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==Biography==

==Biography==

Randy Richards was born January 9th, 1966. He originally hails from Chalmette, Louisiana, the location of the Battle of New Orleans. He currently lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he runs a photography business and writes professionaly.

Randy Richards originally hails from Chalmette, Louisiana, the actual location of the "Battle of New Orleans". He currently lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he runs a photography business and writes professionaly.

[[Image:Randgary 1 -1-.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Randy Richards & Gary Gygax'', at Gen Con in 1998]]

[[Image:Randgary 1 -1-.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Randy Richards & Gary Gygax'', at Gen Con in 1998]]

Randy Richards has been playing Dungeons & Dragons since the late 70s, but started in earnest in the early 80s. "''In the 1980s," Randy says, "we had the Basic D&D boxed game in our Gifted & Talented class, and I used to play a Cajun halfling. The other kids loved it, especially the accent.''"  Randy graduated from Chalmette High School in 1984, then from college in 1989, and moved to Tennessee. The move proved to be beneficial for Randy's career in photography. "''People know me for my writing,''" he says, "''but they don't know my day job is photography. Olan Mills, which operates out of Chattanooga, hired me to work for them as a kids photographer, then a glamour photographer, and finally a church directory photographer.''"

Randy Richards has been playing Dungeons & Dragons since the late 70s, but started in earnest in the early 80s. "''In the 1980s," Randy says, "we had the Basic D&D boxed game in our Gifted & Talented class, and I used to play a Cajun halfling. The other kids loved it, especially the accent.''"  Randy graduated from Chalmette High School in 1984, then from college in 1989, and moved to Tennessee. The move proved to be beneficial for Randy's career in photography. "''People know me for my writing,''" he says, "''but they don't know my day job is photography. Olan Mills, which operates out of Chattanooga, hired me to work for them as a kids photographer, then a glamour photographer, and finally a church directory photographer.''"

After five years in Tennessee, Randy was transferred to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and started his first family. "''Thats when I first got published. I wrote "Dark Magic in New Orleans" for Dungeon Magazine. After receiving scores of complimentary letters from people all over the world, I decided to start writing on a regular basis. With all my traveling with work there really wasn't time, but while driving I would make notes on anything available: cardboard boxes, gum wrappers, paper cups -- anything!''"

After five years in Tennessee, Randy was transferred to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and started a family. "''Thats when I first got published. I wrote "Dark Magic in New Orleans" for Dungeon Magazine. After receiving scores of complimentary letters from people all over the world, I decided to start writing on a regular basis. With all my traveling with work there really wasn't time, but while driving I would make notes on anything available: cardboard boxes, gum wrappers, paper cups -- anything!''"

In the late 90s Randy hosted a series of Gen Con events, one of which included the co-creators of D&D, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and other big names including Frank Mentzer, Lisa Stevens (later CEO of Paizo Publishing), and Anne Brown. "''This got my name known in the industry, although at the time that wasn't my goal.  I was just trying to have fun and spread the joy of gaming.''"  

In the late 90s Randy hosted a series of Gen Con events, one of which included the co-creators of D&D, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and other big names including Frank Mentzer, Lisa Stevens (later CEO of Paizo Publishing), and Anne Brown. "''This got my name known in the industry, although at the time that wasn't my goal.  I was just trying to have fun and spread the joy of gaming.''"  

Richards is also the former editor of the ''Greyhawk Grimoire'', an online publication devoted to the ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting; and is the founder of the ''World of Greyhawk Fan Club'', which once claimed to be "''the largest Greyhawk fan organization in the world.''" The organization claimed among its members such luminaries as Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Rob Kuntz, Frank Mentzer, Len Lakofka and Jim Ward. In 1998 Randy sponsored the "''Celebrity Greyhawk Dinner''" and "''Greyhawk Celebrity Panel Seminar''." He has written numerous online fan-fiction adventures set in the Greyhawk campaign setting, including "''Slerotin's Tunnel''" and "''Suel Imperium: Age of Glory''".

Richards is also the former editor of the ''Greyhawk Grimoire'', an online publication devoted to the ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting; and is the founder of the ''World of Greyhawk Fan Club'', which once claimed to be "''the largest Greyhawk fan organization in the world.''" The organization claimed among its members such luminaries as Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Rob Kuntz, Frank Mentzer, Len Lakofka and Jim Ward. In 1998 Randy sponsored the "''Celebrity Greyhawk Dinner''" and "''Greyhawk Celebrity Panel Seminar''." He has written numerous online fan-fiction adventures set in the Greyhawk campaign setting, including "''Slerotin's Tunnel''" and "''Suel Imperium: Age of Glory''".

In early 2006, Randy Richards was the subject of an interview<ref>http://spellbindergames.yuku.com/topic/398</ref> for Gloomwing Magazine, a gaming, art and short fiction periodical.  Later in 2006, Randy brought his manuscript to ''Spellbinder Games'', a publishing company that was looking to produces game books. Several other books have been announced on their website for publishing in 2009, including original novels set in the Dreadmire world.

In early 2006, Randy Richards was the subject of an interview<ref>http://spellbindergames.yuku.com/topic/398</ref> for Gloomwing Magazine, a gaming, art and short fiction periodical.  Later in 2006, Randy brought his manuscript to ''Spellbinder Games'', a publishing company that was looking to produces game books. Several other books have been announced on their website for publishing in 2009, including original novels set in the Dreadmire world.