New Interview! Sitting Down with Canvas Rebel

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Canvas Rebel Magazine to talk about my process and creative works.

In some ways, I am not the typical writer, because I’ve always been writing. I started submitting and entering writing contests when I was very young and had my first publication–“Ella’s Story”–when I was nine or ten in a local newspaper. Then, in college, I pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis, because it allowed me to have more flexibility choosing my own courses centered on the craft of writing and study of narrative.

My first, biggest struggle post-college was figuring out how to continually build my portfolio and career by completing saleable, submittable projects. Finishing “a” project is great, but finishing quality work on time, consistently, is what many career writers do. The production aspects of learning the craft is very different from learning “a” form of writing. — from “Meet Monica Valentinelli” on CanvasRebel.com

This interview will give you some insight about how I’m faring, what I hope to create, and what I’m focusing on. Enjoy!

August 14, 2024
Permalink ∞

New Fiction Release! Go Hard or Go Home: A Car Wars Autoduel Chronicles Anthology

Go Hard or Go Home a Car Warriors Autoduel Chronicles anthology

The big events may get most of the limelight, but that’s not where all the action happens.

This collection of fast-paced, action-packed stories highlights the road warriors who struggle to survive, without the glory of the duel. Caravan guards, gun bunnies, insurance adjusters, mechanics, reporters, scavengers, and more!

If you can’t keep up, maybe it’s time to head back to the garage…

So… what’ll it be?

Will you Go Hard or Go Home?

GO HARD OR GO HOME: A Car Warriors Autoduel Chronicles anthology includes nine high octane stories filled with betrayals, high speed chases, and so much more.

The story Monica wrote is called “Crossed for Gold,” and it’s about a desperate character named Edge who’ll do whatever it takes to save her niece, Tessa.

Here’s an excerpt about a car featured in the story:

“To cough up five grand in a day or two, I’d sell my one true love: a vintage Shelby kit car that, when assembled, was worth about 50 grand. Original or not, an ultra-rare 1965 Shelby S/C Cobra CSX Series 6000 was the kind of mid-20th century car many nouveau riche collectors would be proud to own—with or without weapons modifications. Except, kit cars were as common as algae. I needed an immediate buyer for mine.”

— from “Crossed for Gold,” a Car Wars Autoduel Chronicles story by Monica Valentinelli

If you haven’t checked out this heart-pumping anthology yet, what are you waiting for? Vrooom… VROOOOOOM!

Affiliate links will take you to Amazon. You can also pick up this collection wherever books are sold.

July 25, 2024
Permalink ∞

GenCon: Indy Writer’s Symposium Schedule, Events, and Workshops

This year, GenCon: Indianapolis takes place Thursday, August 1st through Sunday, August 4th. I’m presenting this year at the GenCon Writer’s Symposium and am offering a couple of workshops for ten dollars along with several free-to-attend events.

In addition to these events, I’ll have some wares on hand. I’m bringing print copies of Pinching Tarts, into shadow: a poetic exploration of personal fears, and earrings I designed specifically for GenCon!

Thursday, August 1st

Rediscovering the Magic in Magic – 2:00 p.m. – Marriott: Ballroom 4

Description: Join our panel of experts as they discuss the development of magic systems in the context of the new, the fresh, the global, the invigorating, and shall we say – the magical. Featuring: Marie Bilodeau, Brandon Crilly, Brian Duckwitz, Daniel ‘Doc’ Myers, Monica Valentinelli

Using Tarot as a Storytelling Tool – 4:00 p.m. – Marriott: Ballroom 3

Description: In this Tarot for Writers workshop, award-winning author and narrative designer Monica Valentinelli will show you how to use a deck of tarot cards as a storytelling tool. From inspirational prompts to building characters and scenarios, you’ll come away with fresh ideas to help you brainstorm narrative elements ranging from character relationships to plot twists. In addition to a lecture and slides, you’ll also perform short creative exercises–so get ready to be inspired! Featuring: Monica Valentinelli

Meet the Writers – 6:00 p.m. – ICC: Wabash 1

Description: To kick off the Writer’s Symposium, you can visit with all of the amazing guests, presenters, and panelists in this three-hour event.

Friday, August 2nd

Book Signing and Meet and Greet: Monica Valentinelli and Gini Koch – 1:00 p.m. – Exhibit Hall : Author Signing Tables (Back of Hall)

Description: Swing by the back of the Exhibit Hall to meet the panelists of the Writers’ Symposium and get your books signed. Or, buy a book or game – and get it signed on the spot. Or, just stop by and say hello!

