Monica Valentinelli's Blog: booksofm.com, page 84
February 28, 2012
Redwing's Gambit Debuts at Balticon
I will be attending Balticon in Baltimore, Maryland from May 25th through the 28th. Over Memorial Day weekend I'll be celebrating the release of Redwing's Gambit, a science-fiction novella I wrote for the Bulldogs! RPG published by Galileo Games.
For more about Redwing's Gambit and this appearance, please visit:
The Daily Illuminator: Balticon and Redwing's Gambit
Redwing's Gambit announced at Galileo Games
Redwing's Gambit Cover Art Revealed!
Sensationalism and Newstainment
I wrote part of this post when I was on my way to New York. Somewhere along the way, in a haze of nigh zero caffeination, I had a couple of very deep thoughts. My hobby anthropologist has kicked in and well… I guess I had to get this concept out of my system.
We do not have news anymore. We have newstainment. Many reporters are actors in disguise who have a job to do to keep people interested twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We comment on what they look like, what they're wearing, and focus on their appearance moreso than what they're spewing. When something is incorrect, we reprimand them on our own social networks, but we keep watching. We keep listening. We keep feeding that fire.
The constant flood of communication is beginning to take its toll. Everything that you see and hear about now is not new. It's not. What is new, however, is the fact that people who previously had no idea what policies, laws, or acts were being discussed now have access to that information. This, moreso than any devious set of people trying to push through their agenda, is what pisses people off.
For decades, we have been consumers of news. We have reacted to news when it happened. We trusted reporters to find the truth, to report what was valuable and what we needed to know. We were not subject to every piece of news that ever existed. Now? The tables have completely turned and we, the people, are creating the news and its the networks that are trying to catch up. To get us to listen to them again, the news feeds hit us where it count — our anger, our rage, and our sadness — to force a reaction. To get us to pay attention, so they can stay in business. And it works.
Sensationalist (or tabloid) journalism is a tactic to get readers and viewers. However, this is not (and will not) always be the case. We are reaching the tipping point where viewers and readers are exhausted from yet another fight, yet another battle. This is why you see the so-called culture wars that exist right now. It's a combination of crappy reporting and too much communication combined with fear. While there are some issues that are very real, like how our society is coming to grips with the fact that love is love and isn't defined anymore between a man and a woman, others are completely fake or based on old assumptions and paranoia.
People don't like change. People never will embrace it, either. There will always be a hot button issue that will create strife among our society and there will always be oppression. Always. Right now, we do not have the tools to help our society transition to one of tolerance. We don't. Why?
It goes back to sensationalism. With so much to scream and yell and shake our fist at — how do we know what is real and what isn't? Scary thought, eh? Now, add censorship on top of that.
Congratulations, you've just entered into a daymare I've had.
Mood: Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I shall consume mass quantities of rocket fuel. NOM NOM NOM.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Housework and painting.
Yesterday's Projects: Several
In My Ears: Industrial
Game Last Played: Grepolis
Movie Last Viewed: Hrmmm…
Book Last Read: Double hrmmm…
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal cluster bracelet in silver
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem
February 27, 2012
Three Pie-in-the-Sky Writing Goals
I may be a pragmatist (though that moniker is already taken by the Practical Meerkat) but there's no shame in dreaming. Here are three of my pie-in-the-sky things I'd love to happen some day. You know, besides becoming that novelist who owns a multi-million dollar franchise. (Yeah, there's only three today… I have several, but I'm playing around with the first two as we speak… ) First? Publish an official Hellboy story. Second? Publish an official Star Wars story from a Sith's point-of-view. And third?
Listen to Christopher Walken read one of my stories. (Second on my list would be Gabriel Byrne. You know, *if* I had a choice. 
) For a taste of what the actor sounds like, listen to Christopher Walken reading Where the Wild Things Are.
Hat tip to Brain Pickings for alerting her readers to this little gem.
Mood: Yes… and?
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Cutting back and it hurts us.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Walk
Yesterday's Projects: La, la, la. Not keeping track. In the land of "Do."
