Writer of the Week: The_Hawk

[Lord Durham]

Well, given the influx of new faces over the past couple of months, and some sublte prompting from a few people, it's time to re-launch the WoW.

For those unfamiliar with the Writer of the Week thread, it's an opportunity for all of us to learn a little something about the person who is put under the spotlight.

The_Hawk is actually someone who has been around for a while. He may not be known to many of you, but his contributions to the forum and community have been of immeasurable value. You will find most of his writing in the Free Company series of books. Oddly enough, he began as a part-time contributer, but like so many others, grew to enjoy the interaction and maturity of story-telling that the FC is known for.

In his spare time he is reworking the earlier FC Books, the results of which can be seen on the FC Website. And, in what is likely a poorly kept secret, we are exploring avenues to have these collaborations published -- but, that's news for another time.

Anyway, congrats to The_Hawk. Now, tell us something about yourself. We won't laugh... really...

 

[Judge]

Congrats Hawk, you are doing a fantastic work in the FC, cheers

 

[The_Hawk]

*chuckles* So apparently my not-so-subtle hint in the bAAR didn't go entirely unnoticed. It is, however, very much an honor to be the first of what will doubtless be an illustrious batch of new WoWs.

Hmm, what to say about myself? I'm 23, going on 40 , and live in Florida with my girlfriend of several years now, and our two (possibly soon to be three) cats. (My cat -- the aptly-named Yen-lo-wang -- is possibly the most evil creature currently living, which I mention only because I was bitten during the course of writing this. ) During my often-too-long days, I attend the University of Florida College of Law, where I study primarily international law (particularly citizenship law and human rights). Among various other things I'm also currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Journal of International Law, where I got most of my editorial experience and which was largely if indirectly responsible for the Redux project.

Law school keeps me a good deal busier than I would prefer. As LD mentioned, most of my contributions to the forum have been limited to the Free Company threads (which I joined toward the beginning of Book III.) As the ratios between what I have to do (work), what I should do (sleep, eat) and what I'd like to do (read, write, and play) increasingly shortchange the last, I made a mostly conscious choice to concentrate my efforts on the FC.

It's been a blessing and a curse; I've gotten the opportunity to work closely and learn from a lot of this forum's greats (many of whom have now moved on to other pursuits), but at the same time I know I've missed out on a lot of great writing, particularly by the newest batch of authors to hit AARland. Additionally, I've never had the opportunity to make the grab for personal glory that is having one's own AAR (though a few might remember that I once started an abortive Brabant AAR.) I've also done some work offline on a Teutonic Knights AAR with a twist, and possibly an FC spinoff featuring the early adventures of Jonasz 'The Cyprian' Piediwicz, but neither of these have gotten very far. I've had more success with FC: Redux, my effort to make my own mark on the FC saga, and as an added bonus get to reread the earlier books as I go along.

I see security is creeping up to gag me and drag me off stage , so in closing, LD, thank you again for this honor. Thank you, too, for making the FC such a welcoming place and a genuine success -- if not for the Company, I'd probably wouldn't be lurking around this forum at 3:30 on a Monday morning. To anyone that hasn't, I strongly encourage becoming a part of the Free Company -- it's been nothing but a positive experience for me. As always, death rides with us!

 

[Valdemar]

Hawk, a very well earned praise and truly I've been kicking myself for not thinking of it before.

LD, I'm glad you corrceted this oversight of mine

Hawk has/is as have been metioned spend a good deal of his forum life in FC service and I for one can testify to his invaluable work on this project as he was the first true character I interacted with when I joined the glorious ranks

Hawk take a bow, you really are a special kind of writer

V

 

[unmerged(16363)]

Congratulations, The_Hawk! I must admit that I don't follow the Free Company, but if Lord Durham choosed you, it's better to believe on him!

Have a drink on the bAAR and put it on my account!

 

[Amric]

Congrats, The Hawk! Well deserved. I have to agree that your posts in the FC have been nothing less than outstanding, let alone your other interests in the forums. Come to the bAAR and I'll give you drink on the house....

