Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 30

Content, Comment, and Moderation Policy for My Social Media

This content, comment, and moderation policy draft applies to my accounts on third party social media platforms and forums that enable me to connect with peers, readers, players, friends and family. Due to the violence, suicides, and bullying fueled by an uptick in racism and xenophobia that is being reported here, here, here, here, and here, the draft of this policy is designed to clarify my stance as I interact with others online, as well as highlight what I do and do not find acceptable in order to make a safe space in my corner of the universe. For the time being, however, I do not plan on re-opening comments here on the blog. That may change if I decide to resume regular blogging, and if that becomes the case I will adapt this policy to ensure commenters are also protected.

This policy draft is my pledge to all those who are connected to me. My readers, my peers, my friends and my family are a melting pot of diverse voices, cultures, and identities. This is my commitment to them and, pending feedback on the draft, further updates may be made.

To comment or add to these points, you may post comments here, on my social media account attached to the link, or you can send me a private e-mail here. I pledge to listen to you and weigh decisions that will ensure the chorus of diverse voices I have come to need, love, and enjoy remains safe.

1.) Hate Speech: The American Bar Association defines hate speech as “speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits.” If I see this in a comment or in a reaction to anything said by myself or those who connect with me, your comment may be screencapped or logged, it will be deleted, and you will be blocked/reported.

2.) Microaggressions: According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Some racism is so subtle that neither victim nor perpetrator may entirely understand what is going on—which may be especially toxic for people of color.” Microaggressions will be treated on a case-by-case basis and actions will depend upon what is being said, who’s saying it, and what the outcome of that conversation is. If I perceive anyone is hurt on my page, I will reach out to the person I perceive is hurt and ask them if they are okay and take it from there.

3.) Harassment/Doxing/Death threats: My actions regarding this will be the same as how I treat people who engage in hate speech. I do not, and will not, accept any death threats on my accounts toward any individual regardless of my views on the person being targeted. Death threats are not and never will be okay, and every death threat regardless of how it’s worded will be treated with the utmost severity.

4.) Screening: I pledge to be better about screening those I follow and connect with to prevent 1), 2), and 3) above. As part of that pledge, if you know of someone who is actively causing harm or harassing people we are mutually connected with on a consistent basis, please let me know.

Licensing rights to use, repurpose, or share something similar on your sites is Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.

[Draft] Content, Comment, and Moderation Policy for My Social Media

This content, comment, and moderation policy draft applies to my accounts on third party social media platforms and forums that enable me to connect with peers, readers, players, friends and family. Due to the violence, suicides, and bullying fueled by an uptick in racism and xenophobia that is being reported here, here, here, here, and here, the draft of this policy is designed to clarify my stance as I interact with others online, as well as highlight what I do and do not find acceptable in order to make a safe space in my corner of the universe. For the time being, however, I do not plan on re-opening comments here on the blog. That may change if I decide to resume regular blogging, and if that becomes the case I will adapt this policy to ensure commenters are also protected.

This policy draft is my pledge to all those who are connected to me. My readers, my peers, my friends and my family are a melting pot of diverse voices, cultures, and identities. This is my commitment to them and, pending feedback on the draft, further updates may be made.

To comment or add to these points, you may post comments here, on my social media account attached to the link, or you can send me a private e-mail here. I pledge to listen to you and weigh decisions that will ensure the chorus of diverse voices I have come to need, love, and enjoy remains safe.

1.) Hate Speech: The American Bar Association defines hate speech as “speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits.” If I see this in a comment or in a reaction to anything said by myself or those who connect with me, your comment may be screencapped or logged, it will be deleted, and you will be blocked/reported.

2.) Microaggressions: According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Some racism is so subtle that neither victim nor perpetrator may entirely understand what is going on—which may be especially toxic for people of color.” Microaggressions will be treated on a case-by-case basis and actions will depend upon what is being said, who’s saying it, and what the outcome of that conversation is. If I perceive anyone is hurt on my page, I will reach out to the person I perceive is hurt and ask them if they are okay and take it from there.

3.) Harassment/Doxing/Death threats: My actions regarding this will be the same as how I treat people who engage in hate speech. I do not, and will not, accept any death threats on my accounts toward any individual regardless of my views on the person being targeted. Death threats are not and never will be okay.

4.) Screening: I pledge to be better about screening those I follow and connect with to prevent 1), 2), and 3) above. As part of that pledge, if you know of someone who is actively causing harm or harassing people we are mutually connected with on a consistent basis, please let me know.

Licensing rights to use, repurpose, or share something similar on your sites is Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.

To My Fellow Artists and Our Fans

It’s been an emotional past couple of days, and I know there’s a long struggle for human rights ahead of us. As an artist, I don’t know what my role in this mess will be. I know some people believe that being an artist isn’t a crucial or worthy calling, that giving some relief or challenging the way people thought or playing games was not as important as heading issues straight on. All we are, are stories. Every article you read is a story. Every TV show you watch is a story. We intellectually distinguish fact from fiction, but not if that fiction sounds like fact. Stories are important–now more than ever–and they gave me a reason to live when I needed it the most.

