July 24, 2023: Introducing Katie Duffy, Marketing Manager

Hello! I'm Katie Duffy, the new(ish) Marketing Manager at Steve Jackson Games. I've been here since late May, so I wanted to take some time to introduce myself. I live in Northeast Ohio, close to both Akron and Cleveland. It's a great part of the country that has many things to offer, even if the sports teams have a habit of breaking our hearts. (Sorry – I'm a lifelong Cleveland baseball fan, and the sting of the 2016 World Series still lingers.)

I've been a fan of tabletop games for most of my life, starting with boardgames like Mouse Trap, Monopoly, and Mall Madness. I also have memories of playing a game called Easy Money, which belonged to my grandmother. Her copy was from the 1940s or 1950s, so I suppose I was into retro gaming before I even knew what that was!

I still enjoy playing boardgames, but my real passion is tabletop roleplaying games. My friends introduced me to Dungeons & Dragons when I was in high school, and I haven't looked back since. During COVID, my husband and I started gaming online wth people we met through Worlds Elsewhere Theater Company. What was supposed to be a few short adventures has turned into two multi-year campaigns! Some of our players have also hosted their own game sessions, introducing me to systems like Lancer, DIE, and Fabula Ultima. Don't worry – my next campaign will be GURPS-based!

When I'm not at work or creating characters, plots, or settings, I love to get out in nature by exploring trails in Northeast and Southeast Ohio (a great excuse to chronicle local flora and fauna with iNaturalist). My last big excursion was a trip to Hocking Hills with my husband, where we marveled at natural wonders like Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, and Old Man's Cave. The latter site provided inspiration for Jeff Smith, the author of the comic book series Bone. We were literally walking through a fantasy landscape!

I also love music, and spend a decent amount of time at nearby record stores like the tiny-but-mighty Blackbird Records in Wooster, Ohio. Every summer, I try to make it to Blossom Music Center, the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra, to listen to them play classical works or accompany films live. I even co-host a weekly radio show on bff.fm, a community radio station based in San Francisco. The show airs every Thursday from 4-6 a.m. Pacific, but don't worry – you can listen to it online anytime!

I'm so happy to be part of the team here at Steve Jackson Games. We have some exciting news coming up in the future, and I can't wait to share it with you!

-- Katie Duffy