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Hello!

I have been remiss in checking messages, friend requests or updating here for quite sometime and for that I am sorry. I had no idea I would have so many messages waiting for me. Thank you to those have sent kind words about my books and to those who have written such thoughtful, lovely reviews.

I have several new projects I am working on, including a new Disney novel, so please visit my website: for all the up to date news on my current projects.

Additionally if you are contacting me about a promotion or anything else that requires a timely reply, please email me directly at [email protected]

Thank you and have a lovely evening,
Serena Valentino

Hello lovelies,

I don't make updates here as often as I should. If you're interested in what I'm currently working on please visit and the section on my website.

Thanks so much and have a lovely day,

Serena

Comics:
Still working on Nightmares & Fairy Tales: Annabelle's Story. FSc is illustrating the first issue and I have just finished writing the second script and about to start on the third. There will be four issues in this mini-series, the first of which will be available in November. I have other comic projects on the back-burner, but they are scheduled so far off it seems silly to discuss them now. The only reason I mention it is to let you know more comics are indeed in the works.

Film:
I'm also working on 13th and Pennyroyal, the screenplay I'm writing along with Phil Flores, who has been quite busy with the release his Butcher Brothers Film, The Violent Kind he did along with his brother. You can follow them on twitter here:

The stage:
I am considering the possibility of adapting Nightmares & Fairy Tales: 1140 Rue Royale to stage along with Foul Play Productions in San Francisco. We should be meeting sometime in the coming weeks to discuss the details. I will keep you updated as things progress.

Disney Novel:
There are still plans for me to write another Disney novel, it's just taking some time to get things settled. Deciding upon the character and so forth. I will be sure to let you know once everything is settled.

Personal stuff:
I will be moving to New Orleans around the first of the year. This is something I have been considering for quite sometime, for more than 15 years as a matter of fact and I am really excited to have finally decided to go with my heart's desire.

Comic Conventions:
After the move I intend to come out to the Bay Area for WonderCon every year - it happens to be scheduled my birthday week, so it will be lovely to see my Bay Area friends and family for my birthday as well as attend WonderCon. I will more than likely attend San Diego Comic Con every-other-year as I do now. (This is an off-year, so you won't see me this year). I find going to SDCC every-other-year makes attending that cluster f#ck much more enjoyable. I don't foresee attending APE after the move, but plan to attend this year.


I don't update here as often a I should. Please visit for regular updates on my current projects.

My Zombie Survival Manual for the Zombie has hit the shelves! So if you have a young person in your life who might enjoy some fun spookarific zombie advice pick them up a copy!



Booklist Review

How to Be a Zombie: A Hands-On Guide for Anyone with Brains. Valentino, Serena (Author), Erwert, Scott (Illustrator) Jul 2010. 144 p. Candlewick, hardcover, $14.99. (9780763649340).

Using the tone of a self-help manual, this impressively designed book offers a guide to getting the most out of the zombie lifestyle—whether you’re an undead yourself or just a fan. As the introduction points out, “Zombification is just the first step in a superfun and exciting adventure.� Indeed! The chapter headings say it all: “Roam Alone or in Packs?� “Put Your Best (Most Horrific) Face Forward.� “Décor for the Decaying.� “Lend Me a Hand: Fun with Prosthetics.� Broken down in easy-to-digest chunks, the tips leave no gravestone unturned, though some of the jokes are groaners (moaners?): for example, to battle rigor mortis, “consider taking up yoga.� More impressive, actually, is the book’s nonfiction component, which offers up well-researched lists of movies, books, music, comics, board games, video games, and events for zombie fanatics. There’s also makeup tips (use pieces of rice for maggots) and even—steel yourself—recipes. The grungy and bloody layout, which incorporates movie stills but is mostly original photography and digital collage, gives a first-rate sheen to an overall to-die-for package. � Daniel Kraus

So, I've finished writing my cheeky, fun and informative YA Zombie Survival Handbook (that is a handbook for the zombie, not humans, Precious.) and after a small break I have moved on to writing a YA Werewolf manual. The Werewolf book will be focusing on legend, lore, historical figures, films, literature, and of course we will be delving into a bit of frivolity with special FX makeup, dating, and so forth, but not in the cheeky fashion we did so with zombie. I take my werewolves very seriously, precious. Most of my time over the next couple of months will be devoted to werewolves and I couldn't be more pleased. After the completion of Werewolf, I will be finishing up the horror screenplay I've been writing with writer/director Phil Flores, 13th & Pennyroyal. Then around the first of the year I should be starting on my new novel with Disney and a new comic book series, Blackbird the Pirate Queen. Speaking of new comic projects, SLG has decided to release Enchanted, the comic I have been working on with Vincent as a graphic novel. Vincent has recently completed illustrating the first four issues. That means, in my copious free time, (ha!) I need to write the last two issues, and Vincent of course will have to illustrate them. I know what you're thinking, it's going to take forever. Well it may, however, in the meantime we plan to make the issues available online and for your iPhone. But you really should get the graphic novel when it comes out, Precious. I have a cannon after all and I'm not afraid to use it. I will of course keep you updated as everything progresses.

I've been enjoying reading the "reviews" of Fairest of All. Apart from those who seem to really love the novel, the two things people seem to take objection to are my not giving the queen a name and the way I elected to have the queen deal with her grief. I find it interesting and remarkable that someone would be hard-pressed to relate to a character without a name. Though I suppose that is subjective. That aside, it should be noted that Disney never named the character, and I felt that if I had the story would no longer be about "The Wicked Queen", but about this other woman with a name I pulled out of the ether. However, my feelings aside, really, it comes down to preserving the canon.

As for how the queen dealt with her grief, I have no comment.

These comments of course are less than a handful in count compared to the many lovely and thoughtful comments I've read and I feel I should also take the time to acknowledge how much I appreciate the thoughtful letters, "reviews", emails and comments I have read and received since the release of the novel. Thank you.

NOTE: I am much better at making updates here, take a peek if you'd like:

Podcast interview @ ComiXology here:
where I discuss Nightmares & Fairy Tales (now available for viewing on your iPhones, babies!) as well as Fairest of All and the Zombie book I'm working on. Take a listen.

I will be at APE this weekend at the SLG booth to sign copies of Nightmares & Fairy Tales and GloomCookie, as well as my new novel Fairest of All. Come by, say hello and buy some books!

Interesting news: It seems you may read Nightmares & Fairy Tales on your iPhone, if you desire. I'm did a Podcast interview today that will have all the pertinent details. I will be sure to post a link to the interview once comixology has it up on their site, Sunday.

I am also doing an interview for "Once Upon A Blog" a site dedicated to Fairytale news with a lovely lady who has shown great enthusiasm and fondness for Fairest of All.

I honestly haven't had the time to really take in the reaction to Fairest [with my current deadlines for Zombie:], but I've been trying, allowing myself to take the time and space to enjoy the lovely letters I've been receiving from readers, reading some very thoughtful online customer reviews, and some very encouraging reports from my editor at Disney

The zombie book I'm working on now is coming along well. We are approaching the completion of this project in the coming weeks and plan to start on another book almost immediately. More details on that once the Zombie project is completed.

I also hope to have some good news for you by the end of the year concerning Blackbird the Pirate Queen and Hell's Cafe. And I am of course still working on 13th & Pennyroyal, the film I am writing and collaborating on with Phil Flores. More news on those in the coming months.

Some lovely praise for Fairest of All can be found here:

A lovely mention of my novel Fairest of All can be found .

Enjoy!

-sv