Saturday, August 3rd

How to Write for the Ear – 3:00 p.m. – Marriott: Boston

Description: Join our panelists as they discuss how the way a story is consumed changes by the way you write it, how a story written specifically for the listener is different than when written for the visual reader. Featuring: Jennifer Brozek, Daniel ‘Doc’ Myers, Jordan Jones-Brewster, Lucien Soulban, Monica Valentinelli

Squeak and Geek – 5:00 p.m. – Marriott: Boston

Description: Ah! It’s Gen Con! Join Featured Speakers of the Gen Con Writers’ Symposium for an evening session of just seriously *geeking* about books, games, manga, and whatever else is on their minds! It’s super chill – join us? Featuring: Jessica Walsh, Briana Lawrence, James Farner, Mary Fan, Monica Valentinelli

Sunday, August 2nd

Adapting Stories to Games for Authors – 9:00 a.m. – Marriott: Boston

Description: Are you an author hoping to turn your novel into a game? Have questions about how the gaming industry works with authors? Glean insights from a 20-year veteran to achieve your goal. In this business-centric workshop, Monica Valentinelli will help you navigate different pathways to show you how you can transform your stories into games. You’ll walk away with a plan and the means to navigate the space more confidently. Featuring: Monica Valentinelli



May 23, 2024
Permalink ∞

New Release! Guard Cards for Pinching Tarts TTRPG Now Available


"Guard Cards gold text on a green vintage book cover two crossed swords and a shield

Guard Cards is a pay-what-you-want game aid compatible with Pinching Tarts, a Wonderland-themed PocketQuest 2024 game designed by Monica Valentinelli. The cards can either be printed out and used as half-sheets or folded in half to create cards.

Guard Cardsis a digital download available from DriveThruRPG.com. The game accessory is not playable on its own without a copy of Pinching Tarts. What it does include, are rules for all the foes you’ll encounter in the Red Queen’s Castle. It includes:

* guidance to introduce the Red Queen’s Guard
* alternate rules for Teatime! affecting guards
* cards for all foes expanding and clarifying core rules
* ranks for The Watch

The half-page guard cards include customized tracks for each guard’s hearts.

This printer-friendly title is a game accessory for Pinching Tarts, a caucus game of tart-stealing nonsense inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865).

Download Guard Cards from DriveThruRPG.com!



April 16, 2024
Permalink ∞

New Releases! Pinching Tarts RPG and Creature Sheets Accessory

Pinching Tarts Cover Art | Alice in Wonderland white rabbit | PocketQuest Monica Valentinelli

Pinching Tarts is a caucus game of tart-stealing nonsense inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) that offers players multiple options to win. You and your friends play Wonderland creatures who infiltrate the Red Queen’s castle to steal Her Majesty’s tarts while protecting what you hold most dear-your heart.

Pinching Tarts is a GM-less game that uses 10 six-sided dice in two colors (five of each). It includes:

  • standard rules, tips, and rule summaries
  • character rules, characters, and character creation
  • rules for Teatime, “Eat Me” cakes, and “Drink Me” potions
  • optional rules to stash and eat tarts
  • sample rooms in the Red Queen’s castle
  • rules for antagonists including the Knave of Hearts, the Cook, and the Red King and Queen
  • a recipe for fruit-a-licious mini-tarts
  • …and more!

Your mission? Pinch tarts. Drink tea. Escape… With your heads tarts!

Suitable for two or more players, childlike adults and children, this tartacular game from veteran game designer Monica Valentinelli is her PocketQuest debut. Whether you play a duck, a dodo, or a dormouse it matters not, for each creature has their own talents, specialty, and heart. Gathered together, you form “les pièces de résistance,” a ragtag band of thieves who have targeted none other than the head-chopping Red Queen.

“I had a lot of fun designing ‘Pinching Tarts’ for my first PocketQuest, so much so I devised a fun origin story for the game’s development and layout,” writes Monica. “I pretended I ‘found’ this vintage game in a secondhand book store, but several pages were torn, missing, and scribbled on in crayon. So, I reconstructed the original game and now present it you as a found artifact full of sticky notes, parchment, scrap paper, etc.”

This title includes a full color and printer-friendly greyscale version. The printer-friendly version of Pinching Tarts has a full color cover, but the interior has been modified to be less art-intensive.

For more about Monica’s process designing Pinching Tarts, you can read:

Pinching Tarts is available exclusively on DriveThruRPG.com.

Also Available on DriveThruRPG


Creature Sheets is a pay-what-you-want game aid compatible with Pinching Tarts, a Wonderland-themed PocketQuest game designed by Monica Valentinelli. The creature sheet is not form-fillable by design for two reasons: some of the fields are subject to change during gameplay, and there’s a rule in the game that gives players the ability to swap character sheets. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that you use pencil to fill out the sheets.

Creature Sheets is a digital download that includes:

  • creature sheet instructions
  • guidance for descriptive Wonderland-appropriate traits
  • sample creature sheet for a puppy
  • blank, printer-friendly creature sheets

The two-page creature sheets include tracks for hearts as well as optional tracks for tarts stolen, eaten, and foes defeated.



April 1, 2024
Permalink ∞
Previous Posts Next Posts




Monica Valentinelli > Announcements

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