Weekly Updates 2

Palladium Books - Weekly Update - May 17, 2024

Palladium Books - Weekly Update - May 10, 2024

ONE GAME SYSTEM – EVERY GENRE – COUNTLESS WORLDS – ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

Join us for a TMNT Party

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Life and Friendship

 

I’ve done a lot of introspection since the loss of Kathy. About how I have met and known so many amazing people in my life. People who seem to show up when I need them most. That started with my Mom and Dad, both astonishing and wonderful in their own special way, and my dear, little (six foot, four) brother.

 

Over the years, I’ve talked a lot about Erick Wujcik, in part because he too has passed away, and in part because he was one of those larger than life people, a brilliant game designer in his own right. He and I were co-conspirators and cheerleaders in each other's lives for decades from the day we met; true friends and creative soulmates to the end. But there has been a multitude of other people who have had a profound impact on my life and work.

 

Kathy, of course, in more ways than you can imagine, dear sweet Julius Rosenstein (also passed), Matthew Balent, Robin Korona, William Messner-Loebs, the lovely Francis Loebs, Jim Domborski, Jim Osten, Kay Kozora, Larry Jordan, Cheryl Corey, Maryann Donald, my two kids, Kevin Long, Randy McCall, Roger and Randy Cartier, Mary Parkinson, Keith Parkinson, Rita Smolinski, Teresa Mead, Jim Steranko, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Mark Freedman, Stephen Bissette, Ramon K. Perez, Freddie Williams II, Tyler Walpole, Larry Elmore, Steven Cummings, Jolly Blackburn, Brandon Aten, Shawn Hall, Richard Burke, Richard Cook, the Brown Family, Joe Bergmans, Doug Lamberson, Dennis Hughes, Jeff Hansen, Chris Guertin, Paul Deckert, Mark Oberle, Mike Leonard, John Zeleznik, Carl Gleba, Carmen Bellaire, Steven Dawes, Mark Dudley, Chuck Walton, Bill Coffin, Nick Bradshaw, Mike Mumah, Mike Wilson, Mike Majestic, Marc Moore, Ryan McDaniels, Nick Kay,  Matthew Clements, John Klinkel, Chris Landauer, Wayne Smith, Sean Roberson (my new creative soulmate and crazy business partner) and the entire Roberson/Nelson clan, each and every single Defiler, especially the Bartolds, and a freakin’ army of other people! Far too many to list them all by name. Plus the greatest fans on the planet. Wow. It’s incredible to me.

 

Most of these people (and you) have impacted my life in the most wonderful and beautiful of ways, making me a better human being. Even when things sometimes turned sour, it becomes a learning experience that helps me grow in new ways. Some of these people were in my life for a short time, others for a lifetime, but always significant. It astonishes me to be so truly blessed.

 

There is one person who bears special acknowledgement. A gentle soul who has been an integral part of my existence for most of my life. He is quiet and gentle, quirky and kind, brilliant and creative, and a stalwart friend who has shared every – and I mean every – up and down, good and bad moment, triumph and loss, hope and dream. He was my first and dearest creative partner and the bestest of best friends for 56 years and counting, the unassuming Alex Marciniszyn. You know him as a Palladium editor and staff member, but he is so much more to me. We are as close as brothers – closer. Alex was my first publishing partner (Megaton Publishing), fellow artist and writer on a couple of fanzines in our teens and five issues of A+Plus, an alternative comic book, published during our college days. Alex is one of the Defilers, a sounding board for my ideas, researcher, concept guy, first Palladium employee and the helper behind the scenes at Palladium since day one before I could even afford to pay him. He was the best man at my wedding, an uncle to my children, and a kindred spirit throughout my life. Our love, friendship, and support for each other has never wavered, no matter the circumstance to this very day. In our youth, Alex and I were so inseparable, like the two Musketeers, that my Dad used to introduce him to others as, “and this is Alex, my other son.” Friends like that are truly rare and precious. Thank you, Alex for being such a great friend and vital part of my existence. May we share many new adventures in the decades ahead.

 

I hope you don’t mind me sharing like this. As I said, the loss of Kathy has made me introspective and all the more appreciative of my wonderful life and the multitude of awesome people in it. I see you, our fans, as our extended Palladium family and that puts you among those awesome people in my life. As such, I feel like I can share my inner thoughts and feelings with you. These Closing Thoughts have never been just about business. Palladium is a different kind of company. We really are a family by choice, and you are part of that family. I love it.

