Mary Kirchoff
Encyclopedia
Mary L. Kirchoff is an American
writer
. She is the author of more than ten published works, including the Dragonlance
novels Kendermore
, Wanderlust
(with Steve Winter
) (her husband at the time), Flint, the King
(with Douglas Niles
), The Black Wing, and the Defenders of Magic trilogy. Her Young Adult novels include numerous Endless Quest
Adventures and Amazing Stories
books.
, the city where the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
was invented. "I went to school with Ernie Gygax and a number of people who later worked for TSR
... I was vaguely aware of the people who played things like the D&D game at school. Then I went away to college and learned more about roleplaying games. I realized [they] were coming from my home town." Kirchoff graduated from Lawrence University
with a B.A.
in English. She was hired by TSR to be editor of the Polyhedron
newszine in 1982, shortly after its second issue. Kirchoff also did graphic design for Dragon
magazine, and worked with Roger Moore
on TSR's Ares
science-fiction magazine.
Kirchoff's first published book, Light on Quests Mountain, was set in GammaWorld for TSR's Endless Quest
series, and she wrote numerous other books in the collection. Kirchoff decided to write full time, supposted by her then-boyfriend. TSR game editor and designer Steve Winter
. In September 1985, Kirchoff married Steve Winter
. She worked on books such as The Art of the Dragonlance Saga and Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home, and later left then rejoined the company as a full-time editor. Meanwhile, Kirchoff began looking for a new Forgotten Realms
book to follow Darkwalker on Moonshae
: "I went to the slush pile and read the first 30 pages of a book called Echoes of the Third Magic by a guy named Bob Salvatore. The story didn't really fit what we were looking for, but there was something about the writing that grabbed me."
Kirchoff wrote and published a short story and six novels for the Dragonlance
setting, including Wanderlust
, Flint the King
, Kendermore
, "The Black Wing," and the Defenders of Magic trilogy. She also co-created the Dark Sun
setting with Troy Denning
and Tim Brown
. She was eventually promoted to head of the Book department: "Every book we published hit numerous bestseller lists -- it was a golden time." After five years of writing Dragonlance novels at night and running the Book department by day, she withdrew to spend more time with her children; five years later, she returned as Executive Editor of the restructured book-publishing program. She rose rapidly to Vice President of Marketing, Publishing, and Tabletop games with brand and financial responsibility for all that had once been TSR, as well as the Avalon Hill brand of board games. She left Wizards of the Coast in December 2004. She went on to become Chief Marketing Officer at start-up video game company 38 Studios for nearly three years. She left there to return full-time to the Pacific Northwest to write and pursue a new passion, providing service and support through personal and executive coaching.
Her works are translated into more than nine languages.
She later became an acquiring editor for TOR Books
. She is also a Certified Integrative and Blueprint personal coach at LifePatterns Coaching. http://www.lifepatternscoaching.com
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. She is the author of more than ten published works, including the Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
novels Kendermore
Kendermore
Kendermore is a fantasy novel in the Dragonlance series. Originally published in 1989, Kendermore was written by Mary Kirchoff and is volume two of The Preludes subseries of the Dragonlance saga. It has also been reprinted in April 2003....
, Wanderlust
Wanderlust (1991 novel)
Wanderlust is a fantasy novel set in the Dragonlance universe. It was written by Steve Winter and Mary Kirchoff, based on characters and settings from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles series...
(with Steve Winter
Steve Winter
Steve Winter is a game designer who has worked on numerous products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR and later Wizards of the Coast.-Early life:Steve Winter was born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 8, 1957...
) (her husband at the time), Flint, the King
Flint the King
Flint The King is a fantasy novel by Mary Kirchoff and Douglas Niles which is set in the world of the Dragonlance campaign setting and is the second volume in the Preludes II series, and the fifth volume in the overall Preludes series....
(with Douglas Niles
Douglas Niles
Douglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game.-Early life:Niles was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and...
), The Black Wing, and the Defenders of Magic trilogy. Her Young Adult novels include numerous Endless Quest
Endless Quest
The Endless Quest books were two series of gamebooks released by TSR. These books were the result of an Educational department established by TSR to develop curriculum programs for reading, math, history, and problem solving....
Adventures and Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
books.
Biography
Mary Kirchoff was born and raised in Lake Geneva, WisconsinLake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.-History:...
, the city where the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
was invented. "I went to school with Ernie Gygax and a number of people who later worked for TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
... I was vaguely aware of the people who played things like the D&D game at school. Then I went away to college and learned more about roleplaying games. I realized [they] were coming from my home town." Kirchoff graduated from Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English. She was hired by TSR to be editor of the Polyhedron
Polyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
newszine in 1982, shortly after its second issue. Kirchoff also did graphic design for Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine, and worked with Roger Moore
Roger E. Moore
Roger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
on TSR's Ares
Ares (magazine)
Ares was a science fiction wargame magazine published by Simulations Publications, Inc. , and then TSR, Inc., between 1980 and 1984. In addition to the articles, each issue contained a wargame, complete with a foldout stiff paper map, a set of cardboard counters, and the rules.There were a total of...
science-fiction magazine.
Kirchoff's first published book, Light on Quests Mountain, was set in GammaWorld for TSR's Endless Quest
Endless Quest
The Endless Quest books were two series of gamebooks released by TSR. These books were the result of an Educational department established by TSR to develop curriculum programs for reading, math, history, and problem solving....
series, and she wrote numerous other books in the collection. Kirchoff decided to write full time, supposted by her then-boyfriend. TSR game editor and designer Steve Winter
Steve Winter
Steve Winter is a game designer who has worked on numerous products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR and later Wizards of the Coast.-Early life:Steve Winter was born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 8, 1957...
. In September 1985, Kirchoff married Steve Winter
Steve Winter
Steve Winter is a game designer who has worked on numerous products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR and later Wizards of the Coast.-Early life:Steve Winter was born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 8, 1957...
. She worked on books such as The Art of the Dragonlance Saga and Leaves from the Inn of the Last Home, and later left then rejoined the company as a full-time editor. Meanwhile, Kirchoff began looking for a new Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
book to follow Darkwalker on Moonshae
Darkwalker on Moonshae
Darkwalker on Moonshae is a fantasy novel by Douglas Niles, set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
: "I went to the slush pile and read the first 30 pages of a book called Echoes of the Third Magic by a guy named Bob Salvatore. The story didn't really fit what we were looking for, but there was something about the writing that grabbed me."
Kirchoff wrote and published a short story and six novels for the Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
setting, including Wanderlust
Wanderlust (1991 novel)
Wanderlust is a fantasy novel set in the Dragonlance universe. It was written by Steve Winter and Mary Kirchoff, based on characters and settings from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles series...
, Flint the King
Flint the King
Flint The King is a fantasy novel by Mary Kirchoff and Douglas Niles which is set in the world of the Dragonlance campaign setting and is the second volume in the Preludes II series, and the fifth volume in the overall Preludes series....
, Kendermore
Kendermore
Kendermore is a fantasy novel in the Dragonlance series. Originally published in 1989, Kendermore was written by Mary Kirchoff and is volume two of The Preludes subseries of the Dragonlance saga. It has also been reprinted in April 2003....
, "The Black Wing," and the Defenders of Magic trilogy. She also co-created the Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
setting with Troy Denning
Troy Denning
Troy Denning is a fantasy and science fiction author and game designer.-Career:Denning joined TSR as a game designer in 1981, and was promoted a year later to Manager of Designers, before he moved to the book department...
and Tim Brown
Timothy Brown (game designer)
A game industry veteran of twenty years, Timothy B. Brown has been a designer at Games Designers' Workshop, an editor at Challenge magazine, and the director of product development at TSR, Inc....
. She was eventually promoted to head of the Book department: "Every book we published hit numerous bestseller lists -- it was a golden time." After five years of writing Dragonlance novels at night and running the Book department by day, she withdrew to spend more time with her children; five years later, she returned as Executive Editor of the restructured book-publishing program. She rose rapidly to Vice President of Marketing, Publishing, and Tabletop games with brand and financial responsibility for all that had once been TSR, as well as the Avalon Hill brand of board games. She left Wizards of the Coast in December 2004. She went on to become Chief Marketing Officer at start-up video game company 38 Studios for nearly three years. She left there to return full-time to the Pacific Northwest to write and pursue a new passion, providing service and support through personal and executive coaching.
Her works are translated into more than nine languages.
She later became an acquiring editor for TOR Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
. She is also a Certified Integrative and Blueprint personal coach at LifePatterns Coaching. http://www.lifepatternscoaching.com
External links
- http://www.lifepatternscoaching.com
- Wizards of the Coast Bio: Mary Kirchoff