Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai


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Show, don’t tell

We were talking about writers and social media with some friends, yesterday, and how you are supposed to post regularly and get Likes on Facebook and shares and what not to increase your reach and develop your platform. I hate it. I mean, when I post something on my Facebook profile or my Twitter channel, or indeed here on my blog, it’s not, usually, thinking

Wow! The punters will love this! My Social Media Score will go up!

So yes, I suck at social media.
On the other hand, talking with my friends, I found out a lot of writers feel awkward about strutting their stuff online just for clicks. An we identified three types of social media writers we really can’t stand.
So, why not post a brief profile of these guys. Maybe I’ll get a lot of likes and shares…

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Unusual gifts idea

Every year, as the festive season approaches, I get a link-laden mail from the British Museum, that offers me a selection of merchandise from the museum shop, to enliven my gifts list. And indeed, who could resist to a replica of the portrait of Ashurbanipal, or a couple of replica Egyptian cats?

Ashurbanipal doing his thing in the British Museum’s shop.

These are the moments in which I am almost grateful I am going through lean times. I’d find it hard to resist, otherwise, just as I’d find hard to resist at the museum bookshop. I am saving a lot of money I don’t have.

But you guys out there take note – if you are looking for original, unusual gifts for your family and friends, checking out museum shops might be a great way to find a few ideas. And get a lot of weird looks on Christmas morning.


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Voice games

To thank my Patrons on this #ThankYouPatrons day (great little promotional idea), I decided to fire up the old Audacity thing again, and record a short message of thank you for my patrons.

Patreon allows Creators to upload audio files, and I had been thinking for a while about doing some podcasting stuff there. Just for my followers.
Like reviving the old KaravanCast, or something.

The real problem is, even with my brother doing sound producer duties, it’s a hell of a lot of work.
But who knows. It would be fun, talking about history, pulp stories and anything that comes to mind.

In other news, my voice still sucks.

It’s good to be my patrons. Sometimes.


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Back to the Empty Places

A while back I wrote a one-shot horror short story called The Smell of Empty Places, that was translated in Italian by horror maestro Samuel Marolla, and became part of the anthology Dark Italy, by Acheron Books, thus making me an Italian writer that is published in translation in his own country.

While we wait for the English edition of Dark Italy to come out, I chanced upon an open call from an English-language publisher, that looked tailor made for my story, and has a ten-days deadline. But of course I can’t sell them my old story, because it belongs to Acheron Books.

But, I thought, what about revisiting the same universe, telling a different story in the same setting? 

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A new Sword & Sorcery story

After the weekend I’ll have to deliver to my publisher a 20.000-words swords & sorcery novella. It’s a game tie-in job, and it needs to conform to the standards of the so called Old School gaming.
You know, Dungeons & Dragons-style.
A simple party. A linear mission.
Explore the dungeon. Kill the monsters. Get the treasures. Come back alive.

Should the readers like it, it might become the first in a series – and I’d really like it, because it’s turning out to be a fun job.
I still don’t have a title, but it’s a fun job.

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