My Story

Every story has its beginning, and mine is no different. Born and raised in Eaton, Ohio, from a young age I was completely enamored with stories. Worlds of wonder and imagination captivated me, tales of Hobbits and rings, lightsabers and Death Stars, heroes in capes and suits of armor alike captivated my imagination. For much of my early life I was happy to consume stories anywhere I could find them, be it on the stage, in comic books, games, film, novels, or even experiences that were a mix of the lot. Even then I believe I recognized the power held by stories, though I doubt I realized it. In middle school, having studied the art of the wonderful game known as Dungeons and Dragons under the tutelage of a father who is as much of a geek for these sort of things as myself, I took it upon myself to assemble a group of friends to meet (under the supervision of one our teachers) during school lunches and partake in epic adventurers courtesy of the first edition of Pathfinder. Serving as the Game Master for those sessions, and the many more that would follow when my tiny group evolved into the National Trail High School Roleplaying Game Society under my guidance, proved to be the beginning of what would become a life dedicated to storytelling. After experiencing the works of such creatives as J.R.R. Tolkien, Rachel Chavkin, Sir Terry Pratchett, Russel T. Davies, Mike Mignola, Mary Shelley, and countless others, I knew there was no other choice for me. It was Tolkien’s essay, On Fairy Stories, that ultimately sealed the deal for me. Among his reflections on sub-creation, eucatastrophe, and the sheer power and poignance of fantasy, I found my calling. It then became my life’s work to imagine stories that people could truly escape into, being placed into an experience rather than simply bearing witness. The interactive worlds of game design and all those years telling tales around the tabletop with friends fused with the live world of the stage and my contributions to high school and community theatre, ultimately leading me to my current path as a double major of Games and Simulation alongside Theatre at Miami University. From my experiences in earning my Eagle Scout rank, to many years practicing and performing the discipline of the Steel Drums, and the many other passions to which I have dedicated myself over the years, I now move towards my ultimate pursuit: stories and their telling.