Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 76

Pledge for a Kickstarter Disaster Anthology and More Blowy Uppy Stuff

Greetings and salutations fans of explosions, plagues, floods, fires, and alien invasions!

Yes, that’s right. I am talking to you, oh fans of Michael Bay, who love disaster stories of every shape imaginable. Lean in for a super special announcement!

Our Last Best Hope Kickstarter

I am pleased to announce that I’ve committed (or been committed) to penning yet another blowy uppy story for the Our Last Best Hope – An RPG to Save The World Kickstarter. The anthology is titled “We Are Dust.”

To get another blowy uppy story in an anthology with several fine and respectable authors we need to hit the last stretch goal. Now, we have a few days to make this happen and the stretch goal is a little stretch-y. $10,000. So, instead of telling me what to blow up this time? YOU GET TO PICK THE DISASTER.

That’s right, cats and kittens. We make this goal by Sunday, June 17th and you tell me how to destroy the world. Then, I will pen a short story for your reading pleasure. I kind of like this plan!

Update on Have Blaster, Will Travel

Time for an update on the Have Blaster, Will Travel Bulldogs! Anthology on Kickstarter. My story is almost done, but I’m working out a few pesky plot kinks. See, Fang decided to um… He plotted to… Um… Well, there’s a lot of bang bang shoot ‘em up and I got hung up in the consequences. You know, police and bounty hunters and people weeping and all that business. Oh, and ammo depletion. Did I mention the running out of munitions part? Like… A lot?

I know, I know. You’re thinking: “Plot? Who needs a plot? If Michael Bay can string a bunch of explosions together and call it a movie, certainly you could do that for a story, right?”

To which I respond by saying: “Michael Bay may be in my head, dear Reader, but I’m pretty sure Transformers without the Transformers are just giant robots kicking the crap out of each other.”

And with that, I must away to the Annex (or apex) of my glorious abode to meander through a to-do list and the Day JobTM before I allow Fang to take over.

Who’s Fang you say? Silly Reader. What, you mean you don’t read every story I write?!?!?!?! SHOCKING. :p

Here are some links just for you:

Fang (And I) Need Your Help
We did it! Now Vote on What Fang Blows Up
Thank You! Fang will blow up…

And here’s some links about the story Fang first appeared in.

Constructing Redwing’s Gambit: Easter Eggs – Part 5 of 5.
Constructing Redwing’s Gambit: Revisions and Cut Text – Part 4 of 5
Constructing Redwing’s Gambit: Structure and Plot – Part 3 of 5
Constructing Redwing’s Gambit: Characters and Treatment – Part 2 of 5
Constructing Redwing’s Gambit: Research and Background Part 1 of 5

Announcing The Lion and The Aardvark!

Today, I am pleased to announce a new anthology titled The Lion and The Aardvark will include a fable from yours truly titled “Bored to Fu.” The book, which is published through Stone Skin Press, will debut just in time for the holly-daze.

This tome is a collection of Aesop’s Modern Fables and has been edited by Robin Laws. The cover depicted here was illustrated by Jim Zubkavich, a very talented writer and artist (among other hats he wears).

A Song for the Internet Trolls

A song for internet trolls called Thank You Hater! by Clever Pie and Isabel Fay. (HT to Gareth Michael-Skarka for the link.)

Mood: Hah, hah, hah.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Hah, HAH!

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Hah.

In My Ears: Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah, hah.

Game Last Played: Samurai vs. Zombies

Movie Last Viewed: Indiana Jones marathon

Latest Artistic Project: A gold bead. Yep, I made a bead. And other assorted hilarity.

Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG

The Beast That Binds

I’ve been blogging on-and-off about writing and publishing for a while now, but… as it turns out… I have some new things to say. So, there’ll be a few posts in between my usual craziness that’ll posture and ponder the current sad state of affairs.

And sad it is or can be. Change is uncomfortable in many reaches of this industry, from the newly published to veterans, from those who are still learning and those who teach. There are a million different scenarios depending upon what an author’s goals are and a billion more ways to get readers. BUT (and this is a big “but”) as varied as these situations are, the key difference between those who will make it and those who won’t are the authors who treat writing like a business.

I titled this post “the beast that binds” because, for anyone who wants to treat publishing like a hobby or a career, money is that terrifying creature. Publishing is a term that reflects a business process where an author produces a product with an intent to sell it to as many people as possible. Now, I know some of you may balk at the term “product” because a story is more than that. Sure it is and I’m of the mind that you have to have faith in art as ART in order to create whatever it is you do.

