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groovyguy's avatar
groovyguy
Community Hero
7 years ago

[OffTopic] Who are you outside of testing?

We all come here for our jobs, for testing services and working with ReadyAPI, but that's likely just a small part of who we are and what we do. Who are you, when you aren't testing?  To start, I ...
jhanzeb1's avatar
jhanzeb1
Frequent Contributor

I'm just an Eater. I don't really cook unfortunately, though it is definitely something I will be looking into pretty soon! 

groovyguy's avatar
groovyguy
Community Hero
7 years ago

Wow, this thread really took off! I am glad to see the input from tristaanogre and sonya_m. I was away at GenCon in Indianapolis, so I was a bit tied up helping my wife sell her artwork to reply, but I was tracking. I also highly recommend Stephen King, especially The Dark Tower series. Those are some of my favorite books. I can provide a whole list of a lot more if anyone ever needs any reading recommendations. ;) I have ~6+ bookshelves full! 

 

Speaking of, as I mentioned in my first post, this love of reading hit me early and made me want to be an author one day. I've realized that dream and have had a few short stories published that are actually available on Amazon. I'm so geeked that you can go on Amazon and search my name and see books that have my stories in them! I'm also working on a novel. I already have it written (clocking in at 150,000 words!) but it needs a lot of polishing. My hopes is to eventually have a series. :) 

  • tristaanogre's avatar
    tristaanogre
    Esteemed Contributor
    7 years ago

    (quickly jots down recommendation list)

     

    My series (avoiding my OBVIOUS choice of Lord of the Rings as my #1):

    1) Discworld by Terry Pratchett

    2) Elemental Masters by Mercedes Lackey

    3) Otherland by Tad Williams (kind of an odd blend of sci-fi and fantasy... very intriguing)

    4) Runelords by David Farland

    5) Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

    6) Heralds of Valdamar by Mercedes Lackey

    7) Foundation by Isaac Asimov (classic sci-fi but DEFINITELY worth the read)

    8) Riftwar by Raymond E. Feist (yup... love these, too)

    9) Chronicles of Xanth by Piers Anthony

    10) Hitchhiker's Guide series by Douglas Adams

     

    Of course, my tastes shift and change sometimes so, depending upon my mood, this list may change. :)

  • sonya_m's avatar
    sonya_m
    SmartBear Alumni (Retired)
    7 years ago

    groovyguy a list of recommendations, yes, please! Say, top 10 your fave books.

     

    A novel! How interesting. Is it okay to ask what it is about? Or, will it be revealed only after it is finished?:catvery-happy:

     

    To be honest, I also have some unfinished writing. But, in my case, I am not sure when I am going to finish it, if ever :catsad:

  • tristaanogre's avatar
    tristaanogre
    Esteemed Contributor
    7 years ago
    groovyguy wrote:

    Wow, this thread really took off! I am glad to see the input from tristaanogre and sonya_m. I was away at GenCon in Indianapolis, so I was a bit tied up helping my wife sell her artwork to reply, but I was tracking. I also highly recommend Stephen King, especially The Dark Tower series. Those are some of my favorite books. I can provide a whole list of a lot more if anyone ever needs any reading recommendations. ;) I have ~6+ bookshelves full! 

     

    OK, first of all...  I have about 500+ books of the fantasy/sci-fi genre... literally from Adams to Zelazny... So... TOTALLY down with giving out recommendations as well.

     

    Secondly... GENCON?!?!  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me you went to the Critical Role live show....

  • groovyguy's avatar
    groovyguy
    Community Hero
    7 years ago

    sonya_m: I'll list my top favorite series!

    1. The Dark Tower series by Stephen King
    2. Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
    3. Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan.
    4. Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan
    5. Legend of the First Empire by Michale J. Sullivan.
      1. Note: The previous three are all entertwined and should be read in actual publication order.
    6. Riftwar books by Raymond E . Feist.
    7. Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
    8. The Gentleman Bastards series by Scott Lynch
    9. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
    10. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin.

     

    As for my novel, it's my take on what I hope will turn into an epic fantasy series, with a grim/darker/gritty tone to it. :) The title of the first book is "The Backwards Knight." You should work on your writing, if only to write! I find such stress relief in it. 

     

    tristaanogre: Unfortunately I'm relatively bound to my wife's booth for the convention, so I did not get to make it to that show or any of the others :( She's a freelance fantasy illustrator, and has done pieces to go with my short stories and the eventual novel mentioned above, and it was crazy busy! I did spend entirely too much on new games though :)