“VarnaCouver” is a combination of Varna, Bulgaria, and Vancouver, Washington (USA). With both cities being similar, and with family in both, I created a name that could encompass the unique qualities of each. Both cities share a lot in common, and if you ever get the opportunity to travel, I highly recommend making a visit.
The following is an overview of my contribution to fandom. I have had the opportunity to work with several companies on a variety of projects.
STAR TREK: THE ROLE PLAYING GAME
During the late ’90s and early 2000s, I worked with Decipher, Inc. to illustrate several books from the Star Trek Role Playing Game series. The Narrator’s Screen, Narrator’s Guide, Player’s Guide, Starfleet Operating Manual, and Starships. I had started work on a guide for the Enterprise series before the game was soon canceled.
SEQUART ESSAY SERIES
As a freelance writer, I have articles published in the Sequart series that featured essays on various topics. For the first book, “A Long Time Ago: Exploring the Star Wars Cinematic Universe” I wrote an essay on the novelizations of the films. In the second book, “A More Civilized Age: Exploring the Star Wars Expanded Universe” I wrote an essay on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I submitted an essay for “Somewhere Beyond the Heavens: Exploring Battlestar Galactica,” on the novelizations but unfortunately, it was cut due to space constraints.
Beyond The Final Frontier
After the Star Trek Role Playing Game had stopped publication, Decipher continued to produce PDF versions of books until the end of the license term. During this time, I helped to produce several issues of a Role Playing Game Webzine called, “Beyond the Final Frontier.” Each issue contained game stats, ships, adventures, and more.
STAR TREK CUSTOMIZABLE CARD GAME
During the several years that Decipher produced the Star Trek Customizable Card Game, I produced artwork for a series of binders to store the card sets in. Each set had a unique binder featuring the central character from the set (and the box). There were four (4) versions of the ‘Premier’ edition, and a total of 22 binders.
STAR WARS CUSTOMIZABLE CARD GAME
Like the Star Trek version, I created artwork for a series of binders for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game from Decipher. Two versions of the “Premiere” edition and a total of 18 binders.
STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI (CUSTOMIZBLE CARD GAME)
Following the success of the Star Wars card game, Decipher produced a series of cards based on the prequel series (Phantom Menace, Attack of the clones, Revenge of the Sith) aimed at younger players. I produced artwork for all seven expansions.
STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS TRADING CARD GAME
As Decipher wrapped up its license period, the last product was a series of trading card games called “Jedi Knights” that featured computer-generated images. I created artwork for a binder for each of the expansions.
STAR WARS TRADING CARD GAME (WIZARDS OF THE COAST)
After Decipher lost the license for its SW CCG, it was taken over by Wizards of the Coast (makers of Magic the Gathering). Decipher offered them the option to use its game technology so that players would not have to start over with a new system, but it was not accepted and they produced their own version It was not that successful as so many had investments in the Decipher product. To keep continuity with the other binders, I created a set for this series as well.
