The bowling alley played Kid Rock and immediately followed up with “American Idiot.” I feel like we’re trying a bit too hard to be bipartisan

i was browsing a local bookstore's clearance shelf at 9pm when i noticed another trans girl next to me & couldn't help giving her recs (vox, housekeeping) before i noticed a copy of @jestintzi.bsky.social's bad houses & all but insisted she take it

When in doubt (about how much you are interested in being alive) the solution is often to just start writing another book out of nowhere.

Since everyone is sharing ""romantic"" art for Valentine's Day, here's a flash piece I published a decade or so ago, and which I still enjoy jestintzi.substack.com/p/the-many-l...

the day he saw god

Another snoopy commission

Pleased to report Martha Baillie's THE INCIDENT REPORT (2014) continues to absolutely slap, a 10/10 book, and hits harder now that I also work in a public library (and have met many Strange Fellows). Everyone should read it, it's an all-timer of almost strange fiction (which Martha does so well).

“We must see now that the evils of racism, economic exploitation, and militarism are all tied together. And you can’t get rid of one without getting rid of the other.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

ICYMI! Here's the cover for my new novel GUEST SERVICES AT THE MUSEUM OF SEXUAL DEVIANCE, which is out this fall from @arsenalpulp.bsky.social! Follow my newsletter for the best updates about preorders and release dates! Love this butt-centric cover!

Not to toot my own horn but...it's a pretty good horn. You should really hear it toot.

Visited MY VOLCANO at my local library today. You should support your libraries in these wild times (and also read MY VOLCANO, which I have heard can be a comfort despite that it is very much a book about Wild Times)

Please, to announce that I have started the next one and it is certainly harder thanI expected.

I am glad that I am a delusional novelist. I have been doing some major revisions to my new book, and before each I think "This will be a piece of cake" and then it ruins my life for WEEKS. The whole time it is ruining my life I'm thinking, "Well, at least the next will be easier."

Once again Writing Poems*. *Mentally Unwell

Ebooks are reading. Audiobooks are reading. Graphic novels are reading. Pulp reading is reading. Adults reading YA is reading. It's all good, my friends. Don't let anyone tell you different.

What's cool: using an old phone as an MP3 player/getting away from streaming! What's not cool: seeing texts from like 7 years ago from people who don't like me anymore!

Nominate CV2, we are awesome

Bold to consider the problem with everything in my life may be "Me"

I feel like I should celebrate new years this year if only to celebrate 2025 getting the fuck outta my life.

Oftentimes the biggest hurdle about making coffee is that I have not yet had coffee (successfully poured coffee grounds directly into the water of my percolator instead of the basket this morning).

absolutely bonkers to claim that kidnapping people -- a crime -- somehow prevents crime. The way so many Americans seem to actively hate anyone who's ever had a run-in with the law is truly disturbing

This is not a drill: my next novel GUEST SERVICES AT THE MUSEUM OF SEXUAL DEVIANCE will be out next fall.

Ahhhhhhh!

Snow

Underrated shirt design from when I designed shirt ("Worm Geometry")

If my name was HG Wells I'd probably go by Mercury Wells.

This is not a drill: my next novel GUEST SERVICES AT THE MUSEUM OF SEXUAL DEVIANCE will be out next fall.

I wrote about Public Access from the perspective of a repeat player: www.brokenhandsmedia.com/blog/2025/10...

Currently in the "Crying while watching One Piece" stage of grief.

My publisher put up a preview of BAD HOUSES for free online, so if you want to read an excerpt (the first story in the book!) you can check that out here: arsenalpulp.com/Books/B/Bad-...

Great news! Love Jonathan and his work. Keep your eyes peeled for this one next year!

The reckless hope of putting new tires on a car with 230k miles 🐺

It's kind of depressing how much I'm getting specific and glowing emails that are just trying to get me to pay them to get my books into bookclubs. I'd be less bummed about it if they didn't feel so familiar with the work, but it's almost certainly just a good use of AI mining reviews.

check out this new letter, including it's special sneak-peek exclusive preview of something I'm cookin up 👀. SUBSCRIBE to stay in the loop! open.substack.com/pub/jestintz...

If life is a rollercoaster, I am definitely never going to ride a freaking rollercoaster.

Very affirming to be talking to my therapist about young JES's romantic misadventures and be told that it all sounded "very lesbian"

I just want to read things I've never read before that make me recognize and give shape to things I've felt all along

Well, at least they are redirecting literary grant money to "foster AI competency" (clearly lacking in this AI generated 2nd paragraph), support for the military (as all true literature should do), and disaster recovery (books as sandbags?)

Being an adult is spending $30 dollars to buy a big rock on the internet.

Shuttlecock 3

At least there was light.

Big yawn

I picked up @jestintzi.bsky.social's "Junebat" years ago, and I'm kind of glad I waited to read it until now, when it feels like I *need* these poems. They are aching and tender and gorgeous, and my god, the last lines!! A gift, this whole collection.

A very “night walk in kansas city” kind of selfie

Traveling for (book) work is cool and all but I think I might need to make the demand that whenever I am invited to a festival/book thing, that Grendel is also invited.

Started this book on the plane...pretty good so far...anyone else read this??

When in Rome* *Canada (I must get my fill of poutine)

It is slightly amazing how much less bleak my life feels now that I am using some paid time off and also going somewhere else (Saskatchewan!) for a few days. In other news if you're in Saskatchewan, come see me in Moose Jaw for the Festival of Words! I'll be there for the whole fest!

Reposting for the morning crowd, since this went up just before midnight lady night.

Also out of nowhere I am #95 on this list on Substack, so you should follow me there and see what all the hubub is about