Shelly Mazzanoble

Author Website

Shelly Mazzanoble is the author of Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress: A Girl’s Guide to the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game and Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Dungeons & Dragons: One Woman’s Quest to Trade Self-Help for Elf-Help, (she loves a good, hearty subtitle), both published by Wizards of the Coast. Additionally, she co-hosts the official Dungeons & Dragons podcast, Dragon Talk.

She has exploited her son’s trials and tribulations (and will continue to do so until he fully understands the word “litigation”)  in exchange for great exposure on popular Mom-centric, parenting, and women’s humor sites such as Scary Mommy, Blunt Moms, In the Powder Room, Tribe, and Pregnant Chicken. Her essays have been featured by the TODAY Show and TODAY Parent editors and syndicated on BlogHer . One of her proudest accomplishments was finding a way to combine her two biggest loves-- The Bachelor and doling out unsolicited advice for the popular column Mother Rose Best, a weekly recap for (the now defunct, not her fault) In the Powder Room.

She was a cast member in Seattle’s Listen to Your Mother show, has published short stories and additional essays in publications like Carve, Whetstone, and The Seattle Times, had plays produced in Manhattan and Seattle (one time with herself as the lead because nepotism, hello) and was once “the lady sawed in half” in a small-town magic show. She’s still not sure how they did it.
She lives in Seattle with her husband, son, cat, dog, and sometimes foster dogs. Visit her at shellymazzanoble.com.

Featured titles

“The epic-level handbook of parenting is finally here! As a friend, fellow parent, and seasoned Dungeon Master, I can verify that this book is filled with laughter, sage advice, and practical tips that transform raising your kids into an epic quest. A must-read for all parent adventurers out there!”—B. Dave Walters, author, Dungeons & Dragons: A Darkened Wish

How to Dungeon Master Parenting: A Guidebook for Gamifying the Child Rearing Quest, Leveling Up Your Skills, and Raising Future Adventurers

Gather your party, it’s time to level up your parenting game!

         For years, millions of fans have looked to the beloved role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons for fun, friendship, and entertainment. And now parents and parents-to-be can use it to gain inspiration and how-to when it comes to their most challenging and rewarding role yet. Dungeon Masters are not just expert storytellers and arbiters of the rules, they’re compassionate, creative, quick-thinking leaders who embody the same traits that make a great parent.

​         Where do you find an adventuring party who will have your back? What must-have starting equipment should you own before venturing into babyland? How does your gaming style reflect your parenting style? You don’t have to know how to be a Dungeon Master to master parenting—just think like one. Kids may not come with rulebooks, but now their parents do.

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“Who knew a book on parenting would make me a better Dungeon Master . . . or wait . . . a book on Dungeon Mastering would make me a better parent? Whichever it is, Shelly’s book is an insightful, pithy guide filled to the brim with stories and gems on how to be the best parent/DM you can be. Your quest is to figure out if it goes on the game shelf or in the nursery. Enjoy!”--Todd Stashwick

“Shelly knows that storytelling and collaboration is the real magic behind D&D, and it comes through on every page. A vibrant new generation of DMs and players will find a lot to love here as they embark on new adventures together.”—Jim Zub, author, Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer’s Guides Series

"Shelly and Greg are the Regis and Kathie Lee of Dungeons & Dragons (or Kelly and Ryan, for the younger generation). They've been hard at work collecting the backstories of all the game's biggest names from long before its modern renaissance, and this book is a fun and heartfelt peek behind the curtain at the game's current champions and eccentric personalities." —Joe Manganiello, actor, writer, producer, D&D collaborator, disciple of Tiamat
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"Welcome to Dragon Talk highlights the fascinating history of Dungeons & Dragons and the multitude of ways it continues to impact the cultural zeitgeist. Mazzanoble and Tito have expertly crafted this book of essays . . . bring[ing] a fascinating examination of the game--part historical survey, part airing of skeletons, part cheerleader. This book will appeal to many different audiences and is accessible for those who have never played and want to learn why people love to talk about D&D." --Booklist

Welcome to Dragon Talk: Inspiring Conversations about Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Love to Play It

If it seems like everyone you know is playing Dungeons & Dragons, it’s because they are! After nearly five decades, the iconic roleplaying game is more popular than ever. Famous Hollywood actors and directors, therapists, educators, politicians, kids, parents, and grandparents all count themselves as fans. In Welcome to Dragon Talk, hosts of the official D&D podcast Shelly Mazzanoble and Greg Tito and their surprising guests show how this beloved pastime has amassed a diverse, tight-knit following of players who defy stereotypes. 
 
Shelly and Greg recount some of their most inspiring interviews and illuminate how their guests use the core tenets of the game in everyday life. An A-list actor defends D&D by baring his soul (and his muscles) on social media. A teacher in a disadvantaged district in Houston creates a D&D club that motivates students to want to read and think analytically. A writer and live-streamer demonstrates how D&D–inspired communication breaks barriers and empowers people of color. Readers will see why Dungeons & Dragons has remained such a pop culture phenomenon and how it has given this disparate and growing community the inspiration to flourish and spread some in-game magic into the real world.

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"From education to interpersonal growth to creating lasting friendships and more, the many uplifting values of D&D are recounted wonderfully by Shelly and Greg, who have grown with the game and with their many Dragon Talk interviews. This is a truly enjoyable, uplifting, and educational read . . . just like playing D&D!" —R. A. Salvatore, author, Glacier's Edge

"Greg and Shelly know that a game is only as good as its gamers. Through Dragon Talk they've been able to boost voices and raise awareness on how creative and inventive the Dungeons & Dragons community can be. Always engaging and entertaining, Dragon Talk is at the forefront of what D&D is right now and hopefully will be far into the future, and Welcome to Dragon Talk is a gladly received addition." —Jim Zub, comic writer, Avengers, Conan the Barbarian, Dungeons & Dragons