That year arrived earlier than he'd expected. In July 1979, his thesis adviser died suddenly of a heart attack-ironically, the same day Zahn received word that his second story had been bought by Analog. With three years of work on his thesis project effectively wiped out, he worked for another semester on a new project, trying to drum up enthusiasm for it. But by that time writing had become far more interesting to him than physics; and so, in January 1980, he left the university and began the grand experiment.

With his wife of five months, Anna, working full-time to support them, Zahn produced eighteen stories that first year, bringing in just over $2000. As he'd originally set himself a goal of $1000 for the year, he decided to declare the experiment a success. From then on it was less a question of WHETHER he could eventually earn a living writing as it was WHEN that point would be reached. (It took until 1984, incidentally.)

Since then Zahn has published over eighty short stories and novelettes, thirty-three novels, and four short fiction collections. Along the way he has won a Hugo Award (for the novella "Cascade Point," in 1984) and has been nominated twice more. He is best known for his eight Star Wars books (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future, Survivor's Quest, Outbound Flight, and Allegiance).

His most recent book is The Third Lynx, a sequel to Night Train to Rigel. His next book will be Dragon and Liberator, the final book in his six-part young-adult Dragonback SF series, in May 2008.

The Zahn family lives on the Oregon coast.
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Starting 9th Level Games while in high-school together, Chris and Dan failed to become famous "serious" game designers. As a small indie-press, 9th Level Games found their niche making cheap, barely literate "beer and pretzels" role-playing games. In the last 7 years, 9th Level has become a fan favorite small-press, a roving cult leader in the Mid-West, inventors of the drinking game "SATAN!", and the poster-children for bringing idiotic fun back to the hobby.

Currently working with Dork Storm Press, 9th Level is working to bring Kobolds Ate My Baby! to the mainstream of the gaming world - recently releasing their first hardcover book (illustrated by Dork Storm owner John Kovalic). Other KAMB books are due out soon from 9th Level/Dork Storm (including their first German Language edition). ALL HAIL KING TORG!
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Samantha Allen has been publishing her comic strips online for going on six years. Her comics strips, freeform crocheting and various other fine arts works can be found at www.randomassembly.com and well as regular appearances on the www.indywebcomics.com blog. Be sure to keep an eye on her for big things to come this year.
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Peter has also published several historical fantasy and science fiction stories in DAW anthologies, including his most recent work which released in August 2007, "Seebohm's Cap" in Pandora's Closet, which combines his affinity for World War II history with supernatural elements. His stories also appear in the DAW anthologies Far Frontiers, Historical Hauntings, Alien Abductions, and Legends: Tales from the Eternal Archives.

Peter worked for many years on West End Game's Star Wars roleplaying game, establishing the Official Star Wars Adventure Journal and authoring sourcebooks like Platt's Starport Guide, Platt's Smuggler's Guide, and the Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook. He also contributed to numerous issues of the Star Wars Adventure Journal and Topps Star Wars Galaxy Magazine, the DarkStryder campaign, Instant Adventures, and the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, Revised & Expanded. In the past he's freelanced for companies like Wizards of the Coast, Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Fantasy Flight Games, and Decipher. His favorite products include the Raiders of the Lost Ark Sourcebook (West End Games) and Weird War II: Afrika Korpse (Pinnacle Entertainment Group).

In his spare time Peter enjoys dabbling in diverse interests including various periods of history, cooking, historical miniature wargaming, various media franchises (Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica), and European board games.
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