Cthulhu + The Orient Express = An Anthology Announcement!

I am *thrilled* to announce that I am one of the lucky authors included on the newest stretch goal for the Horror on the Orient Express Kickstarter from Chaosium Publishing.

Here’s the quote:

If we can reach our $125,000 goal, a new book of fiction, MADNESS ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS will collect nearly two-dozen all-original tales of supernatural terror featuring the fabled train and its doom-haunted waypoints, edited by award-winning author and anthologist James Lowder, with contributions from such notable scribes of the horrific and the fantastic as:

Elaine Cunningham
Richard Dansky
Dennis Detwiller
Joshua Doetsch
Christopher Golden
Kenneth Hite
Robin D. Laws
Jonathan Maberry
Lisa Morton
Lucien Soulban
Caroline Spector
James L. Sutter
Monica Valentinelli



Me! Plus an a-mazing list of luminary cultists… er… authors! (Oh, how I WISH Christopher Golden was my cultist…) And now I have cultists on the brain; not to be confused with a brainy train! Or a train made out of the brains of cultists! Or…

(Can you tell I’m squee-ing?)

To make this happen, visit the Horror on the Orient Express Kickstarter by Chaosium. Please oh please oh please make this happen. 🙂

September 5, 2012
Permalink ∞

My WorldCon Schedule

Apexology: Science Fiction and Fantasy Cover

I am pleased to announce that I am attending WorldCon this year for the first time in Chicago. This, for me, is mostly vacation, an excuse to hang out with new (and old) friends, and a way to drown myself in awesome stories. Thankfully, Kodama (my netbook) is extraordinarily portable and has a long battery life so I can still write on the road.

This year, I’m two panels and I also have a reading. In addition to these events, I will be spending some time as a booth volunteer for my friend Jason Sizemore from Apex Publications on Friday from Noon to 4 p.m.

Steve Jackson (from Steve Jackson Games) will also be at the convention along with a host of other people from the gaming industry including Matt Forbeck and Kenneth Hite. I’m looking forward to hanging out with some friendly faces.

Should be a great time for all!

Panels and Readings

Saturday, September 1st

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Grand Suite 3, Conquering Writer

Has your story fizzled out or hit a wall before completion? There are common reasons for this, and common solutions which work for most writers. Pros discuss their tips and tricks for getting a story back on track.

Eldon Thompson (Moderator), Gene Wolfe, Monica Valentinelli, Russell Davis, Tom King


Sunday, September 2nd

11:00 – 11:30 a.m., Dusable, Reading

I’ll be reading excerpts from “Tomorrow’s Precious Lambs” and “Tailfeather,” which were stories published through Apex Publications. I am strongly considering the addition of chocolate or some other confection, because really… what reading shouldn’t have some sugar?!?!

1:30 – 3:00 p.m., Grand Suite 3, The Ethics of Book Reviewing

Discussion on what are the ethics of book reviewing? What biases or conflicts of interests need to be divulged? What kinds of statements are not appropriate? Is it OK to review a book by a personal friend (or an enemy)?

Michael J. Lowrey (Moderator), Jo Walton, Michael Levy, Monica Valentinelli, Roland Green

August 22, 2012
Permalink ∞

My GenCon Schedule

This year, for GenCon, I will be working in my capacity as Marketing Director for Steve Jackson Games. We have a giant eye-in-a-pyramid at the top of our booth so you can’t miss us in the Exhibit Hall. If you don’t spot that, we’re listed as Booth #1301 in the program book.

This is my first fan-facing convention for the company and I’m pretty excited about it. I coordinated a Munchkin Apocalypse preview contest on Twitter and the winners will be sitting down with the Munchkin Czar, Andrew Hackard, to play this upcoming release. (Hint: we also have a capsule machine in our booth and the last golden ticket… Er… seat will be won there.) There are also a ton of signings, interviews, and announcements planned.

