A Fun Contest for Zombie Stories

The Zombie Feed Volume 1Hi everyone,

Just wanted to drop by and mention there’s a really fun contest going on right now at The Zombie Feed. To win one of two rare proof copies of The Zombie Feed, Volume 1 delivered straight to your door, all you have to do is comment on The Zombie Feed Bad-Ass Contest.

To enter, just tell Jason about which one of us (e.g. the contributors) you’d want to be in a zombie apocalypse with and why.

Contest just went up today, so be sure to get your entry in as soon as you can.

Happy Zombipocalypse!

May 11, 2011
Permalink ∞

[My Guest Post] An Author’s Marketing Mistake

First week of May? Must be time to tell you about this month’s guest post at the How To Write Shop. Today I take a look at a common mantra I hear time and time again from authors and artists. Many people I’ve talked to never want to promote or even mention their previously published work. In this post, entitled “Authors, Don’t Make this Marketing Mistake,” I dive into their objections with my responses.

Here’s a quote from the article:

By promoting your existing titles, you add depth to your marketing efforts because you’re adding new products to the mix. Don’t be afraid to talk about your previously published work in a way that’s new to those readers, either. After all, if you complain or talk down about what you’ve already done, then that will reflect in your sales and the way your readers/fellow authors treat you. If you’re that unhappy with your backlist, then what will that say about how you’ll treat your current releases a year from now? — SOURCE: Authors, Don’t Make this Marketing Mistake at the How To Write Shop

If you’re an author or an artist, I hope you drop by my article and add your thoughts. In a comment, Lori Devoti already pointed out another reason why authors don’t promote their backlist, and why that may need to change.

May 4, 2011
Permalink ∞

FlamesRising.com’s First Publisher Theme Week and Contest

Pelgrane Press Week at FlamesRising.comHi everyone,

Wanted to let you know that we launched a new theme week for our readers at FlamesRising.com yesterday. The idea behind it, was to highlight a specific publisher by offering new design essays, previews and reviews. For our first-ever theme week, we decided to focus on Pelgrane Press.

You may recall I mentioned Pelgrane Press when I shared with you the Table of Contents for the New Heroes anthology. Stone Skin Press is the company’s fiction imprint; Pelgrane Press has produced popular games like the Esoterrorists and the Trail of Cthulhu lines based on the Gumshoe System designed by Robin Laws. We just started an Esoterrorists campaign, which was designed by Jason Blair of Little Fears fame, and our group is having a lot of fun.

At FlamesRising.com this week, we’re featuring several design essays, reviews and other material for new and existing fans of this quality publisher. What’s more, Pelgrane Press is sponsoring a contest on FlamesRising.com. Three lucky winners will receive gift certificates to the Pelgrane Press online store. If you’re interested, visit the aforementioned contest link and read the rules. Contest ends on Friday, May 6th at midnight so don’t push off your entry.

Happy gaming!

May 3, 2011
Permalink ∞

[New Release] My Essay in Apex Magazine Issue 24

Apex Magazine Issue 24 May 2011Calling all science fiction and fantasy fans! Wanted to pop in today and mention I have a new, non-fiction essay published in Apex Magazine Issue 24. My essay is an up-close-and-personal one; I dive into my experiences and share them to ask: Are you having fun at conventions? Why or why not?

Here is what you’ll find in this edition of Apex Magazine, championed by award-winning author and editor Cat Valente:

Our May issue is sure to delight as the stories happen to swing back toward dark SF. Jeremy R. Butler channels the adventure and dangers of deep space mining with his “Recipe Collecting in the Asteroid Belt.” Annalee Newitz explores love and particle physics in “Twilight of the Eco-Terrorist.”
Our classic reprint is Will Ludwigsen’s chilling “In Search Of” where the answers to all your questions are better left unknown.

Apex presents two poetry selections this month. The first is “Black, Red, White” by Rachel Swirsky. The second is Elizabeth McClellan’s “The Walking Man Goes Looking for the Sons of John: Six Cantos.”

Finally, Monica Valentinelli gives fans and writers some important tips on how to enjoy the world of literary fan conventions with “Grab Your Badge. Ready, Set, Meet!” — SOURCE: Apex Magazine Issue 24

If you’re interested in my work or these excellent stories and poems, you can either subscribe to Apex Magazine for a full year’s worth of imaginative goodness or buy Apex Magazine Issue 24 as a stand-alone product. Visit the Apex Magazine stand for a variety of options.

May 3, 2011
Permalink ∞

New Interview and Reviews for Paths of Storytelling

Hi folks,

I’m over at FlamesRising.com today along with the developer of Paths of Storytelling, Eddy Webb, and my fellow authors Jess Hartley and Kelley Barnes. This three-question interview offers all of us the chance to talk about this project from our unique clan perspective. I hope you drop by and read Author Interview for Paths of Storytelling on FlamesRising.com, because Eddy reveals yet another easter egg. Shhh!

Here’s a quote from our group interview:

MONICA: I felt that matching the voice and the feel of the setting was crucial to the joke’s believability, which was part of the reason why I dropped in signature characters like Karsh, El Diablo Verde and a few other familiar faces. It was really fascinating for me to map out, because the goal was to introduce Vampire: the Masquerade to a fictitious reader, all the while knowing that the person most likely reading it would be someone who knew the setting. So in this path, the reader doesn’t just become a Gangrel, they get introduced to Vampire: the Masquerade. — SOURCE: Author Interview for Paths of Storytelling

After you read the interview, a reader recently shared a review of Paths of Storytelling on DriveThruRPG.com. I thought the review was interesting, because the reviewer is correct: this format isn’t something White Wolf would publish professionally to represent World of Darkness, which is why it was billed as a rejected manuscript for April Fool’s. I was happy to hear he not only enjoyed it, but also recognized the amount of work we put into this.

Over at Gameolosophy, you can also read an in-depth review written by Raymond Frazee entitled RPG Game Review: Paths of Storytelling. His thoughts are really interesting to read because he talks about the theme from the perspective of a long-time fan and player of Vampire: the Masquerade.

For more information, read my announcement entitled: New Release! Vampire: the Masquerade Fiction.

Enjoy!

April 7, 2011
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