But here’s where I feel the problem lies — when an author stops believing that. How many times have I heard: “Oh, I can write better than ‘X’ who sold a zillion copies of books.” Or, “I can’t write as good as ‘X’ so if I pursue this I’m coming across as a pretentious jerk.” When you create a product to sell, you create YOUR product. You’ll never write just like Steven King because you’re not. Steven. King. Sure, go ahead and write better than [author of choice here]. But isn’t that subjective? Do you have as many rabid fans willing to pay money to buy your books? To fund your career?

It’s not glorious. It’s not pretty. Money is the cold, hard reality that gets in the way of just about anything we want to do. Anything. But here’s where a lot of authors differ. For some, money is everything. For others? Not so much. Those that are have a reputation of being a hack or a charlatan. Those who don’t? Fools. The question of when money factors into any author’s equation is a personal one, but I do know one thing: Yoda was right. Do or do not, there is no try.

Sometimes, that just means you have to keep trying.

Mood: Pulp-y with a side of OJ

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: In recovery. (SERIOUSLY.)

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Walk.

In My Ears: Screaming dust bunnies

Game Last Played: Battle Nations

Movie Last Viewed: Indiana Jones marathon

Latest Artistic Project: A gold bead. Yep, I made a bead. And chainmaille. And…

Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG

Need Help Planning a Terrarium

Pictured above is Rimmon, also referred to as the kitty of dooooooom. Rimmon, and his brother Zakar (Both named after Mesopotamian gods, btw. Because really, aren’t there enough Fluffys and Marshmallows and Patches in the world?) are PLANT DESTRUCTORS. Doesn’t matter what the plant is — dead or alive, spicy or not — they will eat and/or smash, rip, and tear it into oblivion. I’ve tried well, almost everything, including the soil-less plants, too. (I’m about to try those again, though, and may have to resort to this thing called “iron” to guard the darn thing.

Pictured at right, is what I just bought. (Habitat Design, by the way, is pretty tremendous. A little on the pricey side, but I really like a lot of their art pieces. I wound up getting the terrarium from Fab.com over a month ago, and Habitat Design is the only place I found where it’s currently available.)

ANYHOO… Now that I have said fortress of plants, I need to figure out what kind of plants to put in it. My thumbs, they are not green.

Wanna help? *gives readers doe eyes*

Mood: The future is SO bright I have to wear shades.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Why bother measuring?

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: I was… lazy. *sob*

In My Ears: 1000 Words by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi

Game Last Played: Samurai vs. Zombies

Movie Last Viewed: Indiana Jones marathon

Latest Artistic Project: A gold bead. Yep, I made a bead.

Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG

Joy through Cutting

Bradbury’s death yesterday affected me on a deep level that is hard to put into words. His work resonated with me through both educational aspects and what I know to be excellent writing; great characterization, social commentary with preaching, and word conservation. The news of his passing is like a telescope into my past, a reminder of what matters, and an example of what ripples effect Work has on people. In this case, the public. In your case or mine — who knows?

But there is something to be said for his commentary about joy in writing, how he never “worked” because he loved it so, so much. Brainpickings.org (a site I highly recommend by the way) chose some really great Bradbury quotes. This line in particular is a gem: “The joy of writing has propelled me from day to day and year to year.”

So how do we get to joy? For me, it’s by cutting, because when I’m unhappy with my work I know it’s not anyone else’s fault but mine. Some of these things I have to manage and sometimes it does takes a week or two to snap out of it. I’m pretty good about righting myself back to center. Believe me when I say that none of the bullshit matters. More than anyone, for reasons I cannot say publicly, I know that there is nothing more important to one’s own creativity as the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE of Self — wherever you can find it. I get that through the freedom of DO and CHOICE.

To be free, to truly find “the” purest connection to my Work, I have found the following to be very (wholly) diseased:

* Talking more about writing than actually writing

* Being jealous of other writers

* Not having the proper equipment/time to write

* Wasting time on negative energy, toxic people, or self-doubt

* Worrying about the state of the publishing industry

* Internet Popularity

* Worrying about what other authors think

* Unnatural stress over bad reviews

* Not having a support group

* Writing as a pyramid scheme

* Putting your future as a writer into someone else’s hands. (YOU CAN ALWAYS WRITE, YOU JUST MAY NOT EARN THE MONEY YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT.)

