Yassas!

Just got wind of this site/petition from Lori and thought I'd stop in and say hello to any of you who haven't been following the (sporadic) news at Matt's QFG Forum regarding the Quest for Glory Novels.

Lori and I are a couple of weeks away from a final draft of a first Quest for Glory novel. We'll start shopping it around to agents by the end of July. The novels won't be called "Quest for Glory," since that is copyrighted by Sierra, and the rights issue is still up in the air with Sierra as far as what names etc. we can legally use. However the plots and characters will have a very familiar ring to all of you QFG fans.

As our "beta readers" could attest, there will still be some surprises even for diehard fans. Things have been fleshed out and in some cases reimagined to allow for a world where monsters and NPCs don't have to inhabit just one screen. I think fans will be pleased with the results. It's being written for a young adult/teen age group, but should be enjoyable by adults or mature preteens as well.

Please spread the word, and if you want to be put on a list for news about the novel, email me at MishellBaker at aol dot com. Why should you want these novels to be successful, even if you don't like to read? Because... successful young adult novels tend to beget movies... and merchandise... and computer games...

-M.B.

P.S. We also need a web designer... hint hint

Unfortunately, somebody else already wrote a novel so much like QFG 1, it was called 'The Hero', you'd be amazed how much stuff from QFG he took into it!

He took so much in fact that, when Lori Ann Cole told everyone she was going to write a novel, people accused her of plagerism! And that is totally unfair really

Till next time stay cool

I already offered web design services, never heard back from you.

Yes, I've heard about the novel <gives a grateful smile to a certain vegetable>, and I'm excited about the prospect of its publication. Please do keep us up to date with what's happening. In fact, I might "sticky" this topic.

I can recommend Brassfire's web-design talents - she's rather good at that sort of thing, to be modest on her behalf about it. <grin> I'd offer my services, but genuinely don't have time, and anyway, I do my web-design the easy way, with Dreamweaver.

Sounds interestnig, I'll keep an eye out for that one for sure.

Hi Mishell!

I'm one of the faithful "Beta" testers she's talking about - and every word she said is true! It even shocked me!

Oh, and PL.... Shut up about that... We've been through this already at the VUBoards....

Hello Mishell and welcome to our site

Thank you for letting us know about the novel I could move this thread to the Annoucements forum if you want

I, personally, think it's important enough to!

I'd say so. They sound like interesting books.

Get in touch with either Ori or me for the beta stuff. Oh well, get in touch with Ori. He was the one who informed me about it. <smile> Leave a message with one of us, anyway, if you'd like to follow up on this.

Yes, I'll have Rena forward any questions about it to me!

Of course, I won't spoil ANY of it Just questions like "Is this character in it"... things like that

Then again, you could always PM me!

Yes, I look forward to these novels, whenever you can get them published.

Now now Ori, don't you go giving away any secrets.

By the way, the new draft is MUCH better than what you read... :-) You guys gave great comments.

It's great that the novel is moving forward. Have you got a publisher in mind? Will they look at it without you going through an agent? I hope it all goes very, very smoothly.

::locks mouth with zipper::

Till next time stay cool

Lori and I are going to go the most cautious route and approach publishers through an agent. If I don't happen to find one through my screenwriting contacts, or Lori through her contacts in the world of fantasy/SF, we'll find one the old fashioned way (by making a list of the most likely and attractive candidates and sending out some query letters).

It's going to be a while before you guys have this book in your hands, but never fear! We're going to have a website up soon (just as soon as we can find a good designer).

I'm sorry for any of you whose emails I didn't respond to way back when. Please understand that I work two jobs and also go to school part-time as well as collaborating with Lori on this novel. Sometimes my life gets a little hectic and things fall through the cracks. Aol automatically deletes old emails after a certain period, and there have been months at a time when I was unable to check email at all, such as this spring when I was forced to move rather suddenly, right after returning home from an out of town trip to attend a funeral. There was a period when even Lori didn't hear from me.

I am however, checking my email daily now at MishellBaker at aol dot com. I may not respond the same day, but certainly will within the week.

As far as a web site designer, we need someone who knows how to do extremely complicated things. Such as set up a "test" that people can take online and have it calculate the score and assign them a certain category (think Sorting Hat). If you know anyone who can do this (and make it look great!) please contact me!

-M.B.

Ah. More understandable then.

You need database stuff, very complicated? If it's going to be that complicated, are you ok with the designer creating it from a basis of opensource code? There are some very stable php/mysql scripts that may already be built that do what you need... so if you use opensource it's just a matter of making the site *look* right and customizing some of the code.

