Curie Society: Eris Eternal graphic novel out now!

Super excited to talk about writing for THE CURIE SOCIETY: ERIS ETERNAL, which came out March 26, 2024. This 168-page sequel follows the continuing adventures of three college students, recent recruits in The Curie Society, a top secret organization protecting and furthering beneficial science. They’re on a mission to Paris and beyond to investigate several new technologies, all the while navigating how to speak up and get heard. Check it out in a bunch of formats on Amazon, direct from MIT Press, or wherever books are sold.

Writing this was an amazing experience. It was about creating a narrative that mixes science with adventure, appealing to young and old alike. I aimed to keep the story fresh and engaging, hoping to spark curiosity about science in my readers.

I wrote this graphic novel in collaboration with Heather Einhorn, Adam Staffaroni, and artist Sonia Liao, with editing magic from Joan Hilty. I did not have it on my bucket list to be published by MIT Press, but I’ll add it retroactively! It’s more than a story; it’s a journey into a world where science meets adventure. Can’t wait for you to join in! Check it out here for more details.

 

Praise for Volume 1 in The Curie Society Series:

“Readers eager for greater representation of women in the sciences will cheer…”
— Publishers Weekly

“Budding scientists and fans of exciting graphic novels are in for a rollicking journey that stresses that women in STEM truly are better together.”
— School Library Journal

“With suspenseful espionage, nerdy humor and a group of dauntless, eager trailblazers fostering genuine friendships, The Curie Society is sure to fascinate curious minds.”
—Shelf Awareness

Writing Comics and Manga panel at SDCC 2023!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Comic-con International kicks off this week in San Diego, and I will be there speaking about writing comics! Many have said that, because of the dual WGA/SAG strike, Comic-con this year will actually be about comics again. I can’t speak for the entire convention, of course, but I certainly will be all comics, all the time while I’m down there!

If you want to learn the secret wonders of writing for comics or manga, you’re in luck, because I will be joined by a bunch of other experts in the field. Read on for more deets.

Writing for Comics and Manga
When: Thursday, July 20th, 6-7pm
Where: Room 29AB, San Diego Convention Center
Who:
Chang Sheng – Comic Creator
Joy Lin – Comic book Writer
Ben Dunn – Editor In Chief at Antarctic Press
Anne Toole – Comic Book Writer
Austin Osueke – Moderator
eigoMANGA moderates a series of Q&A sessions with comic book writers that also includes Chang Sheng (award-winning creator of the Oldman manga series). They will discuss the fundamentals of comic book outlines, script writing, and overall storytelling.

Feel free to add the panel to your schedule. Hope to see you very soon!

Tonight! Speaking on Droids & Galaxies panel at Scum & Villainy!

In celebration of the real Star Wars day, I’ll be speaking about writing droids and galaxies at the one and only Scum & Villainy Cantina in Hollywood. If you love learning about Star Wars and getting into the creative side of science fiction, then come on over. Digital LA will host the Droids & Galaxies panel featuring me and ship designer Sonny Tien Nguyen at 6pm tonight! Hope to see you there!

Digital LA – Droids & Galaxies: Panel and Cantina Digital Drinks

Speakers will share their stories including their career path in the industry, their projects, and where you can see their work (e.g visit Disneyland Batuu, digital comic, etc.). Intergalactic costumes or shirts encouraged!

Panel 6-7p, followed by networking. During and after the panel 6-7p, enjoy food and drink, including several Digital Drink party specials from the Scum and Villainy Cantina’s new menu, available from 6-8p only.

At 8p, attendees are welcome to join in the Cantina’s weekly Trivia Night, which will feature Star Wars theme.

SPEAKERS

– Sonny Tien Nguyen is a Three-Time THEA Award Winning Walt Disney Imagineer, Creative Designer and Art Director. He worked on several key elements and immersive designs for the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Themed Land at Disneyland and Disney World. His works include the creation of droid DJ Rex in Oga’s Cantina, Droid Designs, Land Ornamentation, Graphics and the X-Wings and other star ships including the ITS Ship and the Millennium Falcon exterior and interior cockpit. He is fluent in reading and writing Aurebesh and has created different languages within the land including Droid Depot’s Droidobesh. He also worked on branding and product design including toys, pins, Star Wars Beverages and in-story Coca-Cola bottle drinks. He was integral to the creative core team for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge from a large scale to all the very intricate details of sets and props for the E-ticket attractions such as The Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance; as well as the actual flying X-Wings with WDI Research and Development.

