What do I do when I’m not working on novels, games, stories and screenplays? Now you can find out! (Oohh… feel the excitement.)

Golf

This is my number one passion. I love to golf. Those who are golf nuts will totally understand, those who aren’t… well, I can’t really explain it. It’s an addiction that you really have to experience.

Now that I live in Texas where winter doesn’t get in the way, I play about 150 rounds a year. I thought my handicap would drop to scratch, but I’m still stuck in the mid single digits. My best round to date is a one over par 73 at the Raven Crest golf course in Edmonton, and I have one hole-in-one (so far).

Billiards

I shoot a mean game of 8-ball. Well, maybe not mean. But surly. I used to play on a regular team in the Wal-Mac leagues up in Edmonton, and we even went to Vegas for the annual VNEA World Championships a couple times. We didn’t win, but we had a great time.

KOTOR Trivia: My billiard team is the original source of the name for a popular character in the Knights of the Old Republic game. My team was made up of 4 players with the last name Harrison, and 1 player (me) with the name Karpyshyn. So with 4 H’s and 1 K we were going to call ourselves the HK-41’s. But we decided HK-47 sounded more intimidating because of the well known AK-47 rifle, so we became the HK-47’s. Several years later, when I went to work for BioWare, I tacked the name onto the homicidal Hunter-Killer robot assassin who joined the player on his quest.

Magic the Gathering

Nothing proclaims my sci-fi/fantasy geekness more than my addiction to Magic. If there’s an official DCI tournament in the Edmonton area, chances are I’ll be there. I don’t play on-line yet, but if I do I’ll post my handle in the news section so you can say hi if you see me there.

If you don’t know what Magic is, then the best way I can explain it is a mix of Dungeons and Dragons, poker and baseball card collecting. Check out the official website if you want to know more.

Sports

I’m a huge sports fan – the ESPN website is my default start-up page for both work and home. My favorite team is the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA: I’ve been a fan ever since the days of The Admiral, and I love watching Duncan, Parker, Ginobli and the rest of the team. (Incidentally, I share a birthday with Manu Ginobli.)

I’m also a die-hard NFL fan, and I jumped on the Chargers band wagon a few years ago when they drafted Drew Brees. (Although I was never a fan of Drew Bledsoe… weird, huh?)  Even though Brees has gone to New Orleans, I’m still cheering the Bolts on.

I also enjoy watching golf – no surprise there. And even though I now live in the US, I still cheer for my fellow Canadians on Tour, especially Mike Weir and Stephen Ames.

I used to be a fan of the NHL, but I grew up watching the Edmonton Oilers of the 1980’s, with Gretzky, Messier and the rest so I think I was spoiled. The game has changed, and even with the recent upswing in scoring I still don’t enjoy hockey like I used to.