Also, if you need it that complicated, what's your budget? Using opensource will definitely reduce costs as it's a matter of tweaking instead of writing from scratch, but it's still fiddly work.

I'm fine with using opensource code as long as we can make things look nifty. I want to keep costs down as much as possible until the book actually comes out and starts making us rich.

However, this is not a "no-budget" project. My goal is actually to reinvest all of my writing profits this year, and this particular project is probably where I'm going to dump a good portion of it. Why don't you email me and we can talk about it? I've never created a website like this before so I'll need some guidance.

-M.B.

Great, will do.

Hey there folks.

I almost hate to bring this up, but I am curious. The QFG Novels will be written for a general audience, because the whole reason I approached Lori with this project is that I wanted to share her characters and stories with a much wider audience than the game reached (think the entire mass of young adults who have graduated from Harry Potter!).

So part of the test reading process was to introduce the book to people who have never played QFG or know anything about it. And one thing we found is that the non-QFG players were disturbed by the use of the name "Spielburg." Every single one of them thought it was a reference to Steven Spielberg and said they didn't "get" the "joke." Even a British guy was bothered by it. By its very nature, the book does not contain as many pop culture references as the game... we've tried to keep it in a fairly consistent setting (15th century or so).

Now, seeing as how the town is no longer a "game burg" anyway (the source of the odd name), Lori and I thought it would be best not to perplex and disturb thousands of people (possibly including Steven himself). So we have tentatively changed the name of the town to Siegburg ("victory burg"). That was Lori's choice out of several suggestions I came up with, so it's as close to legit as it could be without actually being Spielburg.

The other reason not to use the name "Spielburg" is, in the context of the medieval world, why would it be called that? At first I invented some bizarre backstory about a series of annual Olympic-like games that had been held there long in the past, but it just didn't fly. The rule of novel writing is keep it simple unless there's a good reason not to. Don't invent things that have to be explained by convoluted means, especially if they don't really add anything to the story.

Now before you blast me with Flame Darts, please really think about what I'm saying. Think about why the town was called what it was in the first place. Think about the possibilities of a novel series that will be successful enough to continue selling. It can't sell only to QFG fans if we want to be able to finish the series. After all, if it only sells to the people on this message board, we won't get to write a 2nd one!

Could you be happy with a charming but dilapidated Alpine town that is populated with people like Shameen and Shema, the Sheriff and Otto, Zara and Damiano, and a greatly expanded and intriguing Bruno... but is called Siegburg instead of Spielburg?

I do want to hear your opinions. I certainly don't want to do anything that is a true affront to our handful of remaining loyal fans. If anyone has better suggestions for a replacement name, let me know. But again, keep in mind that this novel series is about keeping the spirit of QFG alive and thriving in the future, not just about being nostalgic for the past.

Also keep in mind that if we don't get rights from Sierra/Vivendi, we may have to change ALL the names.

-M.B.

Yeah, I even thought it was a reference too.

But after a while, I realised one very important, and very humorous fact... Spielburg literally means 'game castle' or 'game town' in German.

That was the whole joke, but unfortunately, most non-German speakers won't get it, and almost everyone will think it's a reference to Steven Spielburg.

Till next time stay cool

Hrmmm.... I like that idea. It's not bad.

As long as it does not interfere with the general mood and plot of the QfG universe, I say go for it - we know what the city was supposed to be called after all (Hmm, I guess that that qualifies as "insider knowledge" - cool ).

BTW: Has there been any talks of how is going to do the cover artwork (if any), and if so, could we be told?/be given a sneak peak and/or a link to said persons theoretical webgallery?

Well personally I don't like the idea of changing the Spielburg (which when I first read I thought about Steven Spielberg by the way ) to Siegburg.

Now excuse me for my poor English but in most of the books that I've read in my language (Greek) some specific words had small asterisks on their top, indicating that there's farther explanation on that word at the Glosary (they call it? ) at the end of the book. So my thought is, why don't you put a glosary (or whatever they call it ) at the end of the book (and an asterisk or something indicating there's farther explanation on the word Spielburg once the people first read the word) so when people go to that place they can read the true meaning of the word Spielburg and understand why it's there and what it represents?

Just a thought.

Of course, then the book will have a Dune feeling to it too <grin>

Mishell, I support the name change. Of course, I still don't support Elsa's name change, but character names are more important than setting names, in my opinion.

Hey Elsa (and any others who are concerned):

Is there anything you don't like about the name Siegburg other than the fact that it's different from the original?