* Believing that an editor or publisher is “out to get” writers

* Not paying attention to contract details

* Engaging in writer’s avoidance behavior

* Thinking that “because So and So said X about writing” it’s true and applicable to your own Work

* Writer’s Platform (The Work MUST come before the Marketing)

* The belief that one’s own Work as a Speshul Snoflake or Precious Baby-Jesus-Child

* The laughable idea that no other writer shares your fears or insecurity about your own Work (Trust me, babycakes, they do.)

Other faux beliefs include that:

* you’ll never be as good as “X,” that you can write better than “X,” or that you have to write like “X”

* you have control over your own mortality

* you have Time to waste, or wait

* making money off the Work makes you a bad Writer because we have to SUFFER for our ART (Otherwise it’s not really Art)

* because “X” was successful writing about [genre, character, topic, etc.] you can easily replicate that success

* you DON’T HAVE TO READ

* you have to get paid a certain rate to be concerned a real writer. (Pro writers get paid, folks. That’s really the only thing that matters.)

* you DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO LEARN

* writing about advice on how-to-write makes you a good writer

* being a douche bag won’t come back and haunt you

* there is no such thing as an -ism (sexism, racism, etc.)

* you have to have a specific writing environment

* you have the authority to look down at anyone else because YOU are CTHULHU’S GIFT to WRITING

* there is only one way to write

* your career is a linear progression of success and fame based on age or experience

* you’ll ever be popular or rich as an author

* YOU HAVE LIMITATIONS.

Tabula Rasa.

Mood: Watery. Very… watery.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I’ll say enough when it’s actually enough. And it’s not.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Housework. UGH UGH UGH.

In My Ears: A fan. Because it’s going to be hot. And I’d rather be cool than hip.

Game Last Played: Battle Nations

Movie Last Viewed: Indiana Jones marathon

Latest Artistic Project: A gold bead. Yep, I made a bead.

Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG

Readers! Ask Your Questions about My Vampires for New Hero Launch

I am excited to announce that the New Hero anthology from Stone Skin Press will debut on June 20th.

To celebrate the release of New Hero, edited by Robin Laws, I’ll be participating in a online blog festivale of literary goodness on June 20th. I’ve hinted that my vampires are different from those you might have read about before. You may have also seen an image of him on the New Hero cover illustrated by Gene Ha.

Now, I hand the reins over to you. Help me come up with questions or topics to promote the launch of this anthology! What do you want to know about “Fangs and Formaldehyde?” Me? The writing/editing process?

Yep, Recalls

At the grocery store, two men were yelling at each other. I’m staring ever-so-intently at a jar of raspberry jam and these guys are screaming at each other at the top of their lungs. What about?

Politics. One of them was obviously either a teacher/state worker or had someone in his family who was. The other guy’s complaint? He had a Cadillac for a car.

It is impossible to express how depressing the mood here has been for the past year and a half. Neighbors build fences. Grown men and women argue, throw rocks, rip up signs, break friendships… There’s been some highlights, too, Well, you get the idea. In our state, you’re either one of us or one of them. Those who are heavily into the recalls seem to view it as a sport. Never mind some of the specifics of what’s happened. (Some of the initiatives, like the repeal of Equal Pay Rights, are downright insulting.) But what about the human cost about what’s happening here beyond the financials? Torn relationships? Students who no longer respect their teachers? Employers who now can freely treat women differently from men in the workplace? Who cares about those things, right?

When you’re red or blue and there’s no in between, it’s difficult to move “forward” (our state’s motto). This is the reason why compromise is not a bad word, it’s supposed to be a sign of leadership when dealing with people you don’t agree with. (Oh, and don’t believe the news, either. There is no (and never has been) a landslide here.) So much of what’s been going on is from out-of-state “interested parties” and pundits vying for that next headline. They don’t care about what our lives have been like. On the ground, politics are very close and the effects are very real. One out of two for either “red” or “blue” — for those that care or go out and vote.

I don’t know how long it’ll take for my state to get back to normal, but I can tell you this: I am not looking forward to Tuesday.

Comments are closed to avoid the trolls. Seriously, this isn’t a place for you to argue with me about how I feel or push your own agenda.

Mood: Blargh

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Ermm… Not confessing that today.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Walk and LOTS of housework.

In My Ears: Tabletop !

Game Last Played: Battle Nations

Movie Last Viewed: Indiana Jones marathon

Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Cluster bracelet in gold

Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG

A Pun-Tastic Word Game on Kickstarter

I contributed to a Kickstarter for Word Realms by Asymmetric and am encouraging you to check this one out. I’ve played Kingdom of Loathing and I love the jokes, the puns, and the pop culture references. (Hrmmm… Could this be why I also like Munchkin?)

