Game Creation

I’ve mentioned before that I’m part of a game development team called Soltorch Games. Specifically, I’m the Story Director.

What does that mean?

I’ve done things like brainstorm world lore, vote on ideas, write scripts, and invent characters. I’ve done none of those things solo, though; so if you play the game and happen to like a particular character, line, or world aspect, I can’t necessarily take credit for it.

That’s one interesting aspect about being on a team.

As a creative person, I’ve almost always done the creating on my own. Being an author, I write my books by myself. (Mostly. Actually, my husband helps write some of the fight scenes and related content, as that isn’t my expertise. And I'll credit my editor Evan Braun with helping my books turn out more polished than they’d otherwise be.)

But on a game development team, no one person is responsible for the final product. Bits of all of our creativity and work is scattered throughout.

That means each person’s skills, combined, can bring the game to life in ways any one of us couldn’t do on our own.

For example, I came up with the concept for the dragonoid Jairia. I wrote some lines for her, and described her personality and backstory.

In a book, things would have been left at that. She’d exist as a concept. You could say the ‘soul’ of the character is what I created.

But the team took my idea further. They designed a look for her, and modeled her. Now, it feels like she’s more than just a soul, but has a ‘body’ as well.

It’s an incredible feeling, to see the character brought to life in ways I could never do by myself.

This is my first time being seriously involved in digital game development, and although I’ve been part of this project for months, we’re still learning as a team. The rest of the team is a fair bit more experienced in game creation than I am, so I’m still discovering what’s needed from me, and how I can best help.

I’ve actually stepped back from the project for the birth of my daughter and adjusting to her arrival. But the team has continued to make progress while I’ve been away, and it’s amazing to see how far along the game is coming!

I’m hoping I’ll be able to find time to get back into that soon - though with a book to write and other projects in the works, we’ll have to wait and see.

If you want to know more about how the game is coming along, you can visit the team’s blog.

June 2020

2020 has been busy, with it’s share of ups and downs.

In terms of author events, I announced the winners of my first art contest and the results of my second art contest. I also posted my own art piece. And I announced and then had to cancel my book launch.

I posted my own reviews for Black Mists and Dwelling in Darkness, and my thoughts about how I wanted to handle the covid-19 crisis. I also shared some nature designs, and on my personal FaceBook page, I re-shared a blog post about ants from 2019.

In my April update, I said my goal for writing would be to finish Part One of my next book by mid-June. Though that didn’t happen, I have made great progress, and am on schedule to publish sometime next year. Good thing, since I’ve got a lot of fans looking forward to the conclusion to Tales of the Diversity!

In another recent post, I talked about the church library I run and how the pandemic restrictions have affected it. Well, our church just announced that the library is open again! (With the necessary restrictions, of course.) So I will be getting back to work there.

Why all this review? Basically, because I may not be posting much for blogs in the remainder of the year. The arrival of our next baby is ever approaching. And the pandemic restrictions mean I may wait until next year to do book signings.

However, I do still plan on doing a post about the video game I’m helping create. If you want to follow the game’s official blog, you can sign up for updates on the Soltorch website.

Thank you to all who continue to encourage me in my writing and other projects! It’s a blessing to hear how I’ve made a positive impact in your lives.

Art Contest 2 Winners

Thank you to all who participated in the art contest! I enjoyed each of the entries! But of course, there can only be two winners: Author’s Pick and Best Representing the Book!

For Author’s Pick: Daysha showed the concept of Exploration with a photo of Katia out exploring the woods.

And for Best Representing the Book: Ethan made a picture with the concept of Conversation, recreating a conversation between Tyzak and Black Night (from The Loss).

Congratulations to the winners! Prizes will be handed out in a week or two.

Again, thank you to all who participated! This was a fun contest to host!

A Resting Librarian

It’s been a while since I posted a librarian update!

As a reminder: years ago, I offered to take over the running of our church’s library. Since I love books, it seemed the perfect fit!

Well, as of late, due to the pandemic restrictions, our little church library has sat unused. (The books at least are unused: our pastors have been using the room itself as a place to record their online sermons.) And due to the continued restrictions on gatherings, the books will likely sit unused for a while yet.

When I first realized this, I was hit with a feeling of loss.

I’ve done so much in that library.

One thing I changed early on was the fiction section: dividing it into separate genres, and sorting the books by author. It took a lot of work - and some dear helpers - to get that done. And since it’s been finished, I’ve noticed readers picking out their favourite genre, or taking out books from a particular author.

Since then, I’ve done so much re-organizing, moving, buying, and removing of books in the non-fiction genres, I don’t even remember what it was like before I became the librarian.

