Introducing Author Bob Welch

Bob Welch’s debut novel, Into the Dax, tackles themes of climate change, political and religious oppression, technological progress, and ​disinformation. I was excited to read an advance copy, and Bob agreed to an interview!

Born and raised in Western New York, Bob Welch is an author, game designer, and producer. Bob designed best-selling games like Bop It and oversaw the creative development and production of global video game hits including Civilization, RollerCoaster Tycoon, and Act of War. Building on a game career that focused on creating immersive, emotionally engaging experiences and worlds, Bob now brings that same depth of storytelling and worldbuilding to fiction.

So, Into the Dax is your first novel! Congratulations! What was your reaction seeing it in print for the first time?

Good question. My first reaction was to feel the weight of it, physically. Then, feel the weight of it mentally. Also, happy to have captured a lot of thoughts and feelings on those pages, I was eager to hear what readers thought the book was about! I mean, I know I wrote it, and I know what the story is, but I am interested in reader feedback -- entertainment-wise -- and what deeper thoughts, questions, or insights they might have taken away from it.

I hear you’ve been working on this novel for some time. What was the most challenging part in writing it?

This is my third novel (first published), so I felt confident in the craft of writing. The biggest challenge was finding an editor I could vibe with. I worked with three different ones over the course of writing the book, and they all bring their own points of view, so staying true to what I wanted to say, and my writer’s voice was important. I had to distill what I thought was vital in their feedback but know when to push back on certain suggestions. When I decided to self-publish, writer friends (including you) were extremely helpful in offering their time and suggestions on book layout tools, cover art resources, publishing and distribution partners, marketing channels, etc. But the amount of work in being your own publisher is not to be underestimated!

You tackle some big topics. Where did the ideas for Into the Dax come from?

The initial spark happened in 2016. Suddenly, lifelong friends began filling their social media feeds with the language of a rising movement that used religion as a cudgel, casting anyone who disagreed with them (like me) as enemies. The idea that people with different opinions or political points of view were not just opponents anymore, but enemies, was striking. I couldn’t make sense of it. We had all grown up together and shared the same values—or so I thought. Values that were also being crushed by an American culture that had morphed into Wolf of Wall Street thinking: that greed and self-interest are good.

This made me reflect on my Catholic upbringing and Western thought in general, and how we’ve lost a sense of community and reciprocity, not just with each other but with all living things on the earth. So I began to write as a way to make sense of what we’re living through. I also read. I read books by philosophers, naturalists, indigenous leaders, comparative mythologists, religious thinkers, and scientists. These were all topics I was interested in from a lifetime of experience and being curious. I was raised in an area where I was exposed to and became interested in Iroquois/Haudenosaunee/Native American culture. I was raised a Catholic and, through many scandals and hypocrisies, became disappointed by Catholic and Protestant leadership. I explored world religions, awakened to the intelligence of nature by a book called The Hidden Life of Trees, and learned to be concerned that our culture of unbridled capitalism and exploitation is stripping the Earth of its health and diversity. And last but not least, having worked in technology, I’m fully aware of future-tech, science-tech, and their pros and cons. So, the topics in the book are my brain --made story.

All of your characters are very well developed. Who is your favorite? Why?

Geesh. You’re asking me to choose my favorite child? What I find interesting and satisfying is that when I ask this question to readers, they all have a different character they love. For me, Kiley is my hero, so I love her. But if I do say so myself, the cast of characters is a great ensemble. They all bring something different.

Your descriptions of your settings are very vivid. How were you able to make that happen?

I’m a visual person, so when I write I see the movie in my head and I describe it. I also use settings I know about, so I’m recalling places, experiences, emotions, smells, and tastes that I know. I have the ability to be completely ‘gone’ when I’m writing and to have my mind fully and completely in the place I am writing about. I also think it helps that I created video games because creating worlds is part of the craft, as is conjuring future-tech and action scenes.

Where will Into the Dax be available?

At launch, June 30th, it’ll be exclusively available on Amazon. Later in the year I’ll expand retail, but that’s TBD.

So, what’s next? Any new projects on the horizon?

