My new thing has been writing about being outside and God. Here's a recent post. If you like it throw me a subscribe! open.substack.com/pub/bryanbli...

Dang BlueSky I keep forgetting you

What a great review!

I very rarely require or need outside affirmation on things I write. But today I received some positive feedback at the exact right time. (Not from swole Jesus. )

Minnesota’s flags will fly at half staff in honor and remembrance of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. She woke up every morning determined to make Minnesota a better place, and she will be greatly missed.

I am writing a literary novel about what happens when the sacred becomes a commodity. It's weird. Like really weird. But this is the first time I've felt urgency in my writing since my mom died. GIF is an unrequested clue to the story.

Minnesota Book Awards.

Dude looks like a haunted painting of a recently deceased Victorian child

Update: Nietzsche was well received by some, aggressively denied by a few, and revelatory for a few more—as it should be.

I’m about to ask 20 ready-to-graduate seniors to read Nietzsche at 8:30 am.

Holy crap

This. And I’ve been asking myself this question a lot, as somebody who can weather most things due to a lot of financial and other privilege.

If you aren’t familiar with Lenny’s work—get on it. A voice that consistently inspires and challenges me.

My latest novel — DISPATCHES FROM PARTS UNKNOWN — is a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award.

Congratulations to @jmillwrites.bsky.social @antontreuer.bsky.social @bryanbliss.bsky.social and Kirstin Cronn-Mills on being finalists in the YA category of this year’s MN Book Awards! 🙌🏽✨ It was fun interviewing them for the Friend’s Meet the Finalists feature. Good luck to all. ✌🏽

No trout were caught but vibes were high.

I’m going fly fishing tomorrow. It’s my spring break/book deal gift to myself.

Here’s some big news!

For those who recall Mo Cheeks jumping in to help a young woman struggling to sing the anthem in 2003, she came back tonight and nailed it (h/t @netw3rk.bsky.social)

This was good.

I would love if you chose to purchase my #audiobook The Tower from @libro.fm, a 100% employee owned Social Purpose Corporation that shares profits with your chosen bookstore. #BookSky

I like BlueSky. I also feel like it doesn’t have the conversations or interaction I enjoyed on early twitter?

Excited to see Dispatches from Parts Unknown as an Odyssey Award Honor Book for best audio book!

🙏🫡

Very happy to learn that Dispatches from Parts Unknown is a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award!

The opposite of enabling. We need this. We need a lot of this, at every turn, from everyone.

Just keeping it chill in Theologies of Liberation.

It’s 10 degrees.

Motion City Soundtrack this morning in honor of the indomitable @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social

overheard at a thrift store: “me and elvis presley share a special day: august 16, 1977. the day he died, and i got run over by a dump truck.”

New text for 10th grade religion class. Psyched to teach it.

Currently prepping a “Theologies of Liberation” course for high school seniors. I know the book readings they need. Any good articles or podcasts to include?

My wife is watching Christmas movies and I am doing this.

Research reading.

I want to give off this vibe.

My wife has been watching Supernatural so now whenever she asks me a question I say, “I will check the Lore and get back to you.”

Being Redneck is, among a myriad of other things, an ontological condition of ungovernability and an anti-state orientation.

Aarik has two of mine. Ben Folds Five “Whatever and Ever, Amen” Eliot Smith “XO” Beastie Boys, “Check Your Head” Dr Dre, “The Chronic” (Exile in Guyville should be on this list.)

This new novel powered by Frightened Rabbits (always), @themountaingoats.bsky.social, and The song Canola Fields by James McMurtry.

At least we’re discoursing about whether jokes about the UHC CEO are appropriate rather than discoursing about whether jokes about St. Nicholas punching Arius are appropriate. (They’re basically the same discourse.) ⚓️

I just finished a nearly three thousand (!) word synopsis for my next YA novel. And it could've easily been five thousand. It's a big idea. A love story, but a weird one. To paraphrase my agent: “I don’t think you’re capable of not being weird.”

Advent 1 sermon is finished and it’s 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

🙏*nods in white guy mfa*

Happy to say that I’m headed back to the St Mark’s Cathedral (Minneapolis) to serve as a non-stipendiary priest on their shared ministry team.

Guess who’s baaaaahck

YEP.

This is amazing.