Newsletter

Hi everyone,

The experiences of our childhood shape the stories we tell ourselves as grownups. About the world, our place in it, what's possible. But sometimes the lens is cracked, the territory has no map, and we get lost. The stories that should help us live as humans end up swallowing us.

And then, the real journey starts.

I've been lucky to have some remarkable guests on the podcast recently. Simon Pulman is re-imagining the business of entertainment; Jeff Gomez is literally changing lives through narrative & neurodivergence. Both conversations are more than worth your time. It really feels like the podcast is becoming what I hoped as a force for creative connection, and I couldn't be happier to share these new episodes with you & our growing audience.

Also this update: we're still (!) nominated for the Sir Julius Vogel awards, and a sneak peek at the new Project Tempest blog, with tales of second hand bookstores, Nick Cave, and the weird splendid thing called family.

The Two Strange Girls novella is 50% off on Smashwords now. If you choose to leave a review of any Project Tempest release, or like and subscribe to the podcast on your favourite service, this really helps us out. Thank you!

PODCAST CONVERSATIONS

The Project Tempest podcast is where we talk with creators about their journeys, struggles, and inspirations.

Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, is a leading expert in narrative, story worlds, and transmedia development. In this deeply human conversation, Jeff & CJ explore the early days of roleplaying games, the need for new models of collective storytelling, and ways to support & empower people who see the world differently.

Content warning: this episode contains discussion of emotional struggles, mental health, and neurodiversity. These are in an empathetic and supportive context, but as always, please stay safe and look after yourself.

>>> Listen to the conversation with Jeff Gomez
>>> Subscribe to the Project Tempest podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or directly on Captivate. If you enjoy it please consider rating it 5 stars.

Simon Pulman is a New York based lawyer and advisor focusing on tv, film, and interactive, including influencers and e-sports. Simon thinks and writes a great deal about the fast evolving landscape of entertainment and digital content - the present and future of how creators connect with audiences worldwide.

In this conversation, Simon & CJ share the joys of Elden Ring, how gaming is dominating global entertainment, and future implications for Netflix, digital collectibles, and industry dealmaking. Simon also offers excellent advice for young creators and advisors, which we've turned into a blog post.

>>> Listen to the conversation with Simon Pulman
>>> Subscribe to the Project Tempest podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or directly on Captivate. If you enjoy it please consider rating it 5 stars.

TWO STRANGE GIRLS SPECIAL

A turbulent friendship falls apart amid secrets, betrayal, and horror.

Tempest Bay, 1910. A south seas smuggling town where misfits of all kinds live with vivid intensity. Marjorie Morton and Constance Pream are smart and strange and gloriously difficult. But when a storm brings a distress call from the ocean deep, terrors emerge to threaten everything they love.

Get 50% off your copy at Smashwords now.

SNEAK PREVIEW: BLOG TALES

I needed a place to put things about the joy of second hand bookstores, the ways our weird families shape us, the darkness of Nick Cave, and what's going on behind Project Tempest.  So the Project Tempest blog is quietly lurking in the garage while we fix up a few final things. Try it out, see how the pieces make you feel - I'd love any early feedback on what works, what doesn't, and what you'd most want to share with others. You'll be helping out a great deal!

Explore the preview release here.

FINALLY...

The Project Tempest Podcast is still up for a Sir Julius Vogel award, for Best Professional Production/Publication. There've been some delays as they work out how the ceremony will run this year. Me Kearin, and Prea, we're just trucking on and making the things...

Let me know what you'd like to see more of in these newsletters, and thank you for being part of Project Tempest with us.

Cheers

C J Halbard