The gaming industry, for all our issues, is part of my family, and people I’ve met in SF&F over the past few years are becoming that as well. Now, more than ever, artists of all stripes need each other. Our world may be divided, but we do not have to spread a message of hate. We are the story-makers, and we have that power. It’s time to saddle up, and bring some hope back that is badly, sorely needed. Who’s with me?

I posted a list on Twitter of ways to help your fellow artists, and here’s a summary of what I said:

Many freelancers like myself are worried about health insurance changes. There are a couple of ways to help. They are:

1) Write/share reviews: Many sites employ algorithms that use this as a metric, and reviews influence word-of-mouth sales as well.

2) Support disaster relief funds like The Hero Initiative and the RPG Creators Relief Fund

3) Support artists by talking about what you love, and not only what you “hate”. Yes, issues need to be called out–but so does the good.

4) Drop a thank you or letter of encouragement to your favorite artist. I cannot stress how important that will be and is right now.

5) Support diversity/inclusion by supporting better representation. Buy, read, and recommend books by authors affected. Directly helps!

6) When you see an artist attempting to say something positive as a means of fighting back against the negativity, RT them. It *matters*.

7) Keep in mind some artists won’t share their political views, not b/c they don’t care–but b/c they care TOO much. Have to protect hearts.

And lastly 8) Many of us have a Patreon, Etsy, Kickstarter, etc. We’d appreciate a signal boost even if you can’t afford it. Thank you!

Announcing In Volo’s Wake for Dungeons & Dragons

To celebrate the November 15th release of the upcoming supplement Volo’s Guide to Monsters pictured above, a new Adventurer’s League module called In Volo’s Wake was released to friendly local game stores on November 4th.

Today, I am thrilled to announce that I was one of the writers on this set of mini-adventurers along with my kickass developer, Shawn Merwin, and Rich Lescouflair. In Volo’s Wake will be available online at a later date. I’ll share a link with you on my blog when it is. For now, if you want to check it out–head on over to your friendly local game store and ask them about it. Wahoo!

A Thank You and a Voluntary Critique for Apex

What a long, strange crazy week this has been–and it’s not even over yet! I am pumped, and feeling more like myself than I have in ages. Thank you! Yes, there has been unfortunate news shared about lags in my career which has shifted my priorities and goals for the umpteenth time in the past few years. However, looking for and finding gigs is part of being a writer and right now I have to hustle to make up that slack. Hustle, hustle.

Anyway, I wanted to pop in here on ye olde blog to say “Thank you.” I had forgotten just how supportive my friends are because we don’t see each other very often, and my attention has been closer to focusing on hearth and home. Reconnecting with old friends, and finding new readers, players, and fans has been supercharging me. It’s easy to focus on the peripheral or ancillary nonsense that has nothing to do with The WorkTM–especially in an era where we are seeing the tail end of mob rule on the internet.

Since I’m feeling all the love, I volunteered to do a short story critique for Apex Magazine as a means of giving back during their annual fund drive. I promise you it will be amazing and you’ll find a lot of value from my comments! There’s only ONE spot so grab it while you can.

Mood: Caffeinated.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Water. Wet. Caffeine better.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I thought about it.

In My Ears: The Lord of the Rings soundtrack

Game Last Played: Sonic: All Stars Racing

Book Last Read: ICO: Castle in the Mist

Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: Stitched

Latest Artistic Project: A bunch o’ stuff

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Gods, Memes, and Monsters , Endless Ages for Vampire: The Masquerade, and Firefly: The Gorramn Shiniest Language Guide and Dictionary in the ‘Verse .

Latest Game Release: Ghouls & Revenants for Vampire: The Masquerade and Court of Shadows for Shadowrun.

Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update.

Joining the Cabal on Kickstarter

Andrew Peregrine has launched a new RPG on Kickstarter called “Cabal”.

Cabal is an RPG that works in reverse to the way tabletop RPGs usually function. Instead of each player creating their own character, you create a single character between you. This character is an organisation with its own secret plan and goals. It might be a conspiracy, a corporation, an activist group, an occult society of magicians or even a collection of hidden alien refugees. The size, influence, resources and pawns of the group depend entirely on what attributes the players choose between them for the organisation. SOURCE: Cabal RPG on Kickstarter

The organization I’ve proposed is a cabal hidden in plain sight that seeks to bring back the gods and goddesses of ancient times–real and imagined. This cabal can’t be added to the book without your help, so check out the Cabal RPG on Kickstarter to see if this type of game of secrets and hidden conspiracies is in your wheelhouse. Join us!

The Cainite Conspiracies Cover and Table of Contents Reveal!

Today, I am pleased to share with you the cover art and Table of Contents for my upcoming anthology: The Cainite Conspiracies. This collection of short stories, which is inspired by Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Dark Ages, has a stellar roster that includes fantastic authors and Vampire developers past and present.

Watch for the anthology to be released in November!