– Anne Toole, Writer, Star Wars Adventures. Anne is a Writers Guild Award winning writer who has written for games, comics, and other projects. Her Star Wars related credits include writing stories in Star Wars Adventures #11, and a short story in ‘From A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back’ anthology. She has written on Horizon Zero Dawn game, for which she won a WGA game writing award, and the Horizon Zero Dawn comic. She has also written stories on Women of Marvel comic anthologies.

– Moderator: Kevin Winston, Digital LA, founder. Kevin celebrated his birthday on the actual day that Batuu opened at Disneyland.

Writing comics: Star Wars Adventures #11 out today!

I return to the Stars Wars universe with an adventure on board Jabba’s sail barge. Star Wars Adventures #11 from IDW is out today! This Tales of Villainy issue features Jabba at his worst (or best?). With art by the endlessly talented Nick Brokenshire, our story follows Ree-Yees in search of Jabba’s pet Buboicullaar (which I will now never forget how to spell). “Done Dirty” joins another story by Cavan Scott, Manuel Bracchi, and Bracardi Curry, in which Rogue Squadron tangles with the Empire. We not only got to share an issue, but our letterer, Johanna Nattalie, as well!

If you’re looking for all ages adventure, look no further than Star Wars Adventures #11! If you pick it up at your friendly local comic book shop, let me know what you think — and which cover you got!

Speaking on Writing & Narrative Design Panel tomorrow!

The show must go on, virtually! I will be speaking on writing and narrative design for games tomorrow as part of the SGDA Summit 2021. The event runs today and tomorrow and features a lot of other great workshops and panels on art, design, production, and more. I will be speaking on a panel along with two other fantastic writers and narrative designers.

Writing & Narrative Design Panel
Where: Twitch
When: Sunday, May 30, 2021, 10am PDT
Who:
Tori Schafer, Senior Narrative & Content Designer at Proletariat Inc. (she/her)
Jay Turner, Senior Narrative Designer at Obsidian Entertainment (he/him)
Anne Toole, yup, that’s me!

Feel free to join us, or check out the other events going on this weekend!

Writing for the Dishonored TRPG

Arkane’s DISHONORED the video game has become DISHONORED the tabletop roleplay game, published by Modiphius. The games, set in a steampunk-esque fictional world, follow outlaws who walk the line between noble hero and a type of sorcerer drawing dark powers from one known as the Outsider.

The DISHONORED Core Rulebook came out last year and features rules, setting information, and more for your roleplaying game pleasure. While many fantabulous writers and designers contributed to the 300-page book, I wrote the “Jewel of the South” chapter. In it, I described the history and challenges of Serkonos, the southernmost island of the Empire of the Isles. The eponymous “Jewel of the South,” the city of Karnaca, was the setting of DISHONORED 2. 

The tabletop game uses the 2d20 System. You can buy the DISHONORED Core Rulebook on Amazon or the DISHONORED pdf on DriveThruRPG. Even if you haven’t played the game, the core rulebook has plenty of information to not only get you started, but provide a deep into the world of DISHONORED. 

 

Vencedor, Best Narrative and HORIZON ZERO DAWN: The Sunhawk out now!

Two good newses for the price of one! HORIZON ZERO DAWN: THE SUNHAWK, the graphic novel collecting the first arc of the HORIZON ZERO DAWN comic book series, came out last week. In addition, HOLOCRIMES, a mobile AR game to which I contributed my writing skillz, won Best Narrative at the Brazilian SB Games Festival.

