New Release: Unframed The Art of Improvisation for Game Masters

Unframed Cover

Improvisation is key to running any roleplaying game. It’s an essential skill for every game master and player, and can mean the difference between a good gaming session and a great one. Until now, there hasn’t been a system-neutral book that covers improvisation for game masters from every angle. Unframed: The Art of Improvisation for Game Masters is that book.

An anthology of 23 essays by a diverse group of award-winning authors, designers, and experienced game masters, Unframed gives you the tools and inspiration to improvise better, “wing it” without hesitation, and get killer results.

Inside this book you’ll find advice on improvising dialogue scenes by Robin D. Laws (Hillfolk, Ashen Stars), a look at “Just In Time” improvisation from Jennell Jaquays (Caverns of Thracia, Dark Tower), advice on listening to your players by Jason Morningstar (Fiasco, Durance), tricks for handling curveballs from Jess Hartley (Changeling: The Lost, Geist: The Sin-Eaters), tips on improv in horror games from Kenneth Hite (Trail of Cthulhu, GURPS Horror), insightful essays by the authors of the ENnie Award-winning game mastering blog Gnome Stew, and many more.

Unframed collects the wisdom of 23 top designers and gaming industry veterans, and offers 23 perspectives on improvisation. Running the gamut from old-school to indie, and featuring tips specifically for game masters as well as techniques any gamer can use to master the art of improvisation, Unframed has you covered. Whether you want to create a social sandbox, get better at doing voices, or harness the power of “yes, and,” you’ll find the improv advice you’re after in Unframed.

My essay is also included in Unframed: The Art of Improvisation for Game Masters. It’s called “Building Worlds by the Seat of Your Pants,” and is geared for GMs who need to expand certain setting aspects on-the-fly. You can pre-order a copy of the book through the publisher’s website.

My “You Pick” Reading at CONvergence

On Saturday, July 6th, I will have a reading at 7:00pm during CONvergence. Will there be tears of blood? Sadly, my reading has to err on the hygenic side, so the answer to that is “No.”

However, I can do one better. You get to pick what I read. Here are the stories I’ll have on hand:

We Are Dust apocalyptic anthology

“The Button” – a Lovecraftian apocalyptic tale that fans voted me to write. It’s about a scientist who must make a terrifying choice as the end slithers ever closer.

The New Hero

“Fangs and Formaldehyde” – a vampire noir tale set in Las Vegas starring Atlas, an iconic character who helps other vampires. Somebody is hunting down other bloodstalkers. Who? And, more importantly… Why?

Don't Read This Book an anthology for Don't Rest Your Head

“Don’t Ignore Your Dead” – a very sad and sordid tale about one woman who is unable to let go of her guilt and get a good night’s sleep

OR…

???MYSTERY TALE???

An original story, un-named, never before been published… For your ears only…

My CONvergence Schedule

CONvergence British Invasion

I will be attending CONvergence as a guest this year.

Here is my schedule, though you should note that the later the panels get… The more unfiltered I shall be… In part, I think this is a mad conspiracy to access my pure decorum-less state. The later it gets coupled with a serious caffeine addiction. Oh, that’s my Kryptonite. Sure, I start out all nice and well-mannered, but Midnight beckons and my fangs pop out all by their lonesome. It’s quite terrifying, actually. Sharp, pointy teeth.

On that note, I suppose I should say: “Come if you dare?”

Friday, July 5

9:30am
Science Fiction as a Hopeful Future vs. a Cautionary Tale

12:30pm
Gaming in the ‘Verse

2:00pm
Signing – Joseph Scrimshaw/Monica Valentinelli

10:00pm
Writing a Book in Someone Else’s Universe

Saturday, July 6

7:00pm
Reading – Monica Valentinelli

11:30pm
Vampire Literature From Dracula to Edward Cullen

My GenCon Schedule: Round One

This is the first of two posts regarding my GenCon: Indy schedule. This doesn’t include my signings at the DriveThruRPG.com booth, my meetings and social engagements, or any appearances for other publishers. The next update will have more information about what’s happening in the dealer’s hall. Please note that all of the Writer’s Symposium events will be in the convention center and not held at a separate hotel. 🙂

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

    11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Margaret Weis Production booth
    4:00 p.m. – Dealer’s Hall: Signing Tables

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
Writer’s Symposium

    10:00 a.m. Room 245: Online Presence SEM1345258
    11:00 a.m. Room 245: Promotions, Sales, Publicity, Public Relations SEM1345259
    1:00 p.m. Room 245: Networking, Not Name-Dropping SEM1345261
    2:00 p.m. Room 245: Pitches, Proposals and Promises SEM1345262
    3:00 p.m. Room 245: Signings, Podcasts and More SEM1345263
    5:00 p.m. Room 243: Reading SEM1345279

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

    1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Margaret Weis Productions booth
    4:00 p.m. Dealer’s Hall – Signing Tables

Writer’s Symposium

    5:00 p.m. Room 245: Genre Blender SEM1345291

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18
Writer’s Symposium

    11:00 a.m. Room 243: VIP Panel Marketing Review WKS1345363


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Extreme Zombies CoverIt’s too late! The living dead have already taken over the world. Your brains have been devoured. Nothing is left but spasms of ravenous need—an obscene hunger for even more zombie fiction.

Extreme Zombies is edited by Paula Guran and published by Prime Books. To celebrate this release, FlamesRising.com is hosting an EXTREME ZOMBIES GIVE-A-WAY for two signed copies in the U.S. I’ll be signing them with braaaaaaiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnsssssssssssss!

Just shamble on over to FlamesRising.com and comment on the EXTREME ZOMBIES Give-A-Way contest post! Contest ends in a week — so shamble fast!

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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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