Trust me when I say I'm a HUGE fan of the games. In fact, that's why I approached Lori about making them into novels. I've been obsessed with Quest for Glory for fifteen years. It has quite literally changed my life.

But above all else, I am a writer. I've been obsessed with writing fiction for even longer than I've been obsessed with QFG. My number one objective is, with Lori, to write a good series of novels that feature the adventures of [you'll find out more about the main character soon enough], Erasmus and Fenrus, Bruno, Erana, Katrina, Shameen, Shema, Rakeesh, Ad Avis... all your favorites. Novels that any older Harry Potter fan will read and recommend to all their friends who are not QFG fans. Because the more money we make, and the more fan support we have, the more likely these things are to get made into movies, and into new and amazing computer games.

So with that in mind, some things HAVE to be changed. Anything that doesn't fit into the organic, balanced structure of a good novel, for example, has to be altered or removed. We've expanded on some things GREATLY (i.e. Bruno, the Healer, the kobold, the dryad, Heinrich Pferdefedern... and you won't BELIEVE what we've done with the fox!). But some things have had to fall by the wayside. There are no meeps. No Spore Spitting Spirea. No Antwerp.

I wish we could have fit everything in. We tried to do a Spore Spitting Spirea scene, but it got cut because we were way too high on word count and it just didn't add much to the overall flow of the plot. Plotting a novel is very, very difficult. In some ways though, it frees us to be more creative. The kobold doesn't have to stick to one screen. He can wander through town wreaking havoc and setting buildings on fire. Doesn't that sound like fun?

So changing a few names will be the least of the things that disappoint fans who want everything exactly the same. Spielburg won't be the only name that's changed... we have to alter any pop culture references, as well as any character names that readers (without the aid of visuals) might confuse with one another. And if we don't get the rights from Sierra, as I mentioned before, EVERY character and place name will have to be changed.

The goal is to get these books out there. Because they will make Lori rich and powerful... and what do you think she's going to do with all her money? Create more wonderful worlds for you, of course!

Also, Lori and I are already plotting novels that go BEYOND QFG 1-5. There will be three additional novels featuring the characters you know and love, and then there will be a "next generation" type series as well about the kids. Trust me when I say, you WANT these novels to be successful and make lots of money.

-M.B.

P.S. Elsa -- take comfort in the fact that you will now and forever be the one, the only, Elsa von Spielburg. I think Lori would be happy to officially "copyright" the title to you.

Oriiiiiiooooon...

Are you ever going to authorize me on ICQ, ya goof? If you're on now, drop me a line so I can talk to you briefly.

-M.B.

Just auth-ed ya. Sorry... I haven't been on as much

Awwww.... don't cry. Don't you like being the one, the only?

Sure do

It's just that it won't feel right without the original names and everything

But still, if it's a matter of Sierra getting you guys into trouble, then I guess you don't have much of a choice and I understand that...

I hope we do get the rights, if we're forced to change every single name for every single character, and change the species name of every trademark creature and monster (Kattas, Cheetaur, Canine, Terrorsaurus etc), then not only would it be hard work, it would definately not sound the same.

But then again, it would be Quest for Glory in a totally different universe, if you'll accept that. But as said before, this is about keeping the spirit of QFG alive for the future, and not simply about nostalgia.

Till next time stay cool

Mishell, Siegburg isn't a major problem in terms of name, in my opinion. When one's creating a game, one has a different focus than when one is writing a novel. In a game, one doesn't have to have the whole history of a place implicitly understood - it's just a place in which the game occurs. External references aren't needed, either. For a novel, those things ought to be - if they're not, the book has a strange sense of the unsatisfactory. Go with the name change - that's my view, anyway. <smile>

Ugh! I perfectly understand concerns about word count. After my latest round of edits, I sent back the manuscript to the editor feeling as if I'd taken a pair of secateurs to the overbranched story. <sigh>

With a different novel I'm co-writing, set in mediaeval Russia, we're not worrying about story length. About two months into the project, Vol and I realised it was going to be... long. Very long. So we just let ourselves go, concentrating on evocative and powerful storyline, descriptions, characters that leap off the pages with crisp clarity, all their subtleties painted with a fine hand...

Needs must. Whatever the demands of the particular story type, the writers must think about the intended target audience. If you're aiming at Harry Potter readers, yes, you've got to think about the number of words.

I'm sorry that the meeps have become a casualty, though.

But from what I read, the sacrifice of the meeps for expansion of the Fox was a good idea

@ Mishell

Yeah, I don't think we need to do much work on Fry-guy wannabes

Till next time stay cool

I'll miss the Meeps. It was fun speculating what went on in their little dens.