On Wednesday, I’ll be headed to the Diana Jones Awards and am very anxious to see all my friends. Then, on Friday I’ll be representing our company for the ENnie Awards. Both of our submissions, GURPS Horror Fourth Edition and GURPS Social Engineering, were nominated for a total of four awards. There’s a ton of great games and supplements nominated; I’m sure it was very tough for fans to decide the winners.

And now, I pause for a bit of self-promotional awareness.

My Signings

The first is at the IPR Booth #2120 on Saturday from Noon to 1 pm for Don’t Read This Book, the anthology published by Evil Hat Productions for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG.

My second signing takes place at the DriveThruRPG Booth from 11:00 to Noon on Sunday, August 19th. I’ve been told there’ll be a ton of publications new and old at their booth including print copies of: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem, Falling Scales Part II, Exquisite Replicas, The Queen of Crows, Haunted: 11 Tales of Ghostly Horror, Redwing’s Gambit, and quite a few other stories, games, and supplements!

At the same time, Stone Skin Press, the new publishing arm of Pelgrane Press, will have a signing for their new fiction line. I contributed to the New Hero anthology and The Lion and the Aardvark collection of fables.

Truth be told, there was only so much of me to go around this year. There’ll be other 2012 releases I’ve worked on debuting at GenCon, so be sure to review my latest publications or drop back for a post-GenCon update.

See you there!

Cross-Posted to FlamesRising.com

August 14, 2012
Permalink ∞

Are You Brave Enough To Be One Of My Thirteen?

The Thirteen Will Rise On Halloween. And I'm Just Getting Started. . .

When I released The Queen of Crows, many readers said I was fearless. Now, I am opening up my author’s door for you to do the same. I am asking thirteen brave souls to be hands-on participants in my journey as an author.

What does this mean?

If you’ve read my work and know my reputation, you understand that I strive to be professional at all times. With that desire, coupled with many years in business, comes certain limitations. For example, this group will not include any media/tie-in or any contract work I do for professional reasons.

This experience will be more intimate than what I can offer online or in person. Here, you will get an inside look at my writing and research process similar to what you saw in The Queen of Crows. Your voice will be heard. You will be able to provide comments and feedback on my original un-submitted work. And I will talk to you about my manuscripts in a way that I do not do with anyone else. You will not only see my joy, my passion for writing, and my disappointments — you will experience them first-hand.

In exchange for your support, comments, and feedback, you will be rewarded in the following ways:

  • You’ll be notified first of any upcoming publications, whether you’ve read that particular story or not.
  • You’ll receive an annual Thank You present that’ll include some of my stories and other niceties.
  • You’ll be acknowledged, whenever possible, for your feedback. That means if you comment on one of my novels or novellas, you’ll get publicly thanked in the book.

Space is limited to a maximum of thirteen souls. Other perks may be announced as the group comes together and identities are revealed.

Interested? Please contact me and give me a few sentences about yourself including what you like to read and a website if you have one. If you are a writer, please mark that in your description.

My requirements are:

  • You have a real name
  • You have a valid mailing address
  • You’re able to connect to the internet connection
  • You like helping authors
  • You’re not afraid to be honest
  • You’re willing to connect with other readers

Have questions? Please post them in the comments below so I can follow up with a FAQ sometime next week.

August 13, 2012
Permalink ∞

The Sky IS Falling. Falling Scales Part II Now Available!

Falling Scales Part Two

Falling Scales Part II, penned by yours truly as the sequel to Falling Scales Part I, is now available. This is the final installment in a two-part adventure for the World of Darkness. Fans have started a discussion on the White Wolf forums, you can join us here.

For centuries, terrors have existed just outside our understanding. The public may know or even suspect creatures of the night exist, but millions have managed to go on with their lives, focusing on the mundane, the safe. We’ve passed off the truth as a child’s fairy tale or the ramblings of crazed lunatics. We’ve ignored the reality in order to survive.

Thanks to the actions of the passionate few, we can no longer pretend the supernatural does not exist.



If you’re a Storyteller who is hunting for a good conspiracy, regardless of what players you have at your table, I hope you’ll dive into this adventure and explore yet another corner in the World of Darkness.

August 9, 2012
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