 

[Storey]

What is most interesting about the Free Company is the differences in the style of writing that the various authors bring. Hawk from the beginning has shown a distinct style that shows surprising versatility and attention to detail. It’s hard to find a single post that has been anything less that excellent. This is a long over due honor! Even though you are going to be a lawyer it’s a pleasure to have you in the Free Company.

Joe

 

[unmerged(9046)]

Hawk,

Your writing in the FC has been smooth from the start. I have always enjoyed your various characters.

Looking forward to more from you in the FC and elsewhere!

 

[Alexandru H.]

This is a house award , but certainly well-deserved. The Free Company series are outstanding and The_Hawk really left his mark there....I do belive that the series deserve further acclaims and maybe even an editorial contract....

 

[redwolf]

From a fellow FC writer, Congrats on winning the award Hawk!!

 

[TreizeV]

I'm new to this forum, but Congrats dude! Ill have to check out FC sometime.

 

[Norgesvenn]

Now there's a well-deserved award! I've always loved your FC writing.


Congratulations, The_Hawk!

 

[The_Hawk]

I thought I would give the accolades time to accrue, but it would seem my time in the sun is coming rapidly to an end, so a few closing comments.

To my fellow Free Company writers: Thank you especially for your kind words. They mean a lot coming from one's co-authors. But I know full well that my contributions would be far worse if not for the Valdemars, redwolfs and Storeys I get the chance to interact with. So I invite you to take a bow yourselves, for the Free Company is built on the considerable ability of all of its authors.

To Anibal, Alexandru and TreizeV: Thank you as well for your compliments. It always surprises me when some of the forum's most active regulars (like Anibal and Alexandru) haven't been drawn into the Free Company. Perhaps Book VI -- if we have a Book VI -- will give you a chance to check it out. (Perhaps we can lure Norgs back in, too. )

And one final comment: Storey, that's high praise indeed coming from an author of your talent. But as I said at the end of Book IV, I always thought my 'distinct style' signified a lack of growth on my part. I look at my first FC post in Book III and my most recent posts in Book V and don't see any fundamental difference. Maybe it's there and I just don't recognize it. In any case, I'll keep on plugging away for the Free Company until someone tells me to stop.

Thank you all once again.

 

[Lord Durham]

Originally posted by The_Hawk
I thought I would give the accolades time to accrue, but it would seem my time in the sun is coming rapidly to an end, so a few closing comments.

Hmm. I expected more commentary, too. After all, the intention is to profile a different writer each week. However, if no one is interested in this initiative beyond a few, then it will sink into oblivion once again.

 

[Alexandru H.]

sorry, Lord Durham, but the reason is because not many people succeed to follow the Free Company Series.....

at the end of this book, we should have a nice pdf of all of them, maybe with a little cover, presentation of the main writers....

Edit: I really feel I don't belong in the Free Company Series! I can write, and sometimes very good, it's just that I'm doing it extremly slow! The project is interactive, and this fact alone keeps me away! I know very well my limits! I prefer to let the real writers jump in!

 

[Lord Durham]

Originally posted by Alexandru H.
sorry, Lord Durham, but the reason is because not many people succeed to follow the Free Company Series.....

at the end of this book, we should have a nice pdf of all of them, maybe with a little cover, presentation of the main writers....

It's got nothing to do with the FC. It's a thread to profile the members of this community, and should be treated as such. There could very well be people profiled who I haven't had a chance to read, but it wouldn't stop me from dropping off a congratulatory message.

 

[unmerged(16363)]

Originally posted by Lord Durham
It's got nothing to do with the FC. It's a thread to profile the members of this community, and should be treated as such. There could very well be people profiled who I haven't had a chance to read, but it wouldn't stop me from dropping off a congratulatory message.

I think that if we keep with the tradition of awarding a WOW every week, more people will comment then. There are several, several new members on the AAR forum, maybe still a bit confused of all those threads. To me it is only a matter of time to get the WOW working as good as before!

See the bAAR... another example of this, I think.