I’ve been shifting my online life away from socials and back to RSS. One thing I discovered a while back on Twitter was Cory Doctorow’s threaded versions of his essays on Pluralistic; in today’s, about a hacker jailbreaking a John Deere tractor, was a link to an old essay on “the Memex Method,” which is… Continue reading The blazes make the trail
Author: Matt
One free solution for landing pages in WordPress
For something that would seem to be of keen interest to a lot of people, the top Google results combining the word “landing page” with “WordPress” have a lot of noise. You get a bunch of best theme lists (e.g.), 95% of which are variations on a generic image with a CTA button scrolling down… Continue reading One free solution for landing pages in WordPress
[repost] “why does it matter if the best books have white protagonists?”
NB: This essay is reposted from my old blog. The original post was written when Una was almost 1. Now she’s 5, and I have another baby daughter. My opinions have not budged; and the American left’s internal crisis over “identity politics” would appear to lent them fresh relevance. # “When A Popular List Of 100… Continue reading [repost] “why does it matter if the best books have white protagonists?”
jack and the apples
Art first; context later. Jack was Adam John First the Third, As hale a lad as you’ve ever heard Run over the brook on a rotting log With an apple in his pocket and a loose-skinned dog; And V was Valentine Eve Vereen, As sharp a lady as you’ve ever seen Sew pockets in the… Continue reading jack and the apples
THE EIGHTH KING acquired by Curiosity Quills!
People of the Internet: It is with considerable delight and non-negligible bemusement that I announce the corporate takeover of my creative alter ego. The fine folks at Curiosity Quills Press have made the questionable decision to acquire my epic fantasy, THE EIGHTH KING. Publication date isn’t firm yet — you’ll hear more about that. You’ll… Continue reading THE EIGHTH KING acquired by Curiosity Quills!
VERSO is free on Amazon through Wednesday!
As some of you know, I’ll occasionally put out a novel or a book of short stories for the enjoyment and edification of discerning individuals. This is such an occasion. Better yet, the book in question is free on Amazon, today through Wednesday! (That’s 29 February through 2 March 2016, for those of you arriving… Continue reading VERSO is free on Amazon through Wednesday!
the belieber’s journey
If I’m not mistaken, I referred to myself in a prior post as a “pattern-matching ape.” This is about as simian as it gets, folks. # If you have the “right” sort of “friends” on social media, you periodically run into these wild, fantastically detailed, obsessively sourced theories about the hidden structure of beloved fandoms… Continue reading the belieber’s journey
the particular taste of silver
A couple of years back, I had a story do well enough at tor.com that it was hung up in submission for almost a year. Ultimately, the editor sent me some very thoughtful, smart feedback, but rejected the story. A week or so ago, I got through a few phone interviews and up to an… Continue reading the particular taste of silver
forms of respect
Every so often, Jason Howell will send out an interview question to an elite group of writers and publish their responses. Sometimes, he makes a slip of the keyboard and includes my name on the distribution list, and I get a shot at unspooling some half-formed thoughtlet to the wider Internet. I generally do all… Continue reading forms of respect
back cover copy
In case the featured image isn’t readable, here’s the text: In the domed city of Anvard, society is defined by an intricate network of clans: the stolid Medawar, the flamboyant Llaverac, and dozens more. Clan membership means status and security; the options for outcasts without the protection of a clan are few and grim. Rachel… Continue reading back cover copy