - 1
SOTC PDF - 20 + 3 + 2 = 25
SOTC HC - 1
SOTS PDF - 2 + 1 = 3
S7S PDF - 44

Lifetime:
DLYM: 452 + 10 = 462
DRYH: 2078 + 20 + 1 = 2099
SOTC: 3542 + 25 + 1 = 3563
SOTS: 497 + 3 = 500
S7S: 56 + 44 = 100

I'm liking April.

Tomorrow is Free RPG Day. Those of you in the Bay Area, might want to drop by Endgame to see what they've got -- I've given Endgame permission (and access) to print up some 5-page previews of Don't Lose Your Mind. Since they're printing this on their dime, supplies may be limited, so don't dawdle if you want a peek. :)

Other retailers reading this blog who are interested in doing something similar, drop me a line and let me know. Endgame's been very good about "pilot programming" some ideas like this for us, and we've been pretty happy with the results so far -- on both ends of the relationship.

X is for Xenophile; what could that mean?
Ask the little men whose skins are of green.

“If you want, I can show you the implant scars.”

“What?!?”

“I said I CAN SHOW YOU THE IMPLANT SCARS!”

“It’s too bright in the city to see the stars!”

“No… forget it.”

It’s really hard to talk to people in most clubs because the music is so loud. But I come to these places because they are noisy and there are lots of people. Crowds of people are usually safe, and so I stay with them. It has gotten harder, though, because sometimes even when there are lots of people around, I receive a Visitation.

When I turned around to the bar, I realized that this was one of those times when being around lots of people wasn’t safe. On the next stool, one of the Reticulans was sipping a beer. They’re the tall ones that almost look human, except for the six-fingered hands and being hermaphrodites, even the really sexy ones with the big tits who say “I wish to learn the ways of Earth-kissing.” Boy, was I surprised about that. But all in all, I was glad it was a Reticulan. Once a Reptoid dropped in next to me while I was on the bus, and I had to tell an old lady that she was going to a Halloween party. I didn’t realize until later that it was November. I lose so much time, I have trouble keeping track of things like holidays.

“Oh no, what’s happening now? I can’t have another anal probe because my diverticulitis is acting up.”

“You don’t have diverticulitis. You’re a hypochondriac. The implants should keep you in perfect health. Do you think I can get a refill of these Earth-peanuts?”

“The implants have made me impotent, and I can’t taste sour anymore!”

“That’s all in your head. Our implants don’t do that. The Rigelians use something different that might interfere with the taste centers of your primitive Earth-brain.”

“What about the impotence?”

“Buy some Viagra. According to the coded packet-switching transmissions we’ve intercepted, there are many suppliers of this Earth-drug available through your primitive Earth-internet.”

“Stop saying everything is a primitive Earth-thing, and tell me what you want!”

“According to our instruments, you are about to experience a Grade-3 Reality Incursion Event, and we wanted to warn you.”

“What the hell is a…”

“Grade-3 Reality Incursion Event.”

“Yeah.”

“This one looks like what you Earthlings call a ‘hum-dinger.’ The walls will start to melt, and creatures from the Id will storm in and try and steal your guts, but this is psycho-surreal symbolism for them stealing your courage. According to our stochastic models, you’ll need all your courage for the ordeals to come.”

“Oh God, more monsters?”

“Yes. That’s why I brought you this molecular deconjunctifier.”

“... That’s a ray gun?”

“Yes, a ray gun. Point this bit, pull this bit, and it makes other people’s bits go explodey.”

“I like the design anyhow. Really retro. Way better than that Reptoid thing that was all pulsing tubes and bone.”

“Indeed. The Reptoids totally suxxor. Ah! Here’s more delicious primitive Earth-peanuts!”

(Written, again, by Benjamin Baugh.)

I'm noodling over how to pitch Don't Lose Your Mind. I think the description of what's inside, that I can handle fine, but I want the opener to be strong and evocative more than I want it to be ... well, accurate. Or more to the point, I want it to be accurate to the spirit; later paragraphs can take care of pesky facts.

