Home - Jeff Mach & Jeff Mach Events

In late March, 2025, I lost my website of many years, Jeff Mach Events.

As has been my custom of late, when I have just too much to do, I’m using AI for a placeholder.

I am quite divorced and do NOT live with my now-ex-husband. I’ll go through the AI later.

Jeff Mach is an author, event organizer, and musician, known for fantasy and satire works.
He organized events like the Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire and Steampunk World’s Fair, and currently runs Wonderplace Alpha.
His books include “There and Never, Ever Back Again” and “I HATE Your Prophecy,” with themes of villainy and humor.
There were allegations of misconduct in 2018, which he denies, and he has continued his creative work.
Unexpected detail: ~~He lives with his husband and has over 4,000 science fiction books, many bought for a quarter each.~~ (Update: He is divorced and almost all of those books were destroyed when an apartment above flooded; most of the rest were stolen by movers. It’s a funny story, in retrospect.)

Background and Career

Jeff Mach, based in Hackensack, New Jersey, has built a diverse career over two decades. He is renowned for organizing unique events for niche communities, such as the Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire, which became the world’s largest indoor Renaissance Faire by 2013, and The Steampunk World’s Fair, with over 4,000 attendees in 2012. Currently, he is involved in Wonderplace Alpha, a multi-genre event fostering creativity.

As an author, Mach has written several fantasy and satire books, including “There and Never, Ever Back Again: Diary of a Dark Lord” and “I HATE Your Prophecy,” exploring themes of good and evil with humor. His writing is influenced by authors like Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Additionally, he is a musician, creating the first Steampunk rock opera, “Absinthe Heroes,” with over 30 years of experience in folk and progressive rock.

Controversy and Personal Life

In 2018, Mach faced allegations of misconduct related to his events, leading him to step down temporarily. He denies these claims, asserting they were baseless, and has since resumed his work. Personally, he lives with his husband and maintains a collection of over 4,000 science fiction books, many acquired at bargain prices, reflecting his passion for literature.

Survey Note: Comprehensive Biography of Jeff Mach

Jeff Mach stands as a multifaceted figure in the realms of literature, event organization, and music, with a career spanning over two decades that has significantly influenced fantasy, science fiction, and alternative subcultures. This detailed biography aims to capture the breadth of his achievements, personal life, and the complexities surrounding his public persona, including addressing the controversy as requested.

Early Life and Personal Background

While specific details about Jeff Mach’s early life are not publicly documented, it is known that he currently resides in Hackensack, New Jersey, with his husband. His personal life is marked by a profound love for literature, evidenced by his collection of over 4,000 science fiction books, most of which were acquired at bag sales for about a quarter each. This collection not only reflects his bibliophilic tendencies but also his commitment to giving used books a new home, a practice that underscores his creative and resourceful nature.

Career as an Event Organizer

Jeff Mach’s career as an event organizer is one of his most notable contributions, particularly in fostering communities for niche interests. He founded the Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire in 2006, which by 2013 had grown to become the world’s largest indoor Renaissance Faire, attracting thousands of attendees annually. Other significant events include The Steampunk World’s Fair, which saw over 4,000 participants in 2012, The International Steampunk City, The Midsummer Magick Faire, The Anachronism NYC, and Halloween in December. These events were designed as playgrounds for geeks, Steampunks, Halloween enthusiasts, and other “non-normal” individuals, providing spaces for creative expression and community building.

In recent years, Mach has shifted focus to Wonderplace Alpha, described on its website (Wonderplace Alpha) as a “liminal environment” where travelers from different times and spaces can mix and share their creativity. This multi-genre event includes activities like the Multi-Genre Garb and Costume Parade and panels on art and subcultures, continuing his tradition of innovative community engagement.

