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Got an interesting email from an older BGDF member

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Wed, 12/03/2025 - 00:18
questccg
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Hello All,

Just wanted to share with you all that "Nicholas Markgraf" who used the branding Pawn Joker Games has transitioned to writing Sci-Fi Novels. Like all of us trying so very hard to scrape by on GAMES that require larger distribution to actually become lucrative, my guess is that Nick has surmised that writing is more profitable than wasting time trying to make games.

Heck I've been doing it for OVER 10-Years now and I have a few things to my personal accreditation but not nearly the same amount of Financial Accolades than some other designers which have hit pay dirt with one specific Distribution Deal or maybe a Publishing Deal... (Same thing in my book)

So I feel for Nick trying ANOTHER "Creative" pursuit in the hopes that his books may get him more notoriety than making games.

Would have been nice for him to post on BGDF.com more about what it is he is planning to do with his Sci-Fi Book series and to how more feasible it may be than trying to bring games to market.

Oh... Well... Not all people want to share what they are up to... But they do seem to reach out when they are looking for money... Hehehe.

No worries there either. I understand that creative pursuits are more like "Hobbies" than work. Like the Musician who has yet to be "discovered". Or the Singer that has not yet landed that Record Deal... Or that Actress that is still serving tables while she waits for that next soap opera role, etc. etc.

So as a fellow creative, I fully understand and you do what you NEED to do so that you can continue and push for what you like doing.

Cheers Nick and maybe you might shower us with a quick comment or remark telling us what you're up to and how it's been going!

Best.

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Wed, 12/10/2025 - 17:50
#1
questccg
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Looks like...

Nicholas is producing Fantasy Novels on the Kindle Platform. Lucky that he can transition to writing Fiction and he must be very blessed with an imaginative mind such that he can WRITE pages upon pages of stories that entertain his readers...

I got a 2nd "marketing" email from him... As long as it's not every day, I can live with 1 or 2 emails a month. "EBON LOVE" is the series of books that he has been writing and I figured I'd post about it here on BGDF.com.

The URL/Link to the Kindle Books is:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Nicholas+Markgraf+kindle

Have a look and see if you may LIKE this Fantasy collection of books.

Cheers all!

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Wed, 12/10/2025 - 19:06
#2
questccg
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Figured I'd do some marketing for Nicholas...

I enjoy helping fellow BGDF.com members in all their endeavors. Much like the Fiction writing of Nicholas Markgraf (@markgrafn) who had a card game called "Smoking Aces" (which is the only game that I know of made by Nicholas).

Anyhow "Ebon Love" looks like a nice Kindle read if you like Fantasy/Fiction writing. I have not read the books so I don't know how good they are.

But one thing for sure: if they are like or better than "Jim butcher"'s Dresden Files ... Which I have not read ALL the books but I've read like 4 or 5 of them and was a bit "whoopidey doo".

"Ebon Love" from reading a page in Book #1 ... I thought it seemed pretty decent much like "Dresden Files" but I'm not sure of the characters.

Word of advice to Mark is try "Lulu Lounge":

https://www.lulu.com/

Great if you have some books and you want to print some physical copies to be sold to LOCAL bookstore in your area...!

I priced a 50-Page US Trade Book with Matte Finishing and a perfect bound book would come out to $5.70 CAD... Which is $4.13 USD (Under $5 bucks). It may be a bit pricey... But to get your book out to LOCALS in your area could be PRICELESS in terms of marketing!

Anyhow ... Food for thought.

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Wed, 12/10/2025 - 19:25
#3
questccg
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AI says and I quote...

Gemini wrote:
A 50-page US trade paperback novel generally costs between $9.99 and $14.99 USD.

You could easily go in the middle at $12.99 USD and would cost $4.13 USD to be printed on Lulu ...

If you make $5.00 USD per book... You get the remaining $9.99 USD minus the cost ($4.13) gives the store a profit of $5.86 USD (which is ~40% markup).

Could be good to help out a LOCAL Bookstore and have a Signing Event... I know Nicholas is not a renown writer ... But LOCALS have a thing for writers who live in their area.

Anyhow ... This could be a VIABLE venture for our cool Fiction Writer...

Cordially.

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Thu, 12/11/2025 - 15:53
#4
larienna
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It's fun that somebody

It's fun that somebody managed to made some profit out of creative work. Whatever the medium, it's hard these days.

