25 Years of Dragonmount + What I sent Harriet

Seriously...? 25 years?

Milestone Date

Today, Sept 19, 2023, marks Dragonmount.com’s 25th anniversary. I don’t recall how long I had been working on the website before I opened it to the public. It’s just a guess, but I would say it took me a month to go from scratch to launching the first “1.0.”

Somewhere, I have a screenshot of those early first renditions of the site. I can’t find it anymore, but it had an animated gif of a yin-yang on somewhere on the home page. Here’s a screenshot of how the site looked in early 1999.

And here’s the actual animated gif:

Ahhhh, the 90’s.

That animated gif spun a lot slower back in 1998. Slower processors or something, I don’t know. Maybe it was because we all had Netscape Navigator, Mozilla, or Internet Explorer 5.

Ask Me Anything

I’m hosting an AMA on Reddit today (and possibly for another day or so). I’ve answered quite a few questions already, which you can read and contribute to. You’re also welcome to reply to this post and I’ll respond when time allows.

What I sent Harriet

I sent Harriet an email today, and afterwards I realized it might be something you might enjoy reading.

Dear Harriet, 

I’m feeling a little nostalgic today.  Sept 19 marks Dragonmount’s 25h anniversary. It still amazes me that a college side project turned into something so life-altering for me. I was little more than a teenager at the time. I designed the first version of the website in a college apartment using a slow dial-up modem. But somehow, people found it and it became popular and here we are, a quarter century later.  

In truth, any success that I, or Dragonmount, has had is because of Jim and his legacy. Dragonmount would be nothing without his words and vision and charisma. I began the website because of the books.  But I maintained it for him. And for the fans, and for you. He deserved to have his story cast wide, and it’s been the honor of my lifetime to be both a herald and a steward of that effort. 

People have been asking me all day to list my favorite memories are from the past 25 years, and every single memory I’ve replied with involves the people closest to the franchise: you, Jim, Wilson, Brandon, Maria, and so on. What a wonderful crew! I’m grateful for how you’ve welcomed me into your little family circle over the years. 

Somewhere, I have an old VHS tape of a smooth-cheeked, floppy haired 20-year-old kid talking to a local news reporter about a new “Web Site.” Since that news segment aired in Chico, CA, I’ve helped run marketing campaigns, made a book trailer, attended countless conventions and book signings, toured with you, performed goofy dances on stage, read the books, sat for interviews, and traveled to an international movie premier. I’m a lucky guy.  Thank you for the privilege to live in your world. 

That said… although there are no endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time, this year marks an ending for me. I announced it last April, so word may already have reached you, but I’ve stepped away from a leadership role at Dragonmount. Kathy Campbell now runs the website. I’ve incorporated the business into a non-profit organization. I’m around as a consultant and to help keep the website itself running, but beyond that, I’m no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the site. I haven’t even seen the most recent episodes of the TV show!

These days my focus is on writing my own books. It’s still slow going because I need to work a full-time job and help pay for [my son’s] college but the time looms ever closer where I might be able to “go full time” as they say. It’s a tough leap to make, especially in today’s publishing economy, but I’m determined to make it happen. 

Somebody referred to Dragonmount as my “life’s work” and yeah, I can see that. It certainly has so far! But I have a lot of road ahead of me still, and the plan is to make my own stories that shine just as brightly as Dragonmount.

I’m attaching some photos. Thanks for letting me share. I hope you are doing well. I’d love to know what you’ve been up to lately. 

Much love,

Jason

25 years. Wow. What a run it’s been.