Join My ExtraLife Fundraiser and Help Sick Kids!

Hey readers! This is the second year I’m pledging to play games and raise funds for kids at my local children’s hospital. Last year was the first time I played D&D live! For this year’s events, I will be in full costume for the Guiding Light Streaming Game for Extra Life with Satine Phoenix and have obtained a fabulous gnome hat (and new forest friend!) for the D&D Live event with Mike Mearls. For times and dates, please visit my GameHole Con 2019 schedule.

This year, I’ll be filling the shoes of two unique D&D characters. The first character is a brand new concept the fabulous Annie Chen (http://theyarnmission.com) helped me devise. I’ll be playing a wild elven sorceress who’s under the mistaken impression she’s been blessed by the fae. Sporting a single horn, Moondust “Dustie” Sylvanwood thinks she’s a 4,000-year-old magical unicorn. Unfortunately for Dustie, her power comes from an infernal source–a mysterious demon who she has yet to encounter. Her past shrouded in mystery, Dustie is convinced her magic is destined to help her party members be the heroes they were meant to be.

The second character debuted last year. I’ll be stepping back into the role of A. Happy “Hap” Gnome with a new forest friend–a hedgehog named Maze! The hedge, Maze, and Hap are bound to embark on hilarious adventures with a new crew!

For more information and to see my pledged rewards, visit: Monica Valentinelli’s 2019 ExtraLife Campaign page.

My GameHole Con Guest and Streaming Schedule

Heya, Halloween weekend is just a few weeks away! I’m so pleased to share with you my schedule for GameHole Con. It’s packed this year, so be sure to say hello! I’m super excited about this year’s convention, and I’ll be posting updates as I get my Extra Life page sorted. This is only the second? Third? Time I’ve streamed for roleplay, so hopefully you’ll have a great experience watching us play.

Thursday, October 31st

Noon in Waubesa: Drawing Narrative Skills into 5E

2:00 p.m. in Mendota 2-119: Legendlore Demo – Into the Realm (2 hours)

6:00 p.m. in Monona: Gilding Light Streaming Game for Extra Life with Satine Phoenix DM (2 hours)

Friday, November 1st

10:00 a.m. in Waubesa: What’s Up with 5E and Onyx Path?

1:00 p.m. in Waubesa: Introduction to DMs Guild

3:00 p.m. in Mendota 2 – 126: Legendlore Demo – Into the Realm (2 hours)

6:00 p.m. in Monona: DnD Live with Mike Mearls DM (4 hours)

Saturday, Saturday November 2nd

2:00 p.m. in Waubesa: Worldbuilding 101

My CONfusion 2019 Schedule

Hey friends,

I’ll be attending CONfusion 2019 next week in Michigan, and will be attending and speaking on panels. There’s some fun things in programming I’ll be checking out, and I’m looking forward to a great time.

Autograph Session
Saturday, TBD, Eerie Ballroom
Join the attending authors at CONfusion and get your books signed! I’ll be bringing bookplates if you don’t want to drag any of my books to the reading.

How Fears Shape Superstitions
Sunday, 11:00 AM, Allen Park
From black cats-as-familiars to the number 13 being bad, all modern beliefs are rooted in folklore and ancient traditions that have been affected by political and social mores. Panelists will share examples and then discuss whether or not these powerful beliefs are harmful or helpful.
Panelists: Steve Buchheit (M), Lucy A. Snyder, Sarah E. Gibbons, Nino Cipri, Monica Valentinelli

Author Reading
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Rotunda Reading
Authors: Nino Cipri, Stacey Filak, Monica Valentinelli

Expanding The Definition of Witchcraft
Sunday, 2:00 PM, Southfield
Witchcraft in fiction often taps into real world tragedies, myths and folklore, spiritual practices, sexuality and gender treatment through the lens of Western occultism. Witchcraft, however, is more than riding brooms or dancing naked. Panelists will explore the definition of witch and then provide examples of witches through underrepresented lenses.
Panelists: Monica Valentinelli (M), Josef Matulich, Paul Kemner, A. Carina Spears

My WisCon 42 Schedule and Reading

Hello everyone!

