Latest from the Creator
Hey, I know you are focused on Folklore Americana at the moment, but is there any update on the last three books in this line? My players ask me weekly when Return of Headless Horseman is coming out.
PROJECT UPDATE
Kids in the Attic
CREATOR
16 days ago
Project Update: The Past Isn’t Clean. And We Don’t Pretend It Is.
We got a great question from a backer, and we wanted to answer it here for everyone.
“The Depression era is untapped gold in my opinion. But it does come with potential pitfalls. It is pre-civil rights era. Jim Crow laws throughout the South. […] If anything can be shared about the approach taken here, the way you sourced your content derived from Black/Indigenous/minority cultures is of particular interest.”
Folklore Americana is a game rooted in American history, and that means facing some ugly truths. Racism, sexism, religious extremism, and violence were woven into the fabric of everyday life, especially for those pushed to the margins.
We don’t sanitize that.
But we also don’t exploit it.
In Come All Ye Sinners — the Session 0 sourcebook included for all backers — we take time to talk about how to approach these sensitive topics with care. We include sections on:
- Racism and America’s violent past
- Indigenous erasure and folk traditions
- Religious trauma and gender roles
- Queer identity in eras where it had no name
- Addiction, mental illness, sex work, and violence towards children
- How to explore horror without harming players
We also provide guidance for GMs and players on how to use these themes in a way that empowers marginalized characters, not just re-traumatizes real-world players.
Folklore Americana isn’t an alternate history where everything is fine. But it’s also not a game where BIPOC pain is background flavor.
We’re committed to honoring the stories of forgotten people. That means research, respect, and representation — without appropriation.
This game is a love letter to the real, broken, haunted America. We hope you’ll join us in telling those stories right.
— Kids in the Attic
PROJECT UPDATE
Kids in the Attic
CREATOR
18 days ago
Project Update: Folklore Americana is now live on Backerkit!
Hey Sleepy Hollow Backers,
Just a quick update—and a thank you.
First, the big news:
Folklore Americana is now live on Backerkit!
If you’ve been enjoying the haunted history and eerie storytelling of Sleepy Hollow, I’d love for you to check out what I’ve been building next. It’s a folk horror TTRPG set during the Great Depression, where myths walk the backroads and even the Devil minds his step. We have been planning this one for years, and I am happy to step off the back porch and show you what's in the darkness.
But I also want to be clear: Sleepy Hollow is still front and center in my work right now.
Here’s where things stand:
- Roots & Roasts is in layout and we're pushing to have it finalized this weekend.
- Writs & Ephemeria is mostly laid out already, but I want to reorganize a few things to make it tighter and better. I’m still aiming to have it out next week.
- Return of the Headless Horseman is deep in editing, and will follow shortly after.
I want to thank you again for your patience. The car accident with my kids earlier this year really derailed me in ways I didn’t expect. But after a few difficult months, I’m finally back in the saddle —and these books are moving again.
Folklore Americana launching doesn’t mean Sleepy Hollow gets pushed aside. Quite the opposite. My goal is to have everything wrapped up before Folklore needs anything from me full-time.
If you’d like to take a look at the new project (and maybe ride along), you can find it here:
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/kids-in-the-attic/folklore-americana-the-tabletop-roleplaying-game
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/kids-in-the-attic/folklore-americana-the-tabletop-roleplaying-game
Thank you for believing in Sleepy Hollow, and in me.
More ghosts are coming soon.
More ghosts are coming soon.
—Rick
PROJECT UPDATE
Kids in the Attic
CREATOR
about 2 months ago
Project Update: Update: The Final Chapter Approaches – Thank You for Your Patience
First, a heartfelt thank-you to all of you for your patience and understanding. As many of you know, my kids were recently involved in a serious car accident, and we’ve been focused on recovery and healing for all four of them. Your grace and support during this time has meant more than I can say.
Now, on to the good news for Sleepy Hollow.
All of the remaining books are finished in terms of writing.
- Return of the Headless Horseman is currently in editing.
- Roots and Roasts will likely be laid out and released first, as it’s the simplest of the three.
- That will be followed by Writs and Ephemera, and then finally Return of the Headless Horseman, the climactic conclusion to the saga.
We expect all of these to roll out over the next month or so as we push to bring this journey to its proper close.
Thank you again for sticking with us. This project has been a labor of love, and we are incredibly excited to share the final chapters with you soon.
– Rick Hershey
Kids in the Attic
Kids in the Attic
PROJECT UPDATE
Kids in the Attic
CREATOR
3 months ago
Project Update: Project Update: April 29th
About a week ago, all four of my children and my daughter's boyfriend were involved in a serious car accident caused by another driver. Thankfully, they all survived, but they each suffered serious injuries and have a long recovery ahead.
Right now, my focus is on getting them through these first hard months. I’m still here, and I’ll be getting projects wrapped up and new work moving forward as soon as I’m able.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. It means more than you probably realize. Thanks for sticking with me and I will get things moving as soon as I can.
