Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 46

Those Crystal Skull Beads

I’m a few days behind on my squees, but there’s a good reason for that. I took a *much* needed break this weekend to clean my humble abode, do a little organizing, and start hanging art up on the walls. Took some time out to play around with these crystal skull beads I picked up from Fusion Beads, and came up with a design. By flipping a bead cap upside down, I turned it into a crown.

I’ve found that the holes are too big for regular bead embroidery and the 3D aspect of the bead lends itself to certain designs. I’ve got an idea for a wirework project, but even this pair swings a bit. They’re brilliant, though! I wish Swarovski would make flat beads of these for bead embroidery!

Mood: Fresh start.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: On my second cup of joe.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: A bazillion trillion stairs.

In My Ears: Water fountain.

Game Last Played: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Latest Artistic Project: You’re looking at it!

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Echoes of War: Thrillin’ Heroics

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

On Day 18, It’s a Squee for Spring!

I LOVE Fall, but I also enjoy the ability to get the most out of every season. This Spring butterfly I learned how to make in class and it’s part of a wedding present. So much fun to make this! And the wings flap! Totally going to experiment with a bat!

18/365

Mood: Swamped, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I maintained the balance of the Force.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Son of a biscuit…

In My Ears: A meeting. (I’m cheating!)

Game Last Played: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Machete Kills Again

Latest Artistic Project: You’re looking at it!

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Echoes of War: Thrillin’ Heroics

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

Hump Day for a Trio of Squees and Contemplation

I’ve been neck deep in production and I let this slip…so getting caught up right now! Main issue is that it’s so much easier to get pissed about this or that–especially online–but not as easy to focus on what makes me happy. I had that conversation recently with a friend, because there are a few reasons I point out the positive. I am surrounded by darkness. I think we all are, in a way, depending upon how you define the dark. Maybe that’s the literal darkness of space or the darkness and confusion we feel by not knowing the future. Maybe it’s a word that relates to the past or the fog of depression. Whatever the reason, there is darkness and it’s visible, apparent, omnipresent.

The luminous is not. The media is all about fear and loathing and what makes us different–but there’s so much of it, so many things to worry about, injustices to watch in horror, or even simple mistakes that were made that it becomes overwhelming. That’s part of the reason why I feel it’s really important to point out something good–because it takes effort a lot of the time. For me, to combat the darkness–my darkness as I define it? Well, that’s what these squees are all about.

Anyway, I have three today. Number 15/365 is this Patreon to support my comic publisher Red Stylo Media. New ways of funding comics give new comic writers like myself the opportunity to get published. I’ve talked some about the economics of comics publishing, but if you really want a hard look at the industry and the economics behind this be sure read Jim Zub’s blog.

Number 16/365 is a lost forest in the world’s largest cave in Vietnam. How awesome is it that we’re still finding new places to explore?

And last but not least? 17/365 goes to fan feedback. Because nothing, and I mean nothing, is a replacement for a fan squee when working on a project. Awesome!

Mood: Busy, busy, bee.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: A few.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hah. Hardly!

In My Ears: My compy fan.

Game Last Played: Age of Reckoning: Kingdoms of Amalur

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Machete Kills Again

Latest Artistic Project: My cat ate my Halloween decorations

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Hunter the Vigil: Mortal Remains

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

The Weekend Squees! Days 13 & 14

Workshops yesterday for jewelry and today I’m seeing the light at the end of the backlog! YAY! That said, I’m not quite done with the pieces I made yet, and will post those separately. I am COMMITTED to the squees, however, so wanted to get this up.

Here’s some links to examples of what I’ve created in the past. Fun!

Jewelry sample set 1
Sample set 2
Sample set 3
Sample set 4
Sample set 5
Sample set 6

13/14 of 365

Mood: Creative as all get out.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Cup number two

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: E-mails a-way!

In My Ears: “Listen”, Season 8 Doctor Who

Game Last Played: Age of Reckoning: Kingdoms of Amalur

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Latest Artistic Project: My cat ate my Halloween decorations

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Hunter the Vigil: Mortal Remains

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

On History Redux for a Squee

Well, I’m happy that this 365 Days worth of Squee is off to a great start. I’m in the middle of unpacking my library, stumbling on the books I’ve been pulling together for my alternate history novel, when I realized something.

I am very lucky.

I say this again: I am very lucky. I have had some *great* educators over the years, from an American history professor I had to the T.A. who was studying Viking archaeology. In college, what did I know? Not much. I didn’t really fully understand cultural appropriation, Western imperialism, or how history books I’d read were so one-sided–I was too inexperienced to I think. Suspected? Yes. Years later, *now* I understand some things about these pretty heady topics, because I’ve intentionally put the time in to find various perspectives for a lot of reasons, both personally and professionally.