In My Ears: Forgot to turn the music on.
Game Last Played: Final Fantasy XIII-2 the bestest game evah!
Movie Last Viewed: Bah, humbug.
Book Last Read: Reading like a crazy woman! There's a pile on ze floor.
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal cluster bracelet in silver
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem
February 23, 2012
February 10, 2012
The Hunger Games Goes Interstitial
I'm in love. Whenever any world dives into alternative forms of media to express the setting, I squee like a kid in a candy store. While it's too soon to tell you what I've been doing with my own work, today I'd like to share one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. The Hunger Games is a young adult series penned by Suzanne Collins and the movie debuts in theatres at the end of March. I haven't read the books myself, but the concept reminds me of the films The Running Man crossed with 1984 and a teeny bit of Judge Dredd for good measure. City? Evil. Citizens? Victims. Teenage victims that must be sacrificed in the annual Games. Only the winner survives.
A number of sites were constructed that tap into Collins's setting. Omniously, the hub is called The Capitol and readers get to be the Mayor of the different districts. How cool is that? The one that caught my eye was
February 9, 2012
Redwing's Gambit Cover Art Revealed!
What you see here is not just the first peek at a cover for Redwing's Gambit, but a representation of a scene from my science fiction novella penned for the Bulldogs! RPG. I designed this story like a pilot episode to help you get to know a very large cast and crew. Talus, the ship's mechanic looms over Fang while a politician named Vincent Twist sneaks around the corner.
I can't wait to share this story with you!
February 8, 2012
Valentine's Day Gift for Child's Play
Valentine's Day is coming up quick! We just launched a Sparkly Good Fairy promotion at Warehouse 23 and it inspired me to check and see what others were doing.
One of the coolest offers I've seen is from Sanshee.com, who designed the Game Love Necklace pictured here.
100% of the proceeds from this necklace will be donated to the Child's Play Charity along with 10% of their entire store. You can read about the Valentine's Day Child's Play Fundraiser at Sanshee.com.
I already placed my order and I'll take pics when it comes in. Still wondering whether or not I could make enough moolah to launch an Adult's Play Charity someday… Hrmmm…
Mood: Determined
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Two and it's *very* strong.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: A walk in the bitter, bitter cold.
Yesterday's Projects: Game, Short Story
In My Ears: Nothing yet.
Game Last Played: Grepolis
Movie Last Viewed: Wall-E
Book Last Read: More research material.
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal cluster bracelet in silver
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem
February 7, 2012
Reading List for Black History Month
Growing up, I was an avid reader who loved to explore and stretch my limits in both fiction and non-fiction. My time at UW-Madison allowed me to dive deeper into a broader variety of fiction and that included a study of Black American authors. This experience was profound for me because I was a suburbanite — my first experience and knowledge of slavery was through Alex Haley's Roots and my history books. It's billed on the website as "the book that changed America" and I absolutely agree with this statement. Watching those atrocities on film… It still appalls me that we'd stoop to treating other human beings that way.
Regardless, there is a deep history — a recent series of events and struggles — for those considered "black" in American society. Mind you, it's easy to paint someone "black" and lump them into a single category, but that's only the color of someone's skin. That does not reflect that person's culture and family history therein. If anything, I hate the word "black" because it feels like just another stereotype. I say "I'm Italian!" and what immediately jumps to your mind. Super Mario Brothers? Snooki? Yeah, you get my drift. I'm definitely not a Jersey girl. 
For myself, I have found that the only way I can be tolerant of other people is to listen to what they have to say — through their words, their pictures, their art, and even their food. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone. White, gay, Black, handicapped, Native American, female, Christian, Chinese, male, Muslim, whatever. I don't know if I'm smart enough to learn everything there is to know from what these stories have to offer, but I'll keep on collecting (and writing) them and hope I absorb something about what it means to be human.
For Black History Month, here is a collection of stories that greatly impacted me.
Go Tell It On The Mountain – Written by James Baldwin. The experience I had with this semi-autobiographical story helped build my main character's tragedy and the gospel song for "Tomorrow's Precious Lambs" in The Zombie Feed Volume One .
