The Nuts and Bolts of Writing

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This week, we’ll look at Temperance in my tarot deck, the Fortunus Games tarot deck.  

This tarot card features Pinchas Farber from my Tapas graphic novel, “The Book of Joel.”  This card symbolizes balance, moderation, and purpose, which Pinchas believes himself to have (especially in contrast to his fiery wife, Rokhl/Rachel).   

Growing up, Joel believes that Pinchas is a great representation of these qualities, but as he gets older, he starts seeing Pinchas as being too passive and depressed for his own good. He doesn't like how he often brushes aside things that make him uncomfortable and prefers status quo.   

Perhaps this is why Joel takes it upon himself to become an outspoken debater in high school.  Pinchas is pouring water between two cups, symbolizing the alchemy and flow of life.   

There’s also a hovering light above the mountains that symbolizes the importance of staying true to oneself throughout the journey of life.

Tete.Depunk's Tapas novel preview, "70 Fierce Years," will feature some very dark events soon. Prepare to see Andrei's ethnic identity wiped and a heart-wrenching betrayal...  

You can read and sub to "70 Fierce Years" here.

Watch the video on YouTube! You'll see the Sims moving as me and Tete roleplay the characters' dialogue.

Watch all of me and Tete's DC crossover roleplays here.

In this Sims 4 roleplay, me and @tete.depunk roleplay as Malka Spitzer and Joel Farber from my graphic novel, "The Book of Joel" (me) and Bruce Wayne/Batman from DC Comics (Tete).  Find out how they meet and what these three learn about each other!

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Hi everyone! This week, we’ll look at Death in my tarot deck, the Fortunus Games tarot deck.

Zhuel is the AU version of my character Joel Farber from my graphic novel, “The Book of Joel.”

Self-denying, authoritative, and solemn, Zhuel struggles with many of the same self-inflicted issues as Joel: self-hatred, overthinking, and nihilism.

Watch this on YouTube! You'll see me playing the Sims while me and Tete do an audio roleplay of their dialogue.

Watch all of me and Tete's DC crossover roleplays here.

In this Sims 4 roleplay, me and @tete.depunk roleplay as Joel Farber from my graphic novel, "The Book of Joel" (me) and Golden Age Lois Lane from DC Comics (Tete).  Note that Tete has modified and added to Lois Lane's character because she's writing an improved version of the Red Son Superman movie.  Find out how they meet and what these two learn about each other!

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I have chosen to portray the Hanged Man as Joel Farber from my graphic novel, “The Book of Joel.” 

This is because the Hanged Man symbolizes the following:  Wisdom, circumspection, discernment, trials, sacrifice, intuition, divination, prophecy.  In reverse, the Hanged Man symbolizes selfishness, the crowd, and the body politic. The halo burning brightly around the hanged man's head can signify higher learning or enlightenment.

Watch on YouTube. We play the Sims as we speak, so you can see the characters moving as we talk!

Watch all of me and Tete's DC crossover roleplays here.

In this Sims 4 roleplay, me and @tete.depunk roleplay as Joel Farber from my graphic novel, "The Book of Joel" (me) and Bruce Wayne/Batman from DC Comics (Tete).  Find out how they meet and what these two men learn about each other!

Watch on YouTube.

Read the full transcript here. 

Check out the Fortunus Games Tarot Deck! 

Hi everyone! This week, we’ll look at Strength in my tarot deck, the Fortunus Games tarot deck. This card is either number Eleven or Eight, depending on the deck. I chose to go with Eleven. I chose to represent Strength as Fahid from Tete’s fantasy series, “Scale, Blood, and Bone,” which you can read on Tapas. “Scale, Blood, and Bone” is an alternative universe (AU) fantasy reinterpretation of some of the events of my “The Book of Joel.”

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Today, me and Wren are going to be talking about their graphic novel, "The House on Caple Hill." 

Last time, on Episode 133, we talked about the first book of the series, "The Book of Khet." The Khet is one of the parts of the soul in Egyptian mythology, namely, the body. Accordingly, it's the beginning of our protagonist Josofin's story.  

(You can check out all of the podcasts I've done with Wren on this playlist.)  

Art on the thumbnail is by Wren.

Specifically, we'll be looking at the second book of the series, "The Book of Ka." Ka is the "spark of life" that distinguishes life from death. It explores more of Josofin's story, especially after a dramatic event in the first book.  

1. As previously discussed, each book in your graphic novel series, "The House on Caple Hill," takes place in a different setting. What's the setting of the Book of Ka? 

2. Who is the Erlking? What mythological figure from real life was he inspired by?  

3. Who is Laurel? What is her relationship to the story and to Josofin?  

4. Tell us how Josofin meets the Erlking's family with as few spoilers as possible. What does she learn from them? And they from her?  

5. What are the themes of the Book of Ka? How do they compare to the Book of Khet?

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Hi everyone! This week, we’ll look at The Wheel of Fortune in my tarot deck, the Fortunus Games tarot deck.

I chose Sam Abramov, the protagonist of my Tapas graphic novel, “Sam in New York” for this card.

The Wheel of Fortune represents good fortune, luck, and felicity, all things that Sam wants for himself.

I can easily imagine Sam having a Wheel of Fortune as a game show host if he ever became one!

And who's dressed as a playboy bunny on the side of the wheel? It's Sam! It's a wink at the outfit Sam wore in the Sims 4 for Halloween 2020.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, there are four astrological signs representing the Four Evangelists, but I didn't have space to put them in and I didn't want to make the piece too crowded. So we only have Taurus and Leo, which fit Sam the best. Although Sam's an Aries, Taurus fits him because he likes material comfort. He also has many Leo qualities, such as desiring attention.