MLV Writes Game Reviews

As a contributor to FlamesRising.com Monica has had the chance to explore many worlds of Horror & Dark Fantasy in a variety of games. You can see from her Publications Page here on MLVWrites that she has also had the chance to write for a few of them.

Some of the games she has written reviews of are:

Vampire: Dark Influences from White Wolf Studios
Dead of Night from Steampower Publishing
Gloom from Atlas Games
Cold Hard World from Atomic Sock Monkey Press
Dracula’s Revenge from Human Head Studios
a|state from Contested Ground Studios
Prouty Island from Flying Mice LLC
Zombies!!! from Twilight Creations Inc.
Blood & Brains from RPGObjects
Unbidden from Precis Intermedia Games

Visit the Underwater Aquarium at the Mall of America

Box TurtlesIf you’re really tired of the weather and are looking for a great experience, I highly recommend the Underwater Aquarium at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. It’s really not that expensive to go, and I feel that you’ll get your money’s worth. I’ve been to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois and the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts. While each of those aquariums have their own benefits; the Shedd has really great, unique fish (like the glow-in-the-dark tanks), and the New England Aquarium offers whale watching and an innovative display where you can see a cross-section of the sea. I have to say, though, that the Underwater Aquarium is definitely my favorite so far because it gives you something that I haven’t seen anywhere else — up close and personal encounters with sharks, giant stingrays, and giant sea turtles.

Read More…

Why this Author will never “Tell”

Open Book | OpenSource Clip ArtIt’s pretty rare for me to get upset about my work and the submission cycle because, like so many other authors, I’ve dealt with quite a few editors in my time. This time was a bit different, however, because as I find myself enjoying my work more, I am gravitating toward a technique that allows me to play around with semantics and words. What I’m talking about here, is something that many people call “the tell.”

Read More…

ePublishing 101 – Collected Edition

ePublishing 101 is a tutorial on every aspect of doing business as a PDF publisher, covering topics from planning and production to release and marketing, and everything in between– giving readers the benefit of the extensive experience of Phil Reed of Ronin Arts and Gareth-Michael Skarka of Adamant Entertainment.

Anyone interested in creating and self-publishing their own RPG should probably read this collection of advice from two of the most successful PDF publishers in the industry. The PDF market has grown considerably over the last few years with sites such as DrivethruRPG, e23, YourGamesNow, IndiePressRevolution and RPGNow offering publishers several options to reach potential customers.

ePublishing 101 is available at RPGNow.com

Lunar Eclipse in Madison, Wisconsin

Icy Cold Winter's NightLike many Madisonians I ventured out in the cold, winter night to watch the lunar eclipse and try to take a few pictures with my digital camera. It’s still occurring, up in the sky behind me, but you can get a sense for how cold it was outside by the ice-covered tree you see here.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes through Earth’s shadow. The last lunar eclipse took place on October 13th, 2004 in our area, but according to the resources I read, lunar eclipses can be seen at different times according to the physical geo-location you are in. This Wikipedia article about lunar eclipses has some great information and links to NASA as well as a US Naval calculator for when you can see the next lunar eclipse.

Partial Lunar Eclipse Photo | February 20, 2008While lunar eclipses are fascinating to watch, I (of course) am intrigued by how different cultures take on a more spiritual outlook to this astronomical event. According to Zodiac Arts for example:

A lunar eclipse is a time of beginnings, endings, exposure and major changes. It always has something to do with “relationships”. The changes are tied to how we relate and will have a lasting impression. Emotions run high, causing upsets and feelings of disorientation. Actions taken often do not have the expected results, but they do bring awareness and enlightenment. The energy of an eclipse is at its strongest during the two days before and three days after its occurrence.

Whether or not you believe in astrology, remember also that several religions worldwide have followed this phenomenon for centuries and continue to incorporate the phases of the moon into their beliefs. Here in the US, lunar eclipses were an integral symbol, part of the “dire” apocalyptic predictions that took place in 1999 and continue through to today.

The next lunar eclipse is a few years away, so I hope you had the chance to get out there and enjoy it!

Previous Posts Next Posts




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.

Archives

Back to Top