Here's what I riffed to Ryan in chat just now, with some additions:

Don't Lose Your Mind is like Naked Lunch as told by Edward Gorey on a meth bender. It will rear up on its 26 alphabetic legs and kick you in the mental junk.

Today, Gorey's going by the name Benjamin Baugh (Monsters & Other Childish Things), but don't let that worry you none. He's here to smoke the good shit with you, and believe you me, this stuff is pure, the real deal. You got Dinosaurs on the brain—literally? Been there, done that, hombre. We passed by mister Rex on the way down to the Underground, where a little runaway girl's Teddy Bear might just be the universe itself held hostage in effigy. If that's all too much for you, maybe Orpheus can help you get away-- though you won't like where he's taking you.

Don't Lose Your Mind is a supplement for Don't Rest Your Head, plumbing the darkest depths of Madness for your game. It takes no prisoners—unless you count those locked up in a madwoman's Ribcage. Inside you'll find twenty-six unique Madness Talents that push the boundaries of imagination. Each gives way to its own unique Nightmare, ready to darken every player's door. And at the rich, nougaty center of this buttery tome you'll find a toolbox of new techniques and perspectives for supercharging insanity at your table.

It's an ass-kicking psychic centipede and it's got your name all over it! Plus, Ninjas. What's not to love?

Let the mastication commence!

C is for CABBIE whose car helps you flee.
Pay for the ride, but the chat is for free.

“So where ya headed?”

“I don’t know! Just drive, alright?”

“Fine buddy, I’m driving. But I got to know where you’re heading, so I can name the fare. Got to know what the fare is, don’t you?”

“Whatever, I don’t care! I just have to be away from her. Oh Jesus, drive faster!”

“Got to be careful driving faster around here, eh? The law takes a dim view of speeding in these parts.”

“Oh fuck oh fuck, it’s coming! Look, can’t you see it? It’s going to… oh fuck, come on drive faster!”

“Alright pal, fine look, I’m going faster. You’re acting like you never saw nothing like that before.”

“And you have?”

“You see all kinds of things. A dinosaur is about the tamest thing I seen this week. Now, that we’re moving to your satisfaction, how about you tell me where we’re going.”

“Take me home. No, wait! Take me to my Mom’s house.”

“That’s a bit of a drive…”

“Whatever. I’ll pay.”

“Fare’ll be that photo you have of your daughter. The one down in the credit card pocket in your wallet.”

“I don’t… hey, I do have… how did you…?”

“That’s the fare—either pay up, or get out.”

“Alright. Here.”

“Give it a kiss before passing it up, would you? Yes, just a little peck like that. That’ll more than cover it, and thank you sir.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“So, you see the Cubs game the other day? Bunch of bums!”

Counter to my usual policy until things are verifiably in motion, I offer up some timeline intentions:

AFTER ORIGINS:

- We'll put Don't Lose Your Mind up for preorder on IPR.

- We'll try kicking off the second Alpha round of Dresden Files RPG playtests (early to mid July as the start-point).

AT GEN CON:

- We'll have Don't Lose Your Mind up for sale.

AFTER GEN CON:

- We'll ship out preordered copies of Don't Lose Your Mind and put it up for "standard" sale & shipment.

- We'll try wrapping up the second Alpha round of the DFRPG playtest (mid to late August as the stopping point).

George Cotronis. Man, I do not know where Don't Lose Your Mind would be without him. It'd probably have a more "bargain basement grunge" look like I did with Don't Rest Your Head -- still good, but not great. But since we have George, we have

I still did some photomanipulation work for Don't Lose Your Mind too -- but working alongside George inspired me and pushed me to do better. Some of the work I did ended up in the art-set that I floated under a pseudonym for Game Chef this year, and it was pretty exciting to me that Rob Bohl ended up fitting my work AND George's together in his game (which, sadly, I still haven't gotten around to giving a proper read).

Anyway. Yeah. George Cotronis. You want him doing your next horror-art project. Because, damn.