My Book List

As part of getting ready to serve as as Guest of Honor for the ConClave science fiction convention, I was asked by the organizers to provide a list of the various books I had authored! When I started going through the most recent list I had I realized it needed quite a bit of updating and, once I had done that, figured I should post it here. In any event, since 1998 I have authored or co-authored 46 titles covering many subjects and in multiple genres, including five novels or book-length works of fiction; 13 non-fiction books that include writers guides, history, and travel guides; and 28 games or game-related titles. Beyond that, I have also written hundreds of articles for dozens of newspapers, magazines, newsletters, blogs, websites, and other venues. 

NON-FICTION

Ghosthunting San Antonio, Austin, & Texas Hill Country (Clerisy Press, 2015)

Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction (Writer's Digest, 2013; w. Orson Scott Card)

Disunion (New York Times, 2013; w. multiple other authors)

Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, & Mayhem in the Lone Star State (Clerisy Press, 2011)

Life in Civil War America (Family Tree Books, 2011)

Ghosthunting Maryland (Clerisy Press, 2009)

Ghosthunting Virginia (Clerisy Press, 2008)

Shipwrecks & Lost Treasures: Great Lakes (Globe Pequot Press, 2007)

Civil War Armchair Reader (co-author, Publications International, 2007; w. multiple other authors)

Fire & Ice: The Korean War, 1950-1953 (Savas, 2000)

D-Day: June 6, 1944 (co-author, Savas, 2001; w. Randy Holderfield)

Everyday Life During the Civil War (Writer’s Digest, 1999)

The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference (co-author, Writer’s Digest, 1998; w. Terry Brooks)

FICTION/NOVELS

Swords of Kos Fantasy Campaign Setting (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2016; w. Jim Clunie, Brendan Cass, et al)

Opal of Light & Shadow (GP Adventures, 2016) Illustration for the cover by fantasy artist Lloyd Metcalf appears here! 

Returnto the Necropolis (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2014)

Swords of Kos: Hekaton (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2013; w. multiple other authors)

Swords of Kos: Necropolis (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2012)

GAMES/GAMING BOOKS

Men & Monsters of the Aegean (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2016; w. Clint Staples)

Jester Dragon's Guide to Defects (Pathfinder Role-Playing Game) (SkirmisherPublishing LLC, 2016; w. William T. Thrasher)

Men & Monsters of Ethiopia (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2016)

Cards & Quests Bestiary 1: Monsters of Kos (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2016; w. Todd and Allison Markello)

100 Oddities for a Creepy Old House (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2013; w. William T. Thrasher and Clint Staples)

d-Infinity Vol. #7: Holidays & Celebrations (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2015; w. multiple other authors)

d-Infinity Vol. #6: The Mythos (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2014; w. multiple other authors)

Heroes & Monsters of the Necropolis (Cardstock Characters^TM) (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2013)

d-Infinity Vol. #5: Full Circle (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2013; w. multiple other authors)

Jester Dragon's Guide to Defects (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2013; w. William T. Thrasher)

d-Infinity Vol. #4: Dark Future (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2012; w. multiple other authors)

d-Infinity Vol. #3: Children of the Night (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2012; w. multiple other authors)

d-Infinity Vol. #2: Lost Treasure (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2011; w. multiple other authors)

Adventures in Wonderland (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2010)

City Builder: A Guide to Designing Communities (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2010; w. Jim Clunie)

Dhanurvidya & Varman: The Arms and Armor of India (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2010; w. Alexander Melchor)

d-Infinity Vol. #1: The Adventure Begins (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2010; w. multiple other authors)

Tests of Skill v.3.5 (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2004; w. Paul O. Knorr and Shane O'Connor)

Chevauchee: Rules for Battles with Medieval Miniatures (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2008; w. Robert "Mac" McLaughlin)

Skirmish! (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2008)

H.G. Wells' Little Orc Wars (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2007; w. H.G. Wells)

Experts v.3.5 (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2007; w. Paul O. Knorr)

Nuisances: Director's Cut (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2007; w. Paul O. Knorr, Sharon Daugherty, William T. Thrasher)

Gary Gygax's Nation Builder (Troll Lord Games, 2005; w. Gary Gygax)

Nuisances (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2004; w. Paul O. Knorr, Sharon Daugherty)

Tests of Skill (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2004; w. Paul O. Knorr)

Warriors (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2003; w. Paul O. Knorr, Sharon Daugherty, Luke Gygax)

Experts (Skirmisher Publishing LLC, 2002; w. Paul O. Knorr)

A Return to Travel Writing

One of the ironies of being a travel writer is that travel often cuts into my ability to stay on top of my writing! Throughout the months of October and November, I was, among other things, driving around the state of Texas doing signings for my newest book, Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State. Despite the many interesting things I saw and experienced in those travels, however, I did not have the time or energy to write much about them here or anywhere else.

Another drain on my resources was "National Novel Writing Month," an annual creative writing project that challenges participants to write a 50,000 word story between November 1 and November 30 that I decided to participate in this year. So, right in the middle of the book tour for Texas Confidential, I spent a month striving to complete a readable fantasy novel -- and am pleased to report that I succeeded in doing so.

Although I am the author or co-author of 10 non-fiction books, I have never really been keen on events like NaNoWriMo for a variety of reasons, but a number of things prompted me to accept the challenge this year. A major incentive for me was that one of the eleven New Year's resolutions I made for 2011 was to finish a novel by the end of the year and, not being on track to do that, I figured that if I was not going to get one done by the end of November that I sure as hell was not going to get one done in December.

Another incentive was the encouragement of my friend Robert Gruver, who also participated in the NaNoWriMo program this year, and I am proud to say that he also met the challenge and completed a 50,000 word novel during the 30-day writing period.

Swords of Kos: Necropolis is a swords-and-sorcery novel and, in that it does not really tie in with the subjects covered on this site I will not say any more about it other than it is on track for publication and that the first 10,000-or-so words of it appear on my NaNoWriMo page, for anyone who might be interested in reading it. Its imagery, however, does draw heavily on my own travels, particularly throughout the Mediterranean and Texas.

But, now that these latest demanding projects are largely done and out of the way, I am back, and will strive to provide useful and entertaining travel information and observations throughout 2012!