If You Can't Find One, Make One

So as most of you know, I have created collectible card game called Reclamation, based on the Bible. My brother and I have playtested it several times, and it has come a long way. One of the issues I've dealt with in playtesting is the printing of cards. I've used Access forms and ASP web pages to loop through the database before, but now I've come up with something even better (I think, anyway).

[ geekspeak ]

I've created a VB.NET Windows application that connects to the database and creates the images for each card. I used the images I created in Photoshop and pieced the images together like a jigsaw puzzle. So now, all I need to do is run the program and it'll create all 300-something images in the first set. I've added a few to this post. While they don't look as great as they would straight from Photoshop, they still look more like actual cards than I've had before.

[ end geekspeak ]

So, the next time we test the game, it'll be prettier.

Even if it'll still be in black and white.

Well, it's a start.

Biking, Steak, Shadows, and Photoshop

I have brought my bike to work (a new Schwinn that I bought last summer) and am now riding over my lunch break a couple times a week. There is a residential area nearby that has some good ups and downs, and I ride about 5 miles. I'm going to keep it up, as it is part of my continuing attempt to lose weight. I lost 22 pounds earlier in the year, and have gained a little of that back, but am now back on the right track with my eating and exercise.

On a side note related to eating (and not in an entirely healthy way), I have determined that Texas Roadhouse is my favorite steakhouse, recently defeating Timberlodge Steakhouse. Though, I do have to admit, the only other steakhouse I've ever been to is Outback, which while still good, loses easily to both the other two. Oddly enough, I wasn't always a big fan of steak, until one day a few years ago I decided to order one at Applebee's. And now... yum. And I love any steak with A1 Bold & Spicy.

Also, over my lunch breaks, on days that it is raining or I just don't feel like biking, I can now take advantage of a small lunch room area where I can take the laptop and work on the book, or whatever else I feel like working on, without being at my desk and risking having to do work. Talking about the book, it now sits at 73,000 words, and really, I feel pretty good about how it is at the moment. I have posted part of it on Authonomy.com, a website run by the publisher Harper Collins. It is an online writing community where you can get feedback on your book. Also, while I am not holding out a hope that this will lead to anything for me, every month, the 5 most popular books get sent to the editor's desk Harper Collins for review. While the chance of getting that high is slim, I did start ranking around #3500 in March, and am now ranked #491. You never know. But either way, it is neat place and I have gotten some good feedback on the book. For Authonomy, you have to provide a cover (or use a generic image provided by the site). I designed this cover from a couple images I found online. It doesn't look as good at full size, but Authonomy only displays it as a small thumbnail-sized image. Feel free to read the pitch on the book's Authonomy page.

Don't Feed the Hypocrite

In my attempt to further my writing, I have started another blog, titled Don't Feed the Hypocrite. This will remain my personal blog, but I will use the new one for writings about life, such as The Case for Death I had posted here previously. The first entry explains the name (which may or may not make sense, but I tried to come up with something catchy and unique).

Now, here is a warning and a confession. The first post on the new blog does reveal a little bit from my past that I've not shared with most of my readers. It came from a period of time around twelve years ago, when I allowed sin into my life much more than I should. However, I believe it is good to share such things, especially as I think that pulling from my own personal experiences may help me become a better writer.