Anyway, I thought you might want to see the video and decide for yourself if this is something worth plunking your hard-earned cash down for.

Mood: The puns, the puns… I must have all the puns.

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Hah. LAUGHABLE.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Walk-ish with a side of con recovery.

In My Ears: A fan. A very loud and annoying fan.

Game Last Played: Battle Nations

Movie Last Viewed: Indiana Jones as part of a marathon

Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Cluster bracelet in gold

Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG

Back from Balticon

This year, I took the trip to Balticon to promote Redwing’s Gambit on behalf of Galileo Games. My experience with literary conventions has been mixed so I had no idea what to expect.

I don’t want to turn this into a rant, but there were internal glitches that greatly affected my ability to promote myself at this show as an author. So, let me get this business out of the way first. Overall, I felt that the organizer’s attitude was very scattered and in some cases boiled down to: “Well, I don’t know who you are so you’re not as important as our other guests.” E-mail is one thing, but this was reinforced at the show. The organizers admitted there were problems this year, so I don’t hold it against them, as long as it’s fixed. Unfortunately, this was a common theme at this year’s show.

Despite the problems with scheduling, I felt there was a very positive, non-threatening aura at this show toward new guests on the floor. If new media has been suppressed in the past like a shy kid at a dance, here it was the belle of the ball. It’s pretty exciting to see established authors published through traditional media alongside podcasters, podiobook developers, e-book publishers, etc. This, in my mind, is where we can benefit one another as a community.

I was thrilled to run into C.J. Henderson and Keith R. A. DeCandido; both are established authors and have been so supportive and understanding of my work over the years. I really feel like when I connect with authors like these, it’s that little boost that keeps you going. I had the chance to babble incessantly to Brennan R Taylor, my publisher, J.R. Blackwell, my editor and photographer extraordinaire, and author/comic scribe/etc. Jared Axlerod. Many thanks for that, the stories, and the laughter.

New friends, too, were formed out of the clay that is convention hob-nobbing. I’d like to give a special shout-out to Paul Alexander Butler for his great stories and his deep, deep love of games. He’s the store manager over at Games and Stuff and recommended some fun two-player games to try. (I’ll be putting that together in a separate post for all to read.) Secondly, author Simone Caroti who penned The Generation Starship in Science Fiction: A Critical History, 1934-2001, was awesome to chat with, too. The award for friendliest author is split between Guest of Honor (and fellow cat lover, it seems!) Jody Lynne Nye and new media guru Nathan Lowell who made me feel very welcome. There are others who I’m SURE I’m forgetting — such is the way of lost business cards. (Like lost socks, only instead of having a cold foot, I have a missed connection.)

I think the biggest thing for me that came out of this show was a better understanding of where I “fit” within the science fiction and fantasy genres. For me, I’m so heavily focused on story and characters that the details are only important in the service of that tale. Science fiction fans are very well-read and some are hyper-focused on the plausibility of the sciences postured within the context of a tale. I’m more focused on the anthropological aspects because, to me, how a character feels when faced with astronomical wonders, technological feats, and superior explorations into the furthest reaches of space is what shapes a story. If, in the service of a story, I have to sacrifice some scientific particulars? I’ll do that because I feel my job as a storyteller isn’t to relay a precise depiction of “X” — it’s to suspend disbelief. All this means, is that when I write science fiction, I shape my boundaries to hone in on characters and do my absolute due diligence on the subject when required.

That’s not to say the specifics don’t matter at all. I just feel that there’s a certain contingency of fans, in any genre, who get very upset when the details don’t perfectly jive in some beautifully-architected way. Sometimes the lack of detail-jiving is intentional; other times it happens by complete accident. If those bad details break a reader from their love of a tale and stops them from reading that’s one thing, but plots and story arcs and characters are entirely different aliens altogether.

For many reasons, I enjoyed the trip and the experience. I was blown away by scientists like David Allen Batchelor and their seemingly unlimited font of knowledge. I enjoyed being able to talk to people who were way, way, way smarter than me to understand a part of their world. My head is bursting with fresh ideas and optimism. If that doesn’t tell you a small thing about the calibre of the people at this show, then I have failed my job as a wordsmith.

Now, to plan for the next one.

Mood: YAY! DUCKS!

Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I was bad.

Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Does cat wrestling count?

In My Ears: Errmm…

Game Last Played: Battle Nations

Movie Last Viewed: Indiana Jones as part of a marathon

Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Cluster bracelet in gold

Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG