PORT OF CALL: Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Me

The first part of my journey through the arduous Mormon Tabernacle Choir auditions.

NEWS AND MAIL

CREATIVE ENGINE:  Assault on Santa’s Workshop

Why has there never been a really good, ripping Santa Claus adventure with hard hitting excitment, reindeer and explosives? Now you can have one as my gift to you by downloading the free PDF version of Assault on Santa’s Workshop from the XDM: Xtreme Dungeon Mastery website as my holiday gift to you.

UNCHARTED TERRITORIES: My After-Christmas List

And what do YOU want for After Christmas, little boy? On my list you’ll find Batman: Arkham Asylum computer game, a Batmobile Tumbler model, an XDM: Xtreme Dungeon Mastery book and my favorite board game: Z-man Game’s ‘Tales of the Arabian Nights.”

STATUS REPORT:

A link to the cover of the first Drakis novel will be posted shortly.

CAPTAINS CABIN: Leacock’s Christmas Story

Originally to have been aired last year … but included this year as a special gift.

Episode 46 / December 29th, 2009

GENCON 2009 Special Edition

Tracy Hickman hosts Curtis Hickman and Howard Tayler (co-author and illustrator of the new XDM: Xtreme Dungeon Mastery book) to join him in this hour-long gathering with DragonHearth listeners. This presentation was recorded live in the Westin Hotel Capital III room at 2:00 pm on August 15th, 2009.

Episode 45 / August 15th, 2009

SPECIAL EDITION: Dragonships Video Interview

Last December, Margaret and I did an interview for Expanded Books on our upcoming Dragonships novel release. The first book, ‘Bones of the Dragon’ is available now. Here is some insight into this first novel.

Episode 41 / January 16th, 2009

PORT OF CALL: Richard Garriott and the Return to the World

Legendary computer game designer Richard Garriott — known to many of us as ‘Lord British’ — joins us aboard the DragonHearth for a final time from Star City, Russia to conclude his first-hand account of his recently completed spaceflight aboard Soyuz TMA-13 to the International Space Station. In this final of three parts interview, we’ll discover how life after such an adventure has its own challenges … that the lessons that have been learned are sublime and unexpected … and how he has not yet had time to fully appreciate what the journey had brought to him.

You can read more about both Richard and his mission into space at his Richard in Space website.

Episode 39 / November 8th, 2008

PORT OF CALL: Richard Garriott and the First Sci-Fi Movie Made in Space

Legendary computer game designer Richard Garriott — known to many of us as ‘Lord British’ — joins us aboard the DragonHearth from Star City, Russia to continue his first-hand account of his recently completed spaceflight aboard Soyuz TMA-13 to the International Space Station. In this second of three parts interview, we’ll hear about his feelings approaching the International Space Station … how the realities of life in space can be unexpected … and how he took a ‘secret project’ created by Laura and I with him into orbitand used it to make the first science-fiction film ever actually filmed in space.

You can read more about both Richard and his mission into space at his Richard in Space website.

Episode 38 / November 7th, 2008

PORT OF CALL: Richard Garriott, Private Space Explorer
Legendary computer game designer Richard Garriott — known to many of us as ‘Lord British’ — joins us once again aboard the DragonHearth from Star City, Russia this time to tell us his first-hand account of his recently completed spaceflight aboard Soyuz TMA-13 to the International Space Station. In this first of three parts interview, we’ll learn of his experiences leading up to his launch … what it it like to take a Soyuz into space … and the costs beyond the monetary that such an adventure exacts on one’s life.

You can read more about both Richard and his mission into space at his Richard in Space website.

Episode 37 / November 6th, 2008

DISTANT SHORTS: Gencon OZ in Brisbane, Australia
Part Two of Two as Tracy and Laura conclude their journey to Brisbane, Australia and the first Gencon Australia Game Convention.

We begin with a reading from the upcoming Tracy & Laura Hickman series ‘Drakis’ … enlisting members of the audience (shown here) into our cast. With only a few minor bumps along the way, their performance is flawless.

We then conclude with additional questions from our new friends ‘Down Under.’

Episode 31 / July 3rd, 2008

DISTANT SHORTS: Gencon OZ in Brisbane, Australia
Part One of Two as Tracy and Laura journey to Brisbane, Australia and the first Gencon Australia Game Convention.