I’ve spent many hours caring for the library’s hundreds of books, driven by a vision to “connect people with books that are meaningful to them.” I feel I’ve succeeded in this vision: answering people’s questions, directing them to various titles, and making the organization easier to follow.

I’ve missed that, and the purpose I felt there.

However, I’m also convinced God knew I would need the break, and the chance to step back and take joy in what has been done - instead of only seeing what still needs doing.

Concept: Awareness

For my ‘entry’ for the art contest, I decided to do a simple sketch.

So… SPOILER WARNING!

In The Loss, Jair becomes aware of his insanity, and has to face it. Though maybe it isn’t a major plot point in that book, it is significant to me. I decided to represent his moment of awareness, adding a mirror to reflect what’s going on inside him: how he now sees his mind as cracked and broken.

You could say the concept represented is “Mental Illness.” However, I think of it more as “Awareness.” Throughout Tales of the Diversity, various characters become more aware of their weaknesses, who they are, and where they want their lives to go.

It’s a theme that continues into the third book, which I’m still busily writing.

The art contest is open for submissions until June 15th: create an art piece (it can be a photograph, painting, model, whatever!) representing a concept from Tales of the Diversity, and send it in to author@karlissaj.com.

Handling Crisis

I believe even fictional stories have the power to teach us and alter how we see life.

The “Darkness before Dawn” collection has long been among my favourite story archs of Adventures in Odyssey, a long-running audio drama.

Near the beginning of this pandemic, I relistened to them with my husband. And the story spoke to me on a level it hadn’t before. (Spoiler alert going forward!)

In “Darkness before Dawn,” crazy things start happening around the town of Odyssey. Crime spikes suddenly. Scandal surrounds the mayor. The townspeople are left fearful and confused, and for the lead characters, things only seem to worsen as time goes on.

One character, Jack Allen, begins by counteracting the crimes with anonymous acts of kindness. But when this unexpectedly causes the criminals to become more violent, he takes a step back.

For the rest of the story, Jack is mostly in the background, praying.

When another character criticizes his inaction, he argues that he isn’t doing nothing. He believes there is a spiritual side to what’s going on: a battle that can’t be fought any other way, but through prayer.

Jack’s role had previously seemed to me rather uninteresting and a little odd. How does he connect a crime wave and political upheaval with a spiritual battle?

However, being in this pandemic, I heard his side of the story with new ears.

Things keep getting crazier. Death tolls rise. Laws become more strict. Political leaders are called into question.

There are many strategic ways we can fight what’s happening around us: whether we’re taking on the fear, the loneliness, any signs of injustice, or the virus itself. No doubt there are many strategies that are Biblical, logical, or fair.

But I realized that, whatever happens, first and foremost, I want to respond the way that Jack responded: with prayer. I want to be able to see the spiritual side of things. To keep God at the forefront of my mind. To sometimes put aside other plans that seem good, in favour of leaning on His input.

I know not everyone will see things the way I do. I’m learning to be at peace with that.

I’m also aware that there are conspiracy theories and spiritual theories swirling around this pandemic. I’m not talking about taking a side on whether Satan started the virus or whether this is judgement from God.

Rather, I’m wondering if we need to get back to the basics, to realign our priorities and focus: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured. May your kingdom come. And may your will be done.”

This pandemic has changed many things. But it hasn’t changed the mission that Jesus gave us: to spread the story of his kingdom to all corners of the earth. Nor has it changed the fact that God is at work in the world. Or made obsolete the command to pray continually and to trust God over our own understanding.

I want to focus on how God can use this event. How is he changing me? What is he teaching me? What does he want me to do during this time? How is he teaching and changing and challenging his church?

When all this is over, how do we move on, while not forgetting the lessons he’s taught us, the people he’s opened our eyes to, and the actions he’s asked us to take?

I think it starts… with prayer.

Art Contest Take 2

How about another art contest? This time, we’re going to do things a little differently!

One, art pieces should represent a CONCEPT from Tales of the Diversity. Sailing, exploration, discovery, cultural diversity… or whatever you pick out from reading the books!

Two, I’m looking for PICTURES. Paintings, drawings, posed photos of toys: as long as the final art piece is an image of some kind!

You can submit as many pictures as you like between TODAY and JUNE 15th, to author@karlissaj.com. No crude content please.

Two winners this time: Author’s Pick and Best Representing the Book (i.e. using characters or a scene from The Quest or The Loss to illustrate the concept).

Contest winners (and possibly runners-up) will be shared on my blog. (Click here to see the winners from the last contest!) Winners will also receive a $10 Coles gift card.

This time around, I’LL be submitting an art piece or two myself! Though obviously I can’t win, I can share with you my images during the contest, and a little on why I chose to represent those concepts.

I’m looking forward to seeing what you create!