First, I’m ripping up more of my lawn and planting wildflower pollinator gardens, which is something I’ve been doing over the last few summers. I have ideas for a Dax prequel and a sequel. I vacillate between which to do. I also have two middle-grade books that I should go back to and self-publish. One is a coming-of-age summer camp story set in the Adirondacks. The other is about a high school inventor, a brilliant but socially awkward student who is thrust into an adventurous high-stakes rescue! So, we’ll see. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss all things Dax. Wyun, and Blue is The Eye.

For more on Into the Dax and its author Bob Welch, visit bobwelchauthor.com

My New Website!

Marketing is a challenge for many writers, me included. Let's face it. We'd rather be creating
than thinking about the business end of things.

But tidying up the business end of things is one of my goals for 2026. I've already started a newsletter that has been gaining readers with every book signing that I have. I am trying to keep it short and sweet, but I enjoy letting my readers know background about me, my publishing team, and my stories.

I've ordered business cards, which should be arriving any day.

Now, I'm proud to say, my website has launched! There are four pages: the home page, a page about me with only slightly embarrassing photos, a page revealing the background to each of my books, and then an interactive page. The last, titled "Curious Minds Want to Know More," is the one that, to me, is really exciting. Here's how it works:

Say you read Relic. You can go to the Relic page and there you will find interactive links to topics relevant to the story. You can learn more about depression glass, the little village that was the inspiration for the story, the suffragette movement, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. 

There are interactive links for literature extensions for each of my books. I hope you have a fun time exploring. Go to https://sites.google.com/view/robertaworthington to check it out!

Dollars for Scholars

I am excited to see my next signing appearance on the horizon. It's been a long, cold winter and the Dollars for Scholars March Craft Show is a sure sign of spring!

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14 at Sweet Home High School in Amherst, NY. It is one of my favorite events because my table fee goes toward college scholarships for graduating seniors. I sell books. Kids get college funding help. It's a true win-win!

There is usually a wide assortment of crafts, local authors, a baked sale, a basket raffle, and even donuts and coffee!

The Sweet Home Chapter of Dollars for Scholars has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships since 1990. Many of the scholarship funds have been eligible for matching grants.

Maybe I'll see you there!

Another New Venue

At the end of August, I will be selling and signing at another exciting event -- the Better Off Read Summer Book Festival. It will take place at Artpark in Lewiston, NY from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. August 30.

I'm really excited about this one! It is free, and everything about this event hinges on reading for book enthusiasts of every age. There will be 91 vendors including some authors that I can hardly wait to meet! For the younger set there will be storytelling and face painting. There are some great special donors for raffles, including ABBA, Billie Eilish, Metalica and others. And books will be for sale everywhere!

If you love books and reading, this will be an exciting one! I hope to see you there! Stop by my booth, buy a signed copy of one of my books, and sign up to receive my newsletter! 

New Venue

I'm very excited to be selling and signing books tomorrow, April 19th at the Sto Lat Bar in Amherst, NY.

This is the third annual Read It & Eat Book Fair, but the first time it has been held at the Sto Lat Bar in the former Eastern Hills Mall.

I'm hearing that buying tickets at the door is the most pocket-friendly since there is a fee if you buy them through the on-line vender. 

The event is hosted by the Read It & Eat Bookshop, tagged as Buffalo's culinary bookstore. They seem to be known for their culinary literature and back that up with cooking classes right in the store! I have yet to experience their shop, but hope to soon. Plus, there's an adjacent coffee shop.

Tomorrow will be the first time I've participated in their book fair which will benefit FeedMore of Western New York. Looking forward to it, and to seeing you there!

 

Putting Things in Order

I never suffer from what some people call writer's block. That's not what happened to me recently. I know what I'm going to write about.

This was different.

When I prepared my offering for my monthly writer's group, I sensed something was wrong. I have been taking successive chapters of my newest endeavor, The Curse of Periphery, to the group, but the next chapter seemed like too much of the same thing. Granted, a few months ago, they suggested I take one chapter and expand on it. That resulted in one chapter becoming four chapters.

I felt that, even though I was only on page 16 of the manuscript, something was missing. I had not introduced the villain yet. Was it time for him to make his entrance, I wondered?

To solve the issue, I wrote very short summaries of each chapter I had written. Then I cut them apart and, with a highlighter, color-coded each character. Then I played with reordering them.

