Long time no see. Well, sort of. While I’ve been busy with streams and other projects, I’ve been absent from making videos. There are a multitude of reasons for that which I’m excited to share with you. But first, let me reintroduce myself.
Hello again. My name is Charlie, a non-binary sci-fi fantasy writer. It’s been a while since I’ve posted a video, and for those who have been following my YouTube channel, the format of this video might feel both new and old. It’s reminiscent of my old audio vlogs.
Where Have I Been and What Have I Been Up To?
If you’ve seen the title of this post, then you’ve got an inkling of what’s coming. Long story short, I surprisingly fell into a job. Not something I intended, but it happened, and it took up much of my time. The complexity of the job left me with little room for my creative endeavors. However, I’ve recently found more free time and I’m eager to reconnect with all of you and return to doing what I love.
In the background, my creativity never ceased. I continued world building, writing stories, and even though I couldn’t invest as much time as I desired, I never stopped. One significant project I started is my Ream account. Ream is a platform where you can support your favorite writers and get stories in return. Some of my older books are available there for free—well, technically free—you just need to follow me.
Mask of the Gods and My Tabletop Role-Playing Game Dream
For longtime followers, you might remember my Mask of the Gods series. I’ve been obsessively working on it and I'm excited to share more soon. Additionally, a dream of mine, dating back to 2000 at a comic con in Oakland, California, is coming to fruition—I’ve been creating a tabletop role-playing game set in one of my settings.
I was inspired after a chat with Ryan Dacey from Wizards of the Coast about the OGL license for D&D 3rd Edition. Though I was initially overwhelmed by the task of simultaneous world building and game mechanic creation, this dream never died. One of my earliest videos even talks about my wildest publishing dreams, which included developing games.
Introducing Fates Hunter: My New Solo RPG
Quietly (or not so quietly, if you’ve been watching the live streams), I’ve been working on a tabletop RPG called Fates Hunter. Developed using the Cypher system, this game allows players to experience the same world building joys that I do. It’s a solo RPG but can also be played with a group, providing flexibility depending on your preference.
Set in the same universe as the Mask of the Gods series, Fates Hunter lets players engage with fate and the goddesses of the world in fascinating ways. The game is almost ready for beta testers, and I can't wait to share it with you all. For more details, you can check out Monty Cook Games where the Cypher system is detailed.
Balancing Creativity and Livelihood
In addition to Fates Hunter, my journey has led me to battle the challenges of making a living as a creative. This includes my music project under Project Shadow, available on streaming platforms. The reality of streaming revenue requires a massive audience for substantial income, prompting me to explore multiple creative avenues.
I’m still writing stories, making music, producing videos, and doing podcasts. My goal is to bring joy amidst these dark times by sharing my creative works with you all. To support these endeavors, you can follow and interact with my projects on platforms such as Ream, Ko-fi, and my personal site, ProjectShadow.com.
Building a Community Together
I’m back and enthused about sharing upcoming releases—including both my book and my new game—with you. I aim to foster a relationship with my audience, sharing insights on writing, the creative process, and even the learning curves associated with these platforms.
If there’s any specific content you’d like to see from me, please let me know in the comments. Your input will help shape the kind of content I produce. This journey is not just about me, but about us.
So yes, I’m back and there’s much to look forward to. Magic is on the horizon, and we’re about to embark on our solemn hour together. If you’re eager to delve deeper, check out my World Anvil to explore the world building archives already available.
Writing books, Building a world, and Making a game, Oh My!