diff --git a/scripts/gopher/convert_to_gopher.py b/scripts/gopher/convert_to_gopher.py
index d11d2d9..7cd2b5a 100644
--- a/scripts/gopher/convert_to_gopher.py
+++ b/scripts/gopher/convert_to_gopher.py
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@ Usage:
 
 import argparse
 import re
+import sys
 import textwrap
 import yaml
 from pathlib import Path
 
+# Add script directory to path for imports
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent))
+
 from ascii_art import (
     LINE_WIDTH,
     POST_HEADER,
@@ -100,10 +104,8 @@ def convert_formatting(text: str) -> str:
     # Bold: **text** -> *text*
     text = re.sub(r"\*\*([^*]+)\*\*", r"*\1*", text)
 
-    # Italic: *text* or _text_ -> _text_
-    # Be careful not to match our converted bold
+    # Italic: *text* -> _text_ (but not our converted bold *text*)
     text = re.sub(r"(?<!\*)\*([^*]+)\*(?!\*)", r"_\1_", text)
-    text = re.sub(r"_([^_]+)_", r"_\1_", text)
 
     # Horizontal rules
     text = re.sub(r"^---+$", "-" * LINE_WIDTH, text, flags=re.MULTILINE)
@@ -185,7 +187,6 @@ def wrap_paragraphs(text: str) -> str:
     """Wrap text to LINE_WIDTH, preserving code blocks and structure."""
     lines = text.split("\n")
     result = []
-    in_code_block = False
     paragraph = []
 
     def flush_paragraph():
diff --git a/scripts/gopher/generate_gophermaps.py b/scripts/gopher/generate_gophermaps.py
index d27e578..bfec757 100644
--- a/scripts/gopher/generate_gophermaps.py
+++ b/scripts/gopher/generate_gophermaps.py
@@ -9,9 +9,13 @@ Usage:
 
 import argparse
 import re
+import sys
 import yaml
 from pathlib import Path
 
+# Add script directory to path for imports
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent))
+
 from ascii_art import (
     HEADER_BLOG_INDEX,
     DIR_TO_HEADER,