I am excited to share my WisCon 42 schedule with you today. The guests of honor are Saladin Ahmed and Tananarive Due. I hope you will join me for my reading on Sunday!

Saturday, May 26 2:30-3:45 p.m. Geekiness and Productivity University B
Moderator: Rachel Kronick. With Becky Allen, Catherine Krahe, Allison Morris, Monica Valentinelli

Capitalism tells us that we are only worthwhile when we produce or when we consume. As a result, many of us end up justifying everything we do, whether for work or pleasure, in terms of “productivity”: “I’m useful to society because I make widgets.” “My crafting/stargazing/gaming/reading/writing make me work better and consume more.” “That person is a better geek than me because they spend more money on their hobbies.” These kinds of framing buy into and reinforce capitalism. Are there ways of framing geeky pursuits that don’t buy into a capitalist framework? Are there ways of justifying our geeky pursuits that don’t commodify them? Are there ways to avoid needing to justify our geeky sides at all?

Sunday, May 27 1:00-2:15 p.m. Smash the Patriarchy Reading at Michaelangelo’s
Naomi Kritzer, David D. Levine, Monica Valentinelli, LaShawn M. Wanak

Powerful stories can move mountains and shatter glass. This reading is not for the faint-of-heart. The stories will unsettle you, make you uncomfortable, force you to think and feel. Come for the stories. Leave with possibilities.

Note: I will have swag bags at my reading that will include this! You’ll have to come to find out why!

Sunday, May 27 2:30-3:45 p.m. Why Do Gender Neutral Things In Games Get Gendered As Masculine?
Moderator: Rachel Kronick. With Kel Bachus, Tanya D., Jack Evans, Jed Hartman, Monica Valentinelli

Watch a “let’s play” and you’ll soon see a lot of gamers gendering non-gendered things — humans with non-declared genders, fish, trees, basically anything or anyone that moves — as “guys” or “he”. NPCs in tabletop RPGs quickly get gendered as masculine if the GM doesn’t explicitly declare them otherwise (and a lot of GMs forget that non-masculine genders exist). A lot of gamers generally tend to fall into masculine-default mindsets while gaming. Why does this happen, and how do we stop it?

Monday, May 28 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The SignOut Capitol/Wisconsin

Saladin Ahmed, Becky Allen, Eleanor A. Arnason, K. Tempest Bradford, Sue Burke, Kristi Carter, Nino Cipri, Loren W Cooper, Meredith Dillman, Timmi Duchamp, Tananarive Due, Anthony W. Eichenlaub, Jack Evans, Rhea Ewing, Karin Gastreich, Andrea D. Hairston, Alex Iantaffi, Vylar Kaftan, Naomi Kritzer, Rebecca Kuang, David D. Levine, Dale Cameron Lowry, Mary Anne Mohanraj, Nancy Jane Moore, Pat Murphy, Beth Plutchak, Cath Schaff-Stump, Nisi Shawl, Sheree Renée Thomas, Amy Thomson, Monica Valentinelli, LaShawn M. Wanak, Sunny Moraine

Finland, Finland, Finland!



I am happy to announce that I am a guest of honor at Ropecon in gorgeous Helsinki, Finland in July.

From the Ropecon website: “Ropecon is the largest non-commercial role-playing convention in Europe. Each year it brings together both enthusiasts as well as professionals in the field of role-playing games. The theme for year 2017 is classics.”

I am thrilled to be heading over to Finland for the first time. The convention website is awesome! Check out the pictures from Ropecon, which includes a lovely set of cosplayers. The work they put into dressing up never ceases to amaze me–there are some fantastic photos!

Can’t wait to share more details with you as the planning comes together. See you in Finland! Don’t forget your dice!

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Looking for Monica’s books and games that are still in print? Visit Monica Valentinelli on Amazon’s Author Central or a bookstore near you.

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