Table of Contents for The Cainite Conspiracies

A Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition Dark Ages Anthology

Young, Gifted, and Ventrue by Maurice Broaddus

Family is Family by Renee Ritchie

Acts of Cruelty by Justin Achilli

A Quest for Blood by Russell Zimmerman

Sand and Dust by Andrew Peregrine

Incarnadine Seas by Catherine Lundoff

The Last Spark by Eddy Webb

The Hidden Stars by Jacob Klunder

Omen’s End by Ree Soesbee

Eighty and Nine by David A. Hill, Jr.

Ghosts of Chorazin by Alan Alexander

Orfeo’s Plague by Richard Dansky

Veil of Power by Danielle Lauzon

Goat’s Nails by Neall Raemonn Price

[New Release] Essay in Uncanny Magazine Issue 13

I am pleased to announce that I have an essay titled We Have Always Been Here, Motherfucker in Uncanny Magazine Issue No. 13. I am joined by a fantastic list of contributors

Here’s more about this premiere issue for year three:

Space Unicorns! Uncanny Magazine Issue 13 Part 1 is LIVE! Featuring all–new short fiction by Paul Cornell, Brooke Bolander, Jennifer Marie Brissett, reprint fiction from The Starlit Wood by Amal El–Mohtar, nonfiction by Alyssa Wong, Monica Valentinelli, & Navah Wolfe, poems by Neil Gaiman & Theodora Goss, and a Jennifer Marie Brissett Interview! Plus Julie Dillon’s “Impact Crater” on the cover!

The Uncanny Magazine Podcast Episode 13A: Editors’ Introduction, Paul Cornell’s “Don’t You Worry, You Aliens” as read by Heath Miller, Brooke Bolander’s “Our Talons Can Crush Galaxies” as read by Erika Ensign, Theodora Goss’s poem “Rose Child” as read by Amal El–Mohtar, and Brooke Bolander interviewed by Deborah Stanish.

The entire issue is available for purchase as an eBook (PDF, EPUB, MOBI) RIGHT NOW. The second half will be released on December 6.

PLEASE SUPPORT UNCANNY! SHARE YOUR FAVORITES! Or feel free to purchase subscriptions from Weightless Books or Amazon Kindle or become a Patreon Patron!

For more about this magazine, visit www.uncannymagazine.com.

Celebrate Halloween with Vampires!

Have you picked up your copy of Endless Ages yet? If not, today’s post gives you a little bit of insight into my inspiration behind “Redder Than Red”. Happy Halloween!

What Motivated Me to Write Redder Than Red

When I was working on Dread Names: Red List, Matt (McElroy) and I would speculate which Anathema would be the first to get caught in the modern era and why. Often, Ayisha Jocastian’s name would pop up because she represents a direct threat to the Masquerade. As an Anathema, Ayisha is unique in the sense that she believes that the consciousness of the vampires she has consumed are directing her actions, but she is also a political threat because her zeal to reproduce and distribute the Book of Nod. Though Ayisha was already condemned to the Red List and could never be removed, she is an active threat who will not stop committing diablerie, nor will she stop sharing vampiric secrets with mortals.

My story, which is titled “Redder Than Red”, is written from the perspective of a Malkavian named Rebecca Fleischer whose childe was diablerized by Ayisha. Rebecca suffers from a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder called Arithmomania, which means she has a fundamental need to count. I felt this would be a good mental illness to help illustrate what Rebecca is feeling and seeing, and gets away from the stereotypes that plague members of Clan Malkavian and undermine their potential in a story.

Together with Ventrue Alastor Stephan Ashworth, the two Kindred drive to a warehouse to confront Ayisha Jocastian once and for all. Stephan adds some setting heft to the story, as both Alastors and Anathema are part of the rich lore associated with the Red List, but he also offers a dynamic to show this fight isn’t between two vampires. For Rebecca, however, her desire to take down Ayisha is personal; losing her childe is a powerful motivator for vengeance.

I hope your thirst for vampire fiction will draw you to “Redder Than Red”. This story was a lot of fun to write, and I enjoyed taking on this aspect of Vampire: The Masquerade for the modern era.

[New Release] Endless Ages Vampire: The Masquerade Anthology

Twenty-five years of Vampire: The Masquerade

Twenty-five years of storytelling, adventure, and exploration. In celebration, we bring you eighteen authors that explore the evolution and development of the world of Vampire. From tales of wanton diablerie to the fulfilling of centuries-old religious vows, lover’s sacrifices, and searches for truth. Peel apart the layers and discover the endless ages of beauty and betrayal.

Today, I’m pleased to announce the release of a collection of stories for Vampire: The Masquerade. Edited by Jaym Gates, Endless Ages features several stories from wonderful authors covering all eras of the setting. My story is titled “Redder Than Red”, features the hunt for the Anathema, Ayisha Jocastian, and is set in the modern era. Watch for story excerpts all this week leading up to Halloween on the Onyx Path Publishing website.

Get your copy of Endless Ages today! I hope you enjoy this Vampire: The Masquerade anthology, and it allows you to fall in love with Vampire all over again. Happy 25th anniversary! And, more importantly… Happy Halloween!