I'm not saying there should be no meeps. I'm saying there shouldn't be too much work on them. The meeps should stay, it wouldn't be QFG without them

Till next time stay cool

We just couldn't find a way to tie the meeps into the plot, which actually became a bit more complex than what goes on in the game. It still has a bit of a feeling of "origin story" about it, and there's not much we can do about it, but the final draft especially is pretty cohesive and works as a novel. As delightful as QFG1 was as a game, the "plot" was actually pretty thin, so we had to make up a lot of stuff to fill it out.

Later books, I think, will stick closer to the games, because the plots of later games are more complex. QFG4, for example, will probably be very close to the way it is in the game. I can't WAIT to write that one. :-)

-M.B.

Well, I guess your right, and I'll say it again, we don't need to do much work on Fry-Guy wannabes

But I would definately like some insight into Shema, Shameen and Sharaf. As well as a little back story regarding the Katta, and yes, I'm very willing to help you people out on that point.

Till next time stay cool

Er... PL, I think Lori has her own ideas about the backstories of the Kattas, right? <smile> Since she and Cory created the series...

Of course, one of the wonderful things about a game like the QfG series is that so much detail was NOT included in the games themselves, so all the fanfic writers who fell in love with the games have been free to perceive the history, etc., of the places and people in their own ways. It's an enormous amount of fun for the ff writers - I suppose, though, it's quite tricky to learn to separate those imposed perceptions from the intentions of the game creators. <rueful smile>

Ah, and Mishell, seeing that you're working with Lori, you're JUST the person to clear up a few things... <anticipatory smile>

I've started a new topic for the questions involving those "few things".

http://www.questformoreglory.com/forums/in...act=ST&f=2&t=92

I'm glad to hear that the novel is getting there in terms of readiness and I hope you two can get access to the rights in order to keep most of the names (well, Siegburg excluded for obvious reasons). Siegburg is somewhat different, but I guess it could work just as well as Spielburg, considering that Spielburg does translate into Playtown in German (if I remember my translations of some Rammstein lyrics (German metal/techno band), spiel can mean either mean play or game, depending on grammar and context) and with the general public's predicted thoughts of a reference to Steven Spielburg the film director. I'm definitely curious and interested in relation to expanding on some of the characters like the fox and the dryad.

As for things like the meeps, the spitting seed and the antwerp, maybe in the book somewhere (like in a section called "Guide to Siegburg" or something similar), those three things could be mentioned and described, but it could be very well that in the story the main character never encountered any of them. After all, if I remember correctly from when I first got QFG1 original, the manuals described monsters such as the night gaunts, skeletons and dragons which the Hero didn't encounter (well, you do encounter night gaunts, but only in a death message). Just an idea as to how to possibly include them without having them directly in the story.

He IS!! Man, I didn't know that. I guess I'd better leave it to the professionals then.

And yes SkyShark, Spielburg does mean Game/play town or Game/play castle. But like I said, most non-German speakers will definately take it as a Steven Spielburg reference, I know I did. And when I discovered a Steven Spielburg easter egg in QFG 1 VGA, I thought it reinforced that idea, but I was wrong in the end.

Till next time stay cool

I posted some stuff about place names in that other thread, if you're interested. And any of you can feel free to ask anything you like about the book series. Just keep in mind that Lori and I are entitled to have our little secrets...

Above all, let's keep trying to find QFG fans to sign the petition and potentially buy the book! When you contact them about this site, be sure to mention that this is THE place to come for the latest news.

-M.B.

But can I make a request? Now if your going to make a novelization of the QFG series, if you include a history of the Katta race, can you not make them violent-like? What I mean is, they never fought wars against each other, but huddled together to survive in the harsh desert before the humans came, or something to that effect.

Just a request, feel free to ignore it if you so wish.

And I don't want to know your secrets They're yours to keep.

Till next time stay cool

I just read your post at the Important Announcement thread PL...

I hope I don't sound too demanding or overreacting but...

Could you guys (Mishel and Lori) include somekind of note about the petition in your books?

I think that would really help to spread the word and get more signatures.

Of course if it's too much trouble or if you are to get in trouble with Sierra... then forget I mentioned this

Hey, that is a good a idea! Putting a 'need help' ad in the novel. But yes, as you said, if it's too much and it can get you guys in trouble with Sierra, then you may have to drop the idea.

Till next time stay cool

Thing is, I seriously doubt this book will even come out unless Lori gets the rights. So that would be not exactly putting the cart before the horse... more shopping around for a horse when the cart's already rolling up the mountain.

-M.B.