 

For those of you who may also be suffering a profound loss, I share your pain, and though you may not believe it now, things will get better. I promise, even as I struggle with that very notion myself. Be kind and patient with yourself. It’s okay to feel that deep loss and sorrow and to cry. I cried like a baby this past Monday and I have no idea what triggered it. It sucks, but it’s also okay, and things will get better. You’ll get better. Lean on your friends and gaming and whatever else brings you joy and happiness. A friend who lost his wife a few years ago said his weekly games were one of the few things that brought him joy and helped him through his time of grief and pain. Whether you too are grieving or happy as a clam, I want to reiterate Erick Wujcik’s final words to me, before he died: “In the end, all that matters is the people you love and whatever brings you joy. Find your joy and hold it close.” Amen. Have a great weekend, find joy, and game on.

 

– Kevin Siembieda, Game Designer, writer, and friend

Palladium Books - Weekly Update - May 03, 2024

ONE GAME SYSTEM – EVERY GENRE – COUNTLESS WORLDS – ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Happy Friday, Palladium Fans!

🧟 WAKE THE DEAD SALE 🧛‍♀️

Undead rise from the earth like spring flowers. Pray you have the courage to stop them! Rescue the innocent from vampires, zombies, and other unspeakable horrors found in the pages of the RPGs and sourcebooks in this sale. Limited offer — up to 40% savings. SALE ENDS Wednesday May 8!

Hardcover books 20% off - Softcover books 30% off - Merchandise 40% off

Horror-filled PDFs up to 40% off at DriveThruRPG.com

I MISSED THE CAMPAIGN, BUT I WANT THOSE DICE!

NEW RELEASES IN PRINT

Yin-Sloth Jungles™ Expanded and Revised

Get it at PalladiumBooks

Rifts® Titan Robotics™ Sourcebook

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Filled with Wonder and Excitement

 

Hey everyone,

 

I hope you are all doing well, enjoying lovely spring weather, and are excited about our new, horrifyingly fun sale on physical books and PDFs.

 

We continue to receive cards and condolences from our many fans and friends regarding the loss of Kathy Simmons, as well as inquiries about how I am doing. Thank you for caring so much. We appreciate your concern and words of love and compassion. All of you in our extended Palladium family of fans are so kind and downright awesome.

 

I won’t pretend the unexpected death of my sweetheart hasn’t been brutal – it has. She was a special person and loved deeply by me and countless others. We are getting through it as best we can and carry our many fond memories of Kathy in our hearts daily. And always will.

 

Life continues and it is filled with wonder and excitement. It was fun meeting and hanging out with the TransPerfect guys last week. The 3D printed TMNT & Other Strangeness miniature mock-ups they brought with them made my heart jump with joy. It was amazing to hold Doc Feral, Karl, Igor, the Terror Bears, the Turtles, Shredder and all the rest in my hands. They look beyond amazing. I was moved that they thought to present me a special, five inch tall Leonardo for my desk; I love it. I love all of the miniatures and the people responsible for their creation. I cannot recommend the two Kickstarter miniature sets enough. Wow. Mind-blowing. I have been pulling out various minis to randomly examine and enjoy all week. Today they were Casey Jones, Splinter, and the Triceraton. Dang, they are all so good.

 

I cannot stop playing with the Mutagen Green dice sample either! On Sunday, a visiting friend went bonkers over the dice. Sean worked with our manufacturer to create something unique and fun with these Mutagen Green dice. They feel good in your hand, roll nice, and look like dice containing active, mutagenic green ooze. Heck, I’m in my sixties, but all the miniatures, the dice, and seeing the finished color artwork going into final layout makes me feel like a teenager again. The fan boy in me is cheering and giddy with excitement every single day.

 

Speaking of art, I’m happy that Nickelodeon is approving the new illustrations I’ve done and that I get such positive feedback from them and people like Sophie Campbell. I did two tribute pages. One is a massive T-Rex menacing the Turtles (colored by Sophie). Sophie also enjoyed my latest tribute page featuring the four TMNT fighting Doctor Feral and his henchmen, including the fully human Otto Rattus appearing in an illustration for the first time ever! Her favorite part of it is Raphael punching out Otto, which made my heart sing. Every part of the TMNT & Other Strangeness Redux has been a labor of love.

 

I had a really nice time at Chaosium Con too – we love those guys. The event reminded Sean and I of our own Palladium Open House. There have been other business and personal moments that have brought me joy and remind me that life is beautiful, and that Kathy would want me and all of us to revel in every moment. In fact, I can’t wait for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday! Oops, there’s the little kid in me coming out again.

 

I’ve talked a lot about the TMNT project, but we have so much more happening behind the scenes and planned for the future. New books for Rifts, Palladium Fantasy, Beyond the Supernatural, and ... well, I better not say too much just yet, but you’ll be doing a happy dance when we reveal them. In fact, I’m getting a hankering to sit down and do some writing right now. So I will bid you a fond goodbye for now. So much to do, plus Gen Con is right around the corner. We hope many of you will swing by the Palladium booth to say hello.

 

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer, and Friend

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