At this point, I think my gut feeling was correct. The antagonist will be introduced to my writing group tonight, and I think his timing in the story will work. We will see what they think.

I was trying to stick with Joseph Campbell's hero's journey model, and maybe I was trying to follow it too religiously. Even JK Rowling, who I am sure used the hero's journey model to craft her series, made some adjustments to the order of events. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me!

Happy Holidays

Here's wishing my encouragers, my supporters, and my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Chanukah!

What a year it has been!

Soon, I will be talking about everything I want to accomplish in the new year, but for now, there is a crackling fire in the fireplace, carols playing in the background, a beautiful tree waiting to be lit, and gifts to give to make my loved ones smile.

There will be turkey to eat, cheesecake with raspberry sauce to enjoy, chocolates, and party crackers, and stockings to open. And don't forget the stories and memories of Christmases past with loved ones we have lost over the years.

We wait all year for this magical day. Enjoy it from beginning to end, and bask in its magic and beauty.

One More Chance

Many thanks to everyone who purchased novels from me this past weekend at the Buffalo Historical Society Makers Market. It's always so much fun talking with readers who want the perfect read.

I even met a gentleman (I feel horrible that I did not get your name), whose grandfather was the gardener of Hillside, the estate that provided the inspiration for Relic. He told me about his fond memories of running around the property and how beautiful it was! He purchased a book in memory of his grandfather, Donald McLellan. These kinds of connections only happen when books are sold in person, and it's why I do shows like this!

Next stop: The Williamsville PTSA Holiday Craft Show at Heim Middle and Elementary Schools. The show is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, December 7th and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday December 8th. There is an entrance fee for this show: $3 per person; $1 for children aged 11 to 17; and free for children 10 and under. Proceeds from the show will provide scholarships for students from the three high schools in Williamsville, NY.

I will be located in the hallway of Heim Elementary School. See you there!

Fun after Turkey Day!

 Sure, Turkey Day is right around the corner -- a day to give thanks. And I have so much to be thankful for this year, including my third novel out there in the world.

But right after Thanksgiving, there is so much fun to be had. I'm talking about the Makers Market at the Buffalo Historical Museum. I look forward to this show every year. Why? 

First of all, there are such wonderful vendors at which to shop. It's an artisan show, so these are top-notch products. Things you'll really be proud to give as holiday gifts.

Second, the venue is the beautiful, turn-of-the-century museum built for the Pan-American Exposition as the New York State Building. Shoppers get the added fun of scoping out the exhibits and the architecture.

I know this is a time for lots of craft and vendor fairs, but try to make time for the Makers Market. It really is a unique show, and I'll be there selling and signing my novels!

Happy Indie Author Day

Seems it is Indie Author Day across the nation! The Buffalo and Erie County Library held their 8th annual Indie Author Day today with a fabulously informative morning conference.

Six speakers talked about everything from writing to publishing to marketing. I've attended four of these mini conferences, but this one was fantastic. I can usually walk away with a few nuggets of information, but my notebook is filled with tips and websites.

One great piece of publishing advice from author Lisa Fellinger: "Consider your own skills and decide where you need professional help. Be honest about your abilities."

Annette Daniels Taylor, author of the Marvelous Marvella series, spoke about the different types of publishing. She gave information about educational publishers, which I was not familiar with. In the end, when choosing the type of publishing you want to pursue, "It all depends on your personal goals, your budget and how much time you want to invest," she said.

The day ended with a three-author panel Q&A, who addressed issues from finding free publicity, to networking, to happy moments and disappointments in their own writing and publishing journeys.

Kudos to everyone involved in bringing us Indie Authors a very informative morning! There's always only one problem with these events: they leave with lists of things I need to do to improve my game! Can't wait until next year! (I have so much work to do before then;)

Jeff Kinney Live!

I had a fun day Saturday with about 300 ten-year-olds and their parents at an author event held by Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The kids were absolutely thrilled to be seeing one of their favorite authors in person.

Twenty dollars got two people in the door and a signed copy of his 19th book in the series -- Hot Mess. Quite a deal!

For about ten minutes he talked about his writing process, which is as backwards as I can imagine. He comes up with an idea, then creates the cover first. He writes about 300 jokes next, which in this case involved restaurant and food jokes, and then he starts putting the illustrations and story together.

