Some Basic Information

My name is Eric Zawadzki. I was born in Erie, Pennsylvania to Paul and Janice on February 16, 1977. I moved to Westfield, Indiana when I was six years old. I read fantasy novels, including the works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lloyd Alexander, from an early age.

At the age of 9, I decided I was going to write a Fighting Fantasy Gamebook - a kind of pick-a-path book that had a character sheet and crude combat system. In an effort to research new monsters to include in my book, I borrowed a copy of the Dungeons & Dragons Basic set from a neighbor's brother. I soon found myself reading the rules, and before long, I had borrowed and read all the roleplaying books he owned. My first game involving other people took place when I was in fifth grade with a classmate named James Hensley. Thus began a hobby I pursue to this day.

I attended Cathedral High School, where I was active in band, choir, drama, and the literary magazine. Not satisfied with such a light workload, however, I also began writing a series of fantasy novels, The Caligrean, with my friend, Matthew Schick, and ran an infrequent series of role-playing games with classmates and my three siblings - Brian (22), Heidi (20), and Adam (16).

After graduation, I went on to study English at Manchester College, where I regularly hosted and played in RPGs. During this time, Matt and I finished our first book, From Quiver to Quarry, which we are currently submitting to publishers and literary agents.

I received my B.A. in English in May 1999, after which I took a year off from reality to save up money. During the year, Matt and I completed our second novel, Swords to Bear. I also played my friends' campaigns when I could find the time.

A year after my graduation, I stuffed a large backpack full of clothing and travel guides and bought a ticket for one to Warsaw, Poland. I spent the next seven weeks backpacking across Poland, Germany, France, England, Scotland, and Wales. I have sixteen rolls of film from that journey, as well as two tiny notebooks filled with writing ideas, and a substantial journal.

Soon after my return home, Matt Schick invited me to move to Boulder with him. Funds all but absent and in desperate need of a vehicle capable of surviving the 1,100 mile trip, I spent the next several months saving up money for the big move. During the interim, I made first contact with Beth Kinderman, whose Mage: the Ascension stories so caught my eye that I decided to buy the book. I found I loved everything but the setting, so I spent a month designing what has since become affectionately known as Mage: the Epic Fantasy, or M:EF. Somehow, I found myself in the position of running two online M:EF chronicles with college friends and many of the members of the Gamer Chick Planet forum.

I am currently living in Lafayette, Colorado - a suburb of Boulder - and searching for employment. I am also writing the rough draft of another book for The Caligrean, tentatively entitled _Full Plate Mail_, and submitting _From Quiver to Quarry_ to publishers. And in my spare time, I taunt my players, take walks wherever my feet decide to carry me, play the occasional game of Magic: the Gathering, and read whatever I can find with words on it.



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