Our Nig: Sketches of the Life of a Free Black – Written by Harriet Wilson. An autobiographical slave narrative that addresses many cultural implications including bi-racial relationships and indentured servitude at the time.
Their Eyes Were Watching God – By Zora Neale Hurston. Spent a lot of time discussing what this particular story meant for female empowerment. It's on several required reading lists for Black American fiction.
Brown Girl, Brownstones – This story was about Barbadian immigrants who moved to New York and was written by Paule Marshall. It's often billed as a coming-of-age story, but I remember being drawn to this because of the cultural focus on being an immigrant in a strange city.
Sula – By Toni Morrison. A tale of friendship between girls over many years in spite of how their lives diverge and converge again. Perfect for any woman who has either felt like the "good girl" or the "pariah."
Hunting for additional options? Visit the Smithsonian's List of Black History Teaching Resources or check out the Norfolk Public Library's Reading and DVD List (PDF).
Mood: Contemplative.
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: One.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Went for a walk!
Yesterday's Projects: Game, Short Story
In My Ears: Enya. Yep, it's a zen kind of a day.
Game Last Played: Grepolis
Movie Last Viewed: Another Earth
Book Last Read: More research material.
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal cluster bracelet in silver
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem
February 6, 2012
Yeah, Superbowl.
Packers didn't make it to the Superbowl this year, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the ads. Here's a compilation of the 25 best Superbowl ads of all time. The squirrel ads just kill me.
Mood: Feisty
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: One.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Went for a walk and did some house cleaning.
Yesterday's Projects: Game, Short Story
In My Ears: Final Fantasy XII limited edition soundtrack
Game Last Played: Grepolis
Movie Last Viewed: Red Riding Hood. It suuuuuuucccccckkkkkkeeeeeed.
Book Last Read: More research material.
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal cluster bracelet in silver
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem
February 3, 2012
Lamentations of a Convention Planner (Or Not)
Okay, so the title is a little misleading, because this really isn't a series of lamentations. I've been thinking about how to best promote Munchkin Conan and I really just like the way the word sounds. Lah-men-tay-shuns. OMMMMMM… Yes, I'll be using that in a story soon. *evil grin*
At the moment, we're prepping for a Steve Jackson Games booth appearance at New York Toy Fair. This is a trade show, not a regular convention, but there still are a number of pieces that we have to do as a company to prep for the event. Convention planning is, in short, a logistical nightmare that has to be sorted in any number of ways. First, you have to figure out how big the booth is. Then, what comes with it and what you're allowed to hang. (Yep, you heard me right.) Some cons allow you to hang banners from the pole on the back; others don't. For that, you need some way of standing a banner and you have to determine how much room that'll take up.
After you figure out what rules you have to follow and how you're displaying everything, you then have to deal with people logistics. What show floor hours can you reasonably work? How are you going to get your gear to the hall? How close is the hotel to your destination? That part can be "fun" all by itself. Then? There's the extras that you have to hand out when the hall is open. Promo material, sure… But what's effective at a trade show? That can take the form of catalogs, sell sheets, flyers, business cards, samples, etc. Demo material and prototypes are pieces we also have to include.
We will have two presences at this show; one for meetings and one at our booth. That requires additional planning to make sure both areas have what's required when it's needed. Toss in access to food, water, electricity, etc. and now you're setting up a business that will be torn down in a couple of days — and I haven't even broached the subject of conventions where you have to sell, demo, and interact with fans!
Luckily — and I mean this with every Cylonic fiber of my being — Kevin is doing a smashing set up for booth planning and configuration. I have pieces I'm working on, too, but it's a lot more manageable since I have a great team and we all have a sense of humor.
Mood: Happy!
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: None.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Went for a walk.
Yesterday's Projects: Game, Short Story
In My Ears: Sting. Hey, don't be hatin'!
Game Last Played: Grepolis
Movie Last Viewed: Ironclad
Book Last Read: Harper's Encyclopedia of the Paranormal
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal cluster bracelet in silver
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem
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