Samuel DenHartog's Blog: The Road to 1,440 - Posts Tagged "young-readers"

Rediscovering Adventure: Introducing the "Forge Your Own Path" Series

As a young boy in the 80s, I was captivated by the world of Choose Your Own Adventure books. I spent countless hours immersed in these interactive tales, eagerly flipping pages to see where my decisions would lead. The thrill of making choices that influenced the story's outcome was a unique and exhilarating experience that fueled my imagination and love for storytelling.

One particular memory stands out from my childhood. In the 6th grade, I was assigned a creative writing project, and naturally, I decided to create my own interactive adventure book. I poured my heart into it, as good as possible at such a young age, crafting multiple storylines and endings, determined to capture the magic of those books I adored. However, my excitement was short-lived. My teacher, holding my project with a look of disapproval, declared, "That is not a real book," and gave me a poor grade. It was a crushing blow to my young, creative spirit but never dampened my love for interactive fiction.

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my "Forge Your Own Path" series, bringing those "not real books" into the digital age. Coming soon to the Kindle and Kindle apps for tablets and phones, these interactive adventures are designed to engage young readers in a whole new way. Each book in the series will offer a multitude of decisions, leading to different paths and endings, ensuring that every read is a unique experience. It's my way of honoring the genre that sparked my imagination both for books and for the text adventure video games I created for the Commodore computers.

With my "Forge Your Own Path" series, I’m excited to offer young readers the same sense of adventure and empowerment that I felt as a child, now enhanced by the capabilities of modern technology. Maybe they "are not real books," but they are immersive experiences that will challenge readers to think critically and creatively. I hope they inspire and delight, proving that interactive fiction is not only real but also a timeless and valuable form of storytelling.

May your adventures never end,
Samuel DenHartog
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Published on May 21, 2024 17:39 Tags: adventure, choose, forge, path, storytelling, young-readers

The Road to 1,440

Samuel DenHartog
I'm Samuel DenHartog, and at 51, at the end of November of 2023, I've embarked on a remarkable journey as a writer. My diverse background in computer programming, video game development, and film prod ...more
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