The truth is, I love history because there’s so many powerful and emotional stories there–some that make me cry, laugh, get angry, scratch my head, throw my fist in the air, and drop my jaw with amazement. I could be wrong, but I’m of the mind that empathy can be learned by understanding the atrocities of the past and listening to the voices who dared to speak of them so we don’t repeat these events in the future. I see that history is a lot more complex and real than what it often gets distilled into, and I reflexively want to find out more from both sides–even if it makes me uncomfortable–so I have more stories to read and, by way of research, more stories to tell.

This has been a transformative squee, brought to you by thinking about what inspires me.

12/365

Mood: I’m… Getting… Better!

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Working on my second cup.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: STILL yping like mad!

In My Ears: Fish tank.

Game Last Played: Age of Reckoning: Kingdoms of Amalur

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Good Morning, Vietnam

Latest Artistic Project: My cat ate my Halloween decorations

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Hunter the Vigil: Mortal Remains

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

It’s a Two-Fer Squee Day: 10 and 11

The flu has (unfortunately) taken me over. Yesterday’s post was tabled due to the net neutrality protests that effectively stalled out most sites. So today? You get two squees. Bite-sized, but they are there.

Here’s the first one. Ready?

Yep, these are the slippers of CHAMPIONS. I love fall, and I’m enamored with the fact that I can find non-heinous warm and toasty slippers a la Real Genius.

And here’s the second. Which is quite possibly the shortest squee I have ever squeed.

DARK COFFEE.

10/365 11/365

Mood: I am L’il Miss Sniffles

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Coffee is the lifeblood that floweth through my veins.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Typing like mad!

In My Ears: Flubber with Robin Williams. *sad face*

Game Last Played: Age of Reckoning: Kingdoms of Amalur

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Labyrinth

Latest Artistic Project: I bought MOAR Halloween decorations.

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Hunter the Vigil: Mortal Remains

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

Go Read Dread Names Red List Chapter One!

Did you know I was writing again for Vampire the Masquerade? Well, now you do! Matt M McElroy is developing this book, and he recently announced that:

Originally this book was going to be a small stretch goal PDF featuring a bit of an update and some fresh new material regarding the Red List, sort of an homage to the classic Kindred Most Wanted from 1st edition Vampire. It has greatly expanded in scope and depth as to the content and its place in the V20 line since its inception. This first chapter alone eats up almost half of the originally planned word count. SOURCE:

Let me give you a teeny tiny hint. Per my usual M.O., there are easter eggs for long-time Vampire fans scattered throughout this chapter. Plus, there will be more. So don’t be afraid to comment!

You can find on the Onyx Path website.

Day 9: Vampires

You mean, I’m squeeing for vampires? You bet I am! Waiting for a particular thing to go live… May have to update this later. But, this has already gone up–my FlamesRising.com post about the upcoming Dracula Untold movie. Vampires! Squee!

9/365

Mood: STILL sniffly. DOUBLE UGH.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Not nearly enough. Withdrawal headache today.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: The lament of the flu-ridden writer.

In My Ears: “Under Pressure” by Queen. In my head.

Game Last Played: Age of Reckoning: Kingdoms of Amalur

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Labyrinth

Latest Artistic Project: I bought MOAR Halloween decorations.

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Hunter the Vigil: Mortal Remains

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

Day 8: Retail (Ouija) Therapy

I couldn’t, for the life of me, come up with a squee today–so I turned to my friends on Facebook.

This room-sized, handmade Ouija board rug wins the day. Gah. It’s just so awesome.

8/365

Mood: Sniffly. UGH.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: A paltry amount.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Emptied out a tissue box.

In My Ears: Nada. Cats are whining.

Game Last Played: Age of Reckoning: Kingdoms of Amalur

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Labyrinth

Latest Artistic Project: I bought MOAR Halloween decorations.

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Hunter the Vigil: Mortal Remains

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.

A Short Weekend of Squees

Day 6 was lost to a mysterious box filled with tissues that emptied. Quickly. *sniff* I did find a link to squee about. In an effort to get back on track, I’ve acquired a new planner and calendar. Come to find out, the artist is on Etsy: Katie Daisy. Squee!

For Day 7, I have to go with what’s on my monitor right now. I’ve subscribed once again to the new season of Doctor Who! Huzzah!

(Also Ah-choo!) Stupid cold.

6/365 and 7/365

Mood: I can’t feel my nose. Weird.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: No clue. Downing too many fluids.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I snored. That should count!

In My Ears: “Robot of Sherwood”, Doctor Who Season 8

Game Last Played: Age of Reckoning: Kingdoms of Amalur

Book Last Read: The Crimson Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Movie Last Viewed: Godfather III

Latest Artistic Project: Um…

Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing . See also: need to write more flipping comics and exercise my art skillz again. Feh.

Latest Game Release: Hunter the Vigil: Mortal Remains

What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work, original comics, and novels.