Level 14: Advance Praise for "Virtuous Worlds!"

If you've been waiting for a second opinion before you decide whether to buy Virtuous Worlds, or if you're just plain curious what other folks think, let me introduce you to a very special group of people.  These are five of the most intelligent human beings on the planet.  Okay, I may be a little biased here, but seriously, I'm honored to introduce the five individuals who agreed to read and endorse the manuscript of Virtuous Worlds some months ago before it was even close to hitting the market.

Here's what they had to say upon finishing the book:
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“Virtuous Worlds is just what anyone would need to bridge the gap between video games and Christianity.  Even someone like me who isn’t really a part of any religion can find this book uplifting and supportive.”

~Michelle “Akuriko” Morse, award-winning cosplayer, featured in Nintendo Power and showcased on Cosplay.com, http://akuriko.deviantart.com/

If they ever do a Zelda movie, Michelle has the look of the character down pat.  She knows.  What.  She's.  Doing.
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“While video games are often seen as immoral influences, Stanifer takes a more nuanced look.  Analyzing a variety of games, Stanifer discusses how they support Christian beliefs.  This will be a fun read for any Christian gamer and a reassuring one for many parents.”

~Scott Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor of New Media Communication, Indiana University Kokomo

Had it not been for this man, I would never have discovered Gen Con in the first place.

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“I was surprised and impressed at the number of spiritual lessons John drew from a variety of games.  Members of any faith can find tremendous worth in reading this book.  I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who has the misconception that video games are just for entertainment purposes.”

~Laura “Flute Link” Intravia, vocalist and flutist for Video Games Live, recipient of the Charles F. Hockett Scholarship for Composition, http://www.lauraintravia.com/

Video Games Live is an internationally successful concert tour that combines the music of video games with the talents of a live orchestra.  Ever wanted to hear the Shanghai Symphony play the theme song from Super Mario Bros?  VGL has you covered.  I've been.  More than once.  It.  Was.  Awesome.

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“In Virtuous Worlds, Stanifer will teach you to play video games better by understanding the spiritual truths of this world.  He will also do the reverse: he will teach you to play your life better by understanding the truths of the video gaming world.”

~Caleb Grimes, author of Star Wars Jesus, http://www.starwarsjesus.com/

The Force is with Caleb.  Wise, he is.  Generous, he is.  You don't know the power of Jesus and Star Wars combined.  It's deadly.

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“So often Christians are fighting against culture, but John has utilized one of those rarely used gifts: the ability to see God’s Grace working in the world and through the lives of others even when they least expect it.”

~Rev. Derek White, Christian Gamers Guild, http://www.geekpreacher.com/

Derek is a United Methodist Minister, a board member of the Christian Gamers Guild, and a frequent Gen Con attendee.

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All of these quotes will be appearing on the back cover of Virtuous Worlds, but like I said, I wanted you to see them here first.

Just a few more weeks.  Hold tight!

Level 13: When & Where to Buy VW, How to Get a Signed Copy

Since we're coming down to the wire here and Virtuous Worlds is expected to be released within the next month, I thought it was about time to remind everyone when and where they can buy the book and how to get their copy signed.

Virtuous Worlds will be released in May.  I don't have an exact release date, and even if I did, it could actually come out before then, as has happened in the past with some of my publisher's other books.  I feel pretty safe saying that the book is a month away, give or take a few days.

When the book does become available, it will be sold online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  You might check with your local bookstore to see if they are able to order it, but the easiest way to get it will be through one of these two sites.

If you live in Indiana, I plan on doing a few signings in the Kokomo area and possibly in the Indianapolis area if that can be arranged.  I'll post details as soon as they're worked out.

For anyone who wants their copy of the book signed, I'm more than happy to sign it!  There are three main ways I see of doing this:


1.  Come to a signing.

2.  Arrange to meet me in person.  As I don't know exactly when or where the signings will take place yet, you may decide you want your copy signed beforehand (or you may not be able to make it to a signing for whatever reason).  Feel free to get in touch with me by email (j s t a n i f e AT a l u m n i DOT e d u) or on Facebook, and we'll try to work something out.

3.  Send me your copy by mail.  If all else fails and we can't meet in person, you're welcome to send me a copy of the book to sign and return by post.  IMPORTANT: PLEASE INCLUDE RETURN POSTAGE IF YOU ARE GOING WITH THIS OPTION.  Contact me by email (see above) or Facebook, and I'll gladly send you my postal address if you need it.


That's all for now.  If I get wind that my publisher is ready to take orders for the book, or if anything else exciting comes up, I'll post it here.  Keep watching, and thanks for reading!

EDIT: Technically, this falls under #2 above, but if you are someone I run into on a regular basis or you live in the Kokomo area (that includes you, Billy Wong), feel free to harangue me for a copy of the book, as I plan on carrying a small pile of them with me everywhere I go in case I meet someone who is interested.