Writing Career

As an author, Jeff Mach has carved a niche in fantasy and satire, with a bibliography that includes eight distinct works, as listed on his Goodreads author page (Jeff Mach Goodreads). His notable books are:

Title	Description	Avg Rating	Ratings
There and Never, Ever Back Again: Diary of a Dark Lord	Satirical fantasy following a dark lord, praised for humor and whimsy.	3.81	290
I HATE Your Prophecy	Comedic exploration of magic and destiny, challenging chosen one narratives.	4.29	65
Villains, Villainy & Villainpunk	Microfictions celebrating villainy, part of the Villainpunk genre.	4.42	31
I HATE Your Time Machine	Guide to disastrous time travel, infused with humor.	4.18	28
A Big Bad Wolf’s VILLAINLY Alphabet	Alphabetical journey through villainy, highly rated for creativity.	4.67	12
The Villainpunk Cookbook	Culinary take on villainous themes, less widely reviewed.	4.33	6
Give: The Book of Submissive Experience	Exploration of submissive experiences, niche but highly rated.	5.00	2

Mach’s writing is characterized by wit and a satirical edge, often subverting traditional fantasy tropes. Reviews, such as one on Amazon (Amazon Review), describe “There and Never, Ever Back Again” as a “delightful little romp into the dark side,” highlighting its playfulness and insightful commentary. His influences include Neil Gaiman, Ursula LeGuin, Daniel Pinkwater, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett, as noted on his Amazon author page (Jeff Mach Amazon).

Music and Other Creative Endeavors

Mach’s musical career, spanning over 30 years, adds another dimension to his creative output. He is recognized for creating “Absinthe Heroes,” the first Steampunk rock opera, blending music with narrative storytelling. His musical styles, as detailed on Steampunk-Music.com (Steampunk Music), include folk and progressive rock, reflecting his eclectic approach. This work complements his event organizing and writing, showcasing his versatility across artistic mediums.

Controversy: Addressing the Allegations

The controversy surrounding Jeff Mach, particularly in 2018, is a significant aspect of his public profile, as noted on the Wikipedia page for Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire (Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire). Allegations included exploitation, harassment, financial agreement failures, and sexual misconduct, leading to his temporary step-down from event hosting. The company, Jeff Mach Events, was renamed to Just Magical Events during this period. However, Mach has denied these claims in a Medium article (Medium Article), asserting no formal investigation or charges were brought forward, and describing the accusations as motivated by politics, romantic revenge, or personal gain. He stepped down initially to save the events but believes this led to their destruction by incapable successors. As of 2023, Jeff Mach Events has resumed under his management, reflecting his resilience and commitment to his work.

Personal Interests and Humor

Mach’s personal life is intertwined with his creative pursuits, living in Hackensack with his husband and his vast book collection. He prefers writing longhand, a process he believes channels his inner dark lord more effectively, as mentioned on his Amazon page. His humor is evident in his advice to authors: “I heartily recommend grabbing your friends by the throat and shouting, ‘Purchase my tome, or so help me, I will END you,’” a quote from his Goodreads interactions (Jeff Mach Goodreads). This playful irreverence is also captured in his self-description as a “gremlin, pouring weirdness into the water supply,” from Steampunk-Music.com (Steampunk Music), encapsulating his mission to inject creativity into the world.

Quotes and Unexpected Details

Mach’s writings offer insightful and humorous quotes, such as, “First off, contrary to popular belief, I’m as human as you are. One of us should probably be ashamed of that. I’m not entirely sure that it’s me,” from “There and Never, Ever Back Again,” and “How often must you be betrayed before you see that others are taking your kindness for weakness, your silence for an inability to speak?” also from the same book, both available on Goodreads (Jeff Mach Goodreads). An unexpected detail is his extensive book collection, over 4,000 volumes, many bought for a quarter, reflecting a personal quirk that adds depth to his character.

Conclusion

Jeff Mach’s career is a tapestry of creativity, resilience, and community building, marked by his event organizing, literary works, and musical endeavors. His ability to navigate controversy while continuing to inspire and entertain underscores his enduring impact. As of March 29, 2025, he remains a pivotal figure in alternative culture, with ongoing projects like Wonderplace Alpha and a growing body of work that celebrates the unconventional.

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