WomenGamers.Com had the opportunity to talk with Shelly Mazzanoble about her unique new book, Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress, and her discovery that D&D isn't just for guys.
Why dont you tell me a bit about your background. What events in your life brought you to where you are now at Wizards and the writing of this book. What was your inspiration? And more importantly, what is next for you? What other gaming myths are you planning to crack?
I started working at Wizards of the Coast 8 years ago after responding to an ad in the newspaper (!) for a Promotions Coordinator. The company didn't list their name or any details about what the job would entail but I had experience doing promotions for record labels and radio stations and wanted to continue in that field.
I remember the day I went in for my interview and just being completely floored. There was a dragon the size of a tank suspended from the lobby ceiling. Everyone seemed happy (a far departure from the job I was currently at) and there were these 'creativity stations' set up randomly around the building that included puzzles, Tinker Toys, coloring books, etc. I guess if you're going to make games, you better be having fun while doing it. Thankfully I was hired as Promotions Coordinator for Magic: The Gathering and started shortly after.
While I can appreciate the skill and gameplay involved in a game like Magic, I quickly realized it wasn't for me. It was way to competitive and non-social. I like conversation when I play a game. Something that involves more than "You're going down, Sucker!" (Although some of that does come into play with D&D. Or even Pictionary for that matter.) For the next 6 years I worked on various trading card games until I was moved to the Publishing department to do marketing for our children's book imprint, Mirrorstone. At the same time a new D&D game was starting up and Teddy, the DM, asked me if I wanted to join. After six years of working for the company that publishes D&D, you learn a bit about it, but I with the exception of a quick demo here and there I had never played a full game. I jumped at the chance to play. I really like my co-workers so spending an extra 2 hours a week with them wasn't exactly a strain. I thought it would be fun but I never expected to like D&D as much as I did.
I'm someone who can personify anything and become attached to it (is that too much information? Probably.) I name everything--my computer, my car, my friends' cars--so no surprise I was hooked from the moment I created Astrid, my elf sorceress. After a couple of sessions I wrote up an essay about my secret life as a designer bag toting dragon slayer and sent it to an editor at The Seattle Times. She liked it but didn't quite get it and I had a hard time capturing the spirit of the game in only 700 words. She didn't publish it but my timing was impeccable. I showed the essay to some people at Wizards and learned they were already trying to figure out ways to bring more women into the game. I wrote up a proposal for a 'how to' book that would be part memoir, part beginners guide. Something light and humorous that explained the basics but did it in a less daunting way (like comparing daily spells with a ration of M&M's.) They accepted and I got to work. Sixteen months later Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress was born.
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