I worked in the book industry a lot, back then authors only made 10% of the final retail price, which is indeed bigger than board games which was closer to 2.5%. Not sure if sales and profit margins increased or decreased with digital distribution.

I also thought about doing other related to game design activities, like video/board game reviewing. I am hard position right now to do audio recording. So I stick to video game programming and sometimes board game design because its always in the back of my mind even if I do not want to. It's a curse.

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Fri, 12/12/2025 - 16:13
#5
Noah McQ
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Looks cool. The books are

Looks cool. The books are about 50 pages, pretty bite-sized, and they're free if you have Kindle Unlimited, a subscription service

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Fri, 12/12/2025 - 17:51
#6
questccg
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I read some of the FREE content to see...

And it's pretty well written. I'm not some kind of Book Guru... But the style of the writing is ENGAGING and on a superior level when it comes to vocabulary and writing style. Like I said, I only read a paragraph or two... But still it's probably something that I would read!

But I don't do too much reading these days. Aside from this website and some friends I stay in touch with (we chat regularly)... I don't make it an effort to read books. I still am in Book #2 of Asimov's Foundation... The part of the mule is coming soon ... Even though I watched Season #3 of Foundation on Apple TV+... Which I got as a Christmas gift for 1-Year (last Christmas).

I will not be renewing or asking for an extension. It's too expensive for what you get. Sure there are still other GOOD shows to watch... But TBH I don't watch much TV... So that is that.

You people must be wondering... "WTF does he do???" Well mostly spend time working on "Game Design"... I do it about 40-hours a week. And sometimes I work on website translation, other times I work on taking Quest to another level, I have like half dozen games in queue... And I am planning another KS Campaign in 2026. Plus I want to launch a webstore too...

ABC... As usual. So I'm always busy. Never a dull moment in my life.

"Always Be Closing" = ABC! FYI. Cheers!

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Sat, 12/13/2025 - 20:34
#7
questccg
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Yeah that's very true...

Noah McQ wrote:
Looks cool. The books are about 50 pages, pretty bite-sized...

I wonder if these 50 Page "book-ish" publications could be combined to make a more meatier book. Like he's got I think about 10 "e-books" of 50 pages each. In my own mind, I wonder if he could make ONE (1) 250 page book covering the various plots now that he's got them written and would it make sense to do this.

This could make a Trade Book for 250 Pages SELL for more money too... Sorry if my response is about money ($$$) but to be honest, I think all ventures we go into are for money. If it's not millions of dollars, maybe it's enough to scrap by a living and pay for rent, food, phone and internet.

My "ABC" mentality is now a real part of me. "Always Be Closing" means that you focus on the "bottom line". If this is not going to net you anything in the end well then it's time to move to something else.

That's my POV... But some people just enjoy talking about Designs and Games. Like it was a hobby. But because there are NOT so many people on BGDF.com discussing their games either means one (1) of these statements:

1. People are busy trying to take their design to someone who CAN SELL them.

2. People have given up the business because it is hard to make money in it.

3. They have other creative outlets (like our writer) and can focus on something else than Game Design.

4. Have very limited amount of time after working a normal day and have family to care for and need to relax rather then get entangled with designs.

5. They've tried in the past and the reception was "Lukewarm" and couldn't get to the next step in getting their designs published (And this is kinda my own personal POV).

So I think each past Game Designer is in one (1) of those five (5) statements. And IDK... I keep trying and have been doing better even if priorities are different. We shall see. One step at a time.

But know that it's a hard business. Diamond Comics (Alliance Distribution) just went under in 2025. They've been around 1982 for more that 40 years! So if a business that has been around that long can close its doors ... That says something of the volatility of the Game Publishing business...

Food for thought...

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Mon, 12/15/2025 - 10:16
#8
larienna
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I used to read in the bus,

I used to read in the bus, but now, I don't spend enough time in transit to do so. So instead, I am listening to Harry Potter audio books I found on the net during lunch, or when I have eye strain. I am finishing the 3rd book, so much different than the movies.

If I need to sit in transit, I try to do stuff of my tablet, pixel art, games and sometimes reading. I have been taking the plane lately a lot, the tablet is the main entertainment, because it does not take space. Still, I could manage to watch 2 movies on my last flight, it made the flight pass really fast. Movies are really hypnotizing for me.

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