After that ten minutes, it was off to the races for the next forty-five as the author visit became a kid-centered game show calling up kids and parents in the audience to face off in friendly competitions. The show ended with beach balls painted like meatballs flying through the audience concert-style.

The event was unlike any author event I have ever been to! It really has me thinking about marketing, seeing as how this guy is obviously very successful (After his United States tour, he's off to Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and China!)  So, remember, if you are a writer, try to go to as many of these events as you can, so you can see how other authors structure these events. Always keep a mental file of those ideas!

Many Thanks

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat Saturday at the Sweet Home Dollars for Scholars arts and crafts fair. It's always so much fun to talk with people about books and writing.

A special thank you to Darlene, Lisa, Beverly, Kaitlyn, Doris, Linda, Nancy, Abe, and Ivyana (who jumped up and down when I signed her book!) and others who bought books as gifts. It was wonderful to meet you all.

Remember, if you picked up a bookmark and buy one of my books on Amazon, I will always sign it at my next event.

Speaking of which, I will be selling and signing next at the Buffalo Historical Museum November 29 and 30 and then at the Heim Middle and Elementary School show December 7 and 8.

See you then!
 

Seeing Sandra Cisneros

This week, I got to see one of my favorite authors in person -- Sandra Cisneros. While I taught, her book The House on Mango Street was one of the novels I tried to include every year. 

I guess what I didn't realize about her, was that she was a poet first, although based on the way she writes prose, I should have guessed. So, she had a lot to say about poetry. Here are some of my favorite poetry quotes from that night: 

"Poets are born feeling things too deeply."

"It's easier to write poetry in Spanish because everything rhymes!"

"If what you have to say cannot be published in your lifetime, you'll write your best poetry."

"I don't think at all when I write -- I feel."

"This is a time for poetry. You don't need paints or a brush...all you need is a napkin and a pencil. It's very economical. If we wrote more poetry we wouldn't need any guns."

She read many of her poems that evening, and it made me realize how much I've been missing. I'm off to the bookstore to find some of that poetry right now!

Getting Series-ous

Well, readers of Periphery are already calling for a sequel.

Ironically, I just finished reading two great books: Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree. I mention this only because in the author notes for the second book, Travis writes about the struggle to write a sequel to his first book. 

I always read an author's notes as part of my personal goal of learning about the writing process of as many authors as possible, but I must say, I really appreciated his thoughts on this topic given my current project.

Seems he was sure he had the sequel mapped out, but as he wrote it, he really disliked it! He tried again, and again, and if memory serves me, again. Finally, he ended up writing a prequel that, I agree, was a really fun read.

I just really appreciated his honesty about the difficulty in writing another book using the same characters, especially after the first book was really well received. He admits there is a struggle of writing to meet the expectations of your readers.

Well, I am off on another adventure in the kingdom of Periphery. And thank you, Travis, for your candid thoughts!

Energy Boost

Once a week, my writing buddy Laura and I get together to parallel write. It's like our own writer's workshop. We talk a lot about the pieces we are working on, problems we are having, and segments that we are proud of. If one of us gets stuck, we take the time to help the other person out. And with very busy personal schedules, we are guaranteed at least one morning of serious writing time. Often, that time reinvigorates us and we either keep writing when we get home or follow through with more writing the next day. It's like a writing energy boost!

But during that morning writing session, we also have developed another tradition. A breakfast of yogurt parfaits and warm, buttered scones with tea! We figure the yogurt and fruit is healthy and the scones are decadent. We have our favorites: chocolate chunk and cranberry. That serves as another kind of energy boost!

What do you eat or drink while you are writing to keep your energy up?

Mark Your Calendars

 As the better weather begins, I'm getting ready to fill my calendar with book signing events. New to my schedule this year is the Better Off Read Summer Festival slated for Saturday, August 31 at Artpark in Lewiston, NY.

This year will mark the third year for the festival, which is the brainchild of local author Ian Kinney, and I'm really excited to be a part of it this year!

The festival, which is free, is intended to encourage reading and promote writing and storytelling. There will a discounted book sale and vender booths by local merchants, restaurants, artists, and authors. The day also promises tons of kid-friendly activities, such as storytelling, face-painting, and balloon animals. 

