{sidebar id=1}AbleGamers’ Christian “Father Fletch” Kelly interviews Ethan Gilsdorf author of “Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks” on how, why, and what he discovered on his world journey.

CFK: Did you write this chronologically as it happened or has the narrative reconstruction added structure where there wasn’t as much or any to begin with?

EG: The book was written in one year, based on experiences I had in that year, and is presented chronologically, with the exception of the Tolkien (Oxford), LARP (Georgia) and Guedelon Castle (France) chapters, which were based on articles that I had written and published previously. If that makes any sense.

CFK: It does. So this was both a process of self-discovery, some professional work, a progressive journey and happenstance. You were active in looking for, seeking out and making ways for you to continue along this path, an active agent in your own discovery. You also were presented with opportunities along the way which were not planned.

I guess what I am getting at is you didn’t have a calendar that said “if it’s March, it must be D&D Minis and if it’s September it must be World of Warcraft” did you?

Personally I am interested in some of the back-story on what it took to arrange, finance, plan, etc. to take the “Grand Tour” of fantasy gaming/living/exploring. You talk about the people and getting invitations, but I know that travel and writing and doing the things you are writing about take a lot of behind the scenes work!

EG: you're absolutely right -- the book was a combination of "self-discovery, some professional work, a progressive journey and happenstance." Some things were planned and others weren't. Certain activities or ideas were no-brainers, like trying to meet Gygax, or attending Pennsic, or connecting with the MMO community. Others seemed less certain. I didn't finally decide to go to New Zealand until about a month before I left! It was actually pretty maddening trying to decide which leads to follow, which activities to try my hand at. I had to say no to a lot of ideas and activities. Cutting out most of the science fiction stuff helped narrow the focus a lot.

The coordination was a bear, but of course fun and a wonderful opportunity. I was working on a tight budget; I used some of my advance from my publisher to fund the travel (this was not megabucks, but about 2/3 of what I make in a year normally as a freelancer), which did not leave much to live off of. I had wanted to go back to the UK, and I had hoped to hit ComicCon, and also take a trip to Asia (to connect with the Warcraft players in South Korea), but that wasn't possibly financially. My income was also limited because I turned down about 80% of my usual freelance work so I could concentrate as much as possible on the book. Lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that year. No, wait, that's what I usually eat.

I also depended on the kindness of strangers -- folks who let me crash, camp, eat with them for free. Even some of the folks who ended up in my book (like the "geeks in love'" couple in Milwaukee).

CFK: How many of these were you able to get published elsewhere as part of your professional work?

EG: A few of the chapters have been published as articles. The LARP chapter appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, the Guedleon French castle project chapter was in a Canadian magazine called "The Walrus,"; and the Tolkien pilgrimage to Oxford was in the Washington Post. I also used bits and pieces of stories that had been in the Boston Globe, New York Times and Psychology Today and other publications. For the book the chapters are much longer than when they appeared in a magazine or newspaper. I really preferred the book form because I could put in a lot more detail and depth and characters that for space reasons had to be cut the first time around. It's the difference between having 1,200 words to tell a story, vs. 5,000 words.

CFK: Since you finished writing this have you been able to keep in touch with some of your interview subjects?

EG: I have. I exchange emails and Facebook messages regularly with Nissa Ludwig. In fact we have corresponded quite a lot over the 2+ years since we first spoke for the book interview and the book came out. I met her in person at Gen Con and again in Seattle when I was on my book tour... Although only recently it's that I have not heard from her. I'm going to try her again and see how she is ... she is after all the reason why you and I are connecting!

Also, Mike and Elyse, the couple from Milwaukee; Peter Nelson, here in Boston; the Georgia LARPers, mainly Chris Jones; and Levi Hunt (who is now back from Iraq) and Sean "Dragons" Stalzer -- I hear from all of them every so often. I also saw many of the folks I interviewed when I went on my cross-country book tour in 2009-10, and every so often paths will cross at various conventions.

CFK: You were not an only child; how do your siblings feel about the book, what you said about your mother, etc?

EG: My brother Adam and sister Jess were fine with it --- well, at least they haven't complained yet! Seriously, I was especially concerned about the chapter about my mom, aka "The Momster," and their reaction to the portrayal of our mother or if they felt I got any of the details wrong.  So I did show them that chapter in draft form and asked them if they wanted me to make any edits. I also showed portions of the book to JP, the kid who taught me D&D way back in 1979, and who I am still in touch with. His sister married my brother, so we are family.

CFK: Have you been able to reconcile your FF and GG with your girlfriend at the time? Are you still together?

EG: We're not together. The gaming and fantasy issue was not the only reason it didn't work out, but I think it did set into motion a chain of events that in the end made it impossible for us to stay together. She did read the book, and she said she liked it, and was not bothered by being a character in it. I think reading FF&GG helped her get to know me better.

CFK: Have you been able to write in this vein for other publications? Has this book created any more professional work?

EG: I have for a long time made my living as a freelance journalist and much of what I write has bridged pop culture and travel. That "first person immersion" voice, the participatory journalist who narrates his or her adventures while also exploring a subject matter, is one that I've honed over the years. So I keep writing in that vein. As for more professional work, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks has been instrumental in generating speaking gigs at libraries, book fests, conventions and colleges, giving writing workshops, being interviewed and asked to weigh in on issues relating to fantasy and escapism. And some of these gigs even pay!

AbleGamers would like to thank Ethan Gilsdorf for the interview that took months to complete. We all have jobs, lives and some even add in school between writing around here (No, we don't make 100,000,000 a year). Thanks for your patients, Ethan. Now here is how YOU can get your free copy of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks.

Go to http://twitter.com/ablegamers and follow us, then Tweet the following to enter to win: "Hey @ablegamers I love Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks!"

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