Thanks for the flash fictions lately, Rob.

With regards to “Old Grand High Days – I’ve heard madness described as thinking or thought processes that lie outside the bounds of the norm. Of course, what is normal is an arbitrary thing, the metaphorical lines drawn in the sand by people essentially guessing where they should be. If seven people think one way, and three other people think differently about the same topic, should those three then seek counselling? Of course, it depends what they are thinking about. Without wishing to belittle those who suffer from mental illnesses, I think it is good to challenge our accepted norms, even the ways we think, from time to time and invite a little thinking from outside of the box inside.

Cicada – A youthful melancholy. The world ticks on before we’re here, while we’re here, and afterwards. Some saying that the only immortality we can hope to achieve in this lifetime through procreation – via our children and our children’s children.

Desirous Hypodermic – Dentists are scary enough, without having to think about clockwork mosquitoes! Interesting that given the general fear of hypodermics throughout the world, not much thought has gone into designing a ‘kiddy’ friendly version that, at least one that aesthetically appealed. Or maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps people thought about it, and decided that kids would hate ponies or teddies if they were associated with hypodermics. Maybe hypodermic companies just need to hire better PR companies.

Anyway, cheers for the reading!
Jarrod

Working at TSR was a great deal like going to Hogwarts. There were daily wonders and constant horrors. I witnessed amazing wizards at work and ran into cold-blooded creatures that could stare me to stone. My TSR years were some of the best and worst of my career, and I think most others who worked there when I did would agree. But I learned. A lot.

I remember once wondering if a lawful good person could survive in a chaotic neutral organization. But TSR gave me my first chance to write novels. For that, I will be forever grateful.

When I left TSR, we all ate aged steaks in a rented tent on the lawn, and a year later, the company was bankrupt. I enjoy pretending like that’s because of my absence, but honestly I got a great deal more out of TSR than it ever got out of me.

Thanks for keeping your ear tuned to this blog. I need to be getting back to it.

Best,
Rob

Just read your interview on thomasaknight.com, some good words of wisdom there, especially about getting into the heads of villains.

You mentioned, very briefly, TSR – certainly the TSR era of AD&D novels based in the worlds of Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft etc were (and still are) my favourite era of fantasy novels. What was it like, working with TSR during those halcyon *ahem* days?

Dude, I’m getting older. Throw me a paragraph or two. Something about a hole in time will do. I’m falling through one now. I don’t need a life line. I just need something to read while I make the trip.