This year, the festival will include an evening of live performances at Artpark's Mainstage Theater. Tickets for those evening performances will be available for purchase.

Sounds like a ton of fun! Mark those calendars! I'll be there!

Periphery is Available!

My newest novel, The Battle for Periphery, is now available on Amazon! A hearty cheer for the
creator of my cover art, Erin Ruffino, and the cover designer, Aaron La Porta! They've done an amazing job at bringing Emerson's adventures to life!

Here is the description:

Emerson wears the cloak of an Amaranth, the garment of a much-revered warrior clan. Since he was a boy, he has been content wandering the realm, but now he is having second thoughts. The idea of settling down in a home of his own is growing on him, and he feels called to build a home in the forest. It's all working, until a princess points a loaded bow to his head.

This Amaranth has shown up just when she needs him the most: a war rages. The palace, the royal family, the very kingdom of Periphery is in danger, and she is determined to make him abide by his Amaranth creed. Their chance meeting leads Emerson on a quest to save a kingdom and a home, but it will also unveil secrets that will change everything he knows about his past and the futures of those he has grown to care for.

Powerful forces are in motion. A mystical tree calls to him, a prophecy plagues his dreams, and a shadowy figure has released a vital spark of light into the night sky.

What will the kingdom's deepest secrets reveal? And can Emerson face the secrets within himself?

I hope you enjoy it! Remember to leave a review! They really do help us Indie authors!

  

     

Speaker Fun

Recently, I had a wonderful experience as the featured author invited to kick off the Spring
season for the Thursday Book Club at the 20th Century Club of Buffalo, NY. The ladies told me I could talk about anything I wanted to talk about -- ah, so many directions to choose from!

So, I chose to talk about what I learned from writing my first novel. I actually learned so much from that first experience, that I had to whittle it down to just three lessons learned, the results of which have served me well through the creation of my second and third novels.

I also need to mention the setting for the presentation, the 20th Century Club, which, according to the ladies, is the oldest woman's club in the country. It was founded in 1894 by Charlotte Mulligan. The "club house" was designed by E.B. Greene and is magnificent. And for those of you who read my books, you know how important setting is to me!  

What a super gathering of women. Such good conversation about books, careers, children! I was only sorry that I didn't get to speak with everyone! Thank you so much for the opportunity! 

And if you bought a book, or buy one in the future, don't forget to write a review for Amazon! Good or bad or somewhere in the middle, all reviews help Indie authors!

Happy New Year

 

2024 is here. Time to reflect on last year and set some goals for next year.

In my second year of retirement, it was challenging to carve out writing time, but scheduling writing days with writer-friend Laura has helped a lot. I finished the first draft of Periphery, got it out and back from beta readers, and I am making great progress with the final draft. The sneak peak of the cover art came in just before the new year, and that is so exciting! Kudos to Erin Ruffino, and now it gets handed off to Aaron La Porta for cover design while Erin works on the map for the inside.

I had three very successful author signings, two with the Dollars for Scholars event at Sweet Home High School and one with the Buffalo Historical Society.

I joined Buffalo Niagara Children's Writers and Illustrators and have attended most of their meetings. I am still meeting monthly with my writer's group. And I attended an inspirational writers' retreat in Rochester this summer.

So, overall, I call it a successful year. Although the initial plan was to have Periphery out in 2023, I think it will be a better read for the time spent crafting it.

So, what are the goals for 2024? First and foremost, get Periphery into the hands of readers. After that, a sequel to Periphery might take over, although I did start working on a ballet story for middle grades while my manuscript was with beta readers. I also have a short story in the works, which I think I might try to get entered into some contests. I would also like to add a couple more signings to the schedule this year. 

Here's to 2024 and staying focused!

Book Event

My first book event of the season is happening on Saturday October 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sweet Home High School in Amherst, NY. It's great to get the holiday season underway. And it is always such a pleasure to help support the Sweet Home Dollars for Scholars program. This is a craft show with a wonderful variety of vendors. Truly something for everyone. It takes up the entire gymnasium and cafeteria. There are also sales in the lobby.

At every festival or craft show, vendors pay a table rental fee. But I love this event because the table fee goes to the scholarship program for the kids. I get to sign and sell books. Kids get money for college. It's a real win-win!

See you there!