Titan Comics published HORIZON ZERO DAWN: THE SUNHAWK to collect the best-selling comic series into a graphic novel. The original Issue #1, which came out in August, was the top selling non-Marvel comic, outselling Batman! It’s also Titan’s best-selling comic ever! Featuring Talanah, the Sunhawk of the Hunters Lodge, the complete tale recounts what happens to Aloy’s friend Talanah after the events of the first game. The collection is barely a week old, so you’re not too late to pick up a copy. With art from Ann Maulina, and colors from Bryan Valenza, it’s definitely worth a peep!

Not to be outdone, HOLOCRIMES: AR INVESTIGATION took home the trophy for Best Narrative at SBGames Recife 2020, the Festival Virtual de Jogos. The game, developed by Brazilian developer Black River Studios, puts the player at the scene of a crime, in a grounded science fiction world where murders might hint at a greater conspiracy.

🏆 Vencedor Melhor Narrativa

HOLOCRIMES also earned nominations in Best Design, Best Tech, and Best Mobile Game. Congrats to the whole team!

Original series and game narrative earn nods at two festivals

Too Hollywood a headline? Nah. Two projects of mine earned their way to some laurels this month. First up, THE ICE & TIMES OF RACHEL W. was selected as an Official Selection for Stareable Fest, celebrating web series and indie TV talent. Second, HOLOCRIMES has advanced to finalist in narrative at the Festival de Jogos do SBGames Recife 2020, a festival for the Brazilian games industry. I contributed to the narrative, but I promise I didn’t commit any of the crimes!

ICE & TIMES is a hybrid fictional/documentary short-form series intended to inspire women to pursue STEM fields. If picked up, the series would follow a young woman going on the adventure of a lifetime as she participates in research expeditions in Antarctica.

HOLOCRIMES: AR INVESTIGATION allows the player to participate in a remote investigation of crimes as a new investigator. Solving these crimes may unveil a plot that menaces more than just the victims. Available for any detective using an Android. In addition to its nomination for Best Narrative, HOLOCRIMES is also a finalist in the Best Mobile Game, Best Design, and Best Technology categories. Maybe crime does pay.

If you’ve had a chance to play the game, I’d definitely love to hear your thoughts! Drop a comment below.

Horizon Zero Dawn #1 out today!

The official first issue for the Horizon Zero Dawn comic book series I wrote is available now in comic book stores! It’s always been a dream of mine to see my comics sitting on the shelf alongside other great creators. It was a privilege to work with such a great artist in Ann Maulina, and I’m only slightly biased because we share the sam(e) nam(e). I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.

The Free Comic Book Day (Summer) issue is still available in some stores, too, so you can go and pick up today’s Horizon Zero Dawn #1 while you’re getting your free comic! You can also find a digital copy of Horizon Zero Dawn #1 on Comixology.

The comic has 6 variant covers, as well as 3 virgin covers — Titan really went all out.

Horizon Zero Dawn #1 (virgin variant)

Publisher: Titan Comics
Written by Me!
Art: Ann Maulina
Colors: Bryan Valenza
Letters: Jim Campbell

Following the events of the game and issue 0, Horizon Zero Dawn #1 follows Talanah as she pursues a contract for a machine and stumbles across a new breed… and a mysterious man in the woods. Explore a world dominated by awe-inspiring machines, as humanity fights for survival on this new earth.

Speaking on narrative in games at SDCC Comic-Con@Home

Today as part of Comic-Con@Home, I’ll be speaking on a virtual panel on Narrative Design for Computer Games. I spoke earlier this week on a panel for Horizon Zero Dawn Comes to Comics, which has reached nearly 2,000 views, all of them me 😉 .

Narrative Design for Computer Games
When: July 25, 2020 at 10am PST
Where: Online
Industry vets Neal Hallford (Betrayal at Krondor), Haris Orkin (Call of Juarez), Anne Toole (Horizon Zero Dawn), and Xalavier Nelson Jr. (We Are the Caretakers) break down how narratives are crafted and executed in the gaming industry. Moderated by Jana Hallford (Swords & Circuitry: A Designer’s Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games).

Join us!

Later, I’ll be heading over to Golden Apple Comics for some Free Comic Book Day/Summer comics, including the free Horizon Zero Dawn comic I wrote! For more details, check it here.