What are Literary Role Playing Games & How Do You Create Them? Jane Austen fans…this is for you!

What are Literary Role Playing Games & How Do You Create Them? Jane Austen fans…this is for you!

November 13, 2025

When people think Role Playing Games (RPG’s) it’s often the swords and blood of Dungeons and Dragons that comes to mind…but in a little corner of Sydney, Australia two extraordinary creatives have built an internationally-loved literary role-playing game business.  I met them at SXSW Sydney and was fascinated and impressed by what they’ve created and how they go about their game design, book writing and publishing business. It brought me a lot of joy actually to see what they were up to and how they go about it!

Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon kindly agreed to join me on the Self Publishing with ALLi podcast, and if you love historical reads, indie publishing, words, stories, collaboration, art or beautiful books that do something a little unexpected — you’re going to love this two-part podcast series.

The award-winning duo behind Storybrewers Roleplaying – that’s the fab Vee and Hayley – design, write, illustrate, and publish narrative-driven tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) that are as much about storytelling and emotion as they are about play.

Their creations — including Good Society: A Jane Austen Roleplaying Game and the single-player experience My Late Father’s Correspondence — reimagine how literature can live beyond the page. Think books meets gameplay, readers meets players, and collaboration meets craft.

In the first episode we mostly discuss all things literary RPG production, and in the second episode we talk audience and distribution for their works.

Vee and Hayley’s work embodies what so many in the writing world aspire to:

  • creative freedom balanced with professional standards,

  • beautiful, reader-centred production,

  • ethical business practices, and

  • community-driven marketing that feels human, not hype.

Their insights remind us that storytelling is evolving — and that as authors, we can keep experimenting with how our ideas reach and move people. Love that!

🎧 Episode 1: Producing Books, Cards & Collaborative Stories

In Part One, we dive into how Vee and Hayley bring literary ideas to life as tangible, interactive creations.

We discuss:

  • how Good Society adapts Jane Austen-style fiction into a collaborative storytelling game,

  • the handmade artistry behind My Late Father’s Correspondence, a read-and-reply experience set in 1832,

  • balancing quality and accessibility in indie production,

  • and what tools and workflows keep their multi-format publishing pipeline running smoothly.

It’s a fascinating glimpse into the creative production process — one that blends narrative craft with design thinking and indie publishing smarts.

👉 You can listen to this episode now on the Self Publishing with ALLi podcast (Anna Featherstone) or on your favourite podcast app

🎧 Episode 2: How Literary RPGs Find Their Audience

Distributing Books, Games and Creative Experiences

In Part Two, we shift from making to sharing.
Vee and Hayley reveal how they reach players around the world while staying true to their mission of inclusivity.

We explore:

  • running successful Kickstarter campaigns and managing fulfilment,

  • building an engaged audience and creative community,

  • navigating global distribution of physical and digital products,

  • and their open approach to copyright and remix culture.

If you’re an indie author, small-press publisher, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights you can apply to your own publishing journey.

👉 This second ep is live now here

Christmas for Jane Austen fans and the writer in your life???

Well of course I’ve had to add their creations to my present gift list for writers! If you want to get something for yourself to fuel your creative energy, or encourage the writer in you life, check out my list of gift ideas for writers here

About Vee and Hayley

Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon are the award-winning designers and married duo behind Storybrewers Roleplaying, an Australian independent studio celebrated worldwide for emotionally rich, character-driven tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs).

Their games explore history, literature, and queer narratives, bringing players together for heartfelt, collaborative storytelling. Storybrewers has twice won Game of the Year at the ARPIA Awards, Best Tabletop Game at SXSW Sydney’s Games Festival, and earned back-to-back wins at the PAX Aus Indie Showcase.

They live on Gadigal land in Sydney’s inner west with their dog, Holiday, and a rotating cast of foster rescue cats.

🌐 storybrewersroleplaying.com
🔗 linktr.ee/storybrewers