We speculate about Rugby League vs. Union rules and on why American Football manages to make a ninety minute game last for four hours. We tell about our adventures aboard the Mirimar going up the Brisbane River and our encounters with Koalas and Kangaroos in the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

We explain the nature of Killer Breakfast and why Australians should come and enjoy it just like those in the Northern Hemisphere.

We then take questions from the Dragonlance Crew (shown below) and prepare for a reading from our upcoming book ‘Drakis.’

Episode 30 / July 3rd, 2008

UNCHARTED TERRITORIES: The Dragonlance Movie Review
The Dragonlance Movie has premiered here at the Hickman House … and here is our first review. You can join the discussion on this topic either at the Dragonhearth Message board or get additional information from the Official Dragonlance Movie website.

PORT OF CALL: The Blu-ray / HD-DVD War Report
Our son Curtis Hickman … a professional After Effects artist as well as professional magician … calls the victor in the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD war.

CREATIVE ENGINE: Softening Stories for Young Children … and why you shouldn’t
An essay by Stephen Leacock from the early 1900′s shows us why ‘politically correct’ children’s stories may NOT be the best choice!

CAPTAIN’S CABIN: Santa’s Beard
My father recites our favorite of his Christmas Poems:

DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT SANTA’S BEARD
By Dr. Harold Hickman

Don’t talk to me about Santa’s Beard…
That it’s just fur or cotton.
I busted Joe just up the block
for saying things that rotten.

He said down at the shopping mall
The Santa Line was merry.
‘Cause they gave kids a lolly-pop
And his was lime … or cherry.

It stuck to Santa’s beard real good
It glued right in the middle.
And he yanked that guys beard right off
And he just tugged a little.

Well that might be for store-bought ‘Nicks
In shopping malls some place
But it’s not true of Santa Claus
He’d always save his face.

You see there’s just ONE Santa Claus
A mighty jolly guy
The others are just helpers
Like Santa’s foreign spies.

Cause Santa’s got a rush up there
To get his stuff all ready
He’s got a million things to do
And work must go quite steady

If he would leave this time of year
The whole place would be frantic
With all them elves a running round
And Mrs. Claus in panic.

So he assigns some guys around
Who look the same as he does
But they ain’t got no beard like his
As soft as down or peach fuzz.

They represent the grand old man
And listen to the kiddies
And ask what kind of dolls they want
To sing them little ditties.

So these guys look like Santa Clause
To make us all remember
That this old man who brings the stuff
Will be here this December.

So next time you sit on his lap
NO LOLLYPOP … and trust him!
The next kid that pulls off his beard…
I’ll find him out AND BUST HIM!

Episode 25/ December 1st, 2007

PORT OF CALL: Game Designer Interview
Jamie Chambers and Cam Banks, game designers for Margaret Weis Productions and authors of Dragonlance, Serenity and Battlestar Galactica RPGs are interviewed.

Episode 22: October 25, 2007
Visit www.dragonhearthproductions.com for our ship’s log and our contact message board.

Special Edition / September 4th, 2006
Visit our website for contact information and access to our DragonHearth Harbor Message board.

Special Edition / August 12th, 2006
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Special Edition / August 1, 2006
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BOOK TOUR PODCAST from the Joseph-Beth Bookstore in Lexington, Kentucky.

Special Edition / July 31st, 2006
Visit our website for contact information and access to our DragonHearth Harbor Message board.

BOOK TOUR PODCAST from the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Special Edition / July 28th, 2006
Visit our website for contact information and access to our DragonHearth Harbor Message board.

BOOK TOUR PODCAST from the Main Exchange Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington.

Special Edition / July 27th, 2006
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BOOK TOUR PODCAST featuring Margaret Weis and Tracy & Laura Hickman from the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in San Diego, California.

Special Edition / July 26th, 2006
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BOOK TOUR PODCAST featuring Dragonlance Movie Director Will Meugniot from Comic Con in San Diego, California.

Special Edition / July 24th, 2006
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BOOK TOUR PODCAST from Novi, Michigan.

Special Edition / July 15th, 2006
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BOOK TOUR PODCAST from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Special Edition / July 14th, 2006
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BOOK TOUR PODCAST Announcing Keifer Sutherland as the voice of Raistlin in the Dragonlance Movie

Special Edition / July 13th, 2007
Visit our website for contact information and access to our DragonHearth Harbor Message board.