I got back from Defcon a few weeks ago. SomaFM has been providing chill music for the conference since 2013 and attending has inspired some short stories and gotten me more comfortable being on stage. Here's my take on this year. mlukemcdonell.wordpress.com/2025/08/17/b...

Friends of mine from out of town were excited to ride in a Waymo, so we did. They loved it. When they got out, both of them happily thanked the car for the ride. It gave me a shiver that we anthropomorphize objects so quickly and naturally.

Oh hi San Francisco.

I went to a "dazzling" book marketing conference recently, and detailed my takeaways here: mlukemcdonell.wordpress.com/thoughts-and...

A great night at SF in SF, with Kimberly Ungar moderating, Daryl Gregory and Nghi Vo reading from, and discussing, their work. I'll let you know when the recording is up on Soma FM.

First time someone ever said this: I strolled over to Dulles airport for dinner. On purpose. 😂 I’m trapped at a Marriott after my conference ended.

OMG. Can Apple intelligence just shut the F up with trying to predict what I'm going to say? Guessing the next few words when I type is like every day living my normal life as a woman with dudes finishing my sentences for me. Not helpful, back off, stop talking. I'm talking.

Cat with mustache in a widow disapproves of me.

So happy to be back at SXSW and get to hear Bruce Sterling tell us what's on his mind. This year it's "How to Rebuild an Imaginary Future." He's doing a cool project to rebuild tech from fiction, make it actually work, and add to our cultural heritage. I'm a huge fan of his writing. : )

Just attended a packed SXSW panel on Severance. Turned into a pathetic Apple TV infomercial with Ben Stiller asking the Apple exec “What other shows are you watching on Apple TV?” Not what anyone came for!

Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, and Will Poulter at the premiere of Death of a Unicorn at SXSW. This is first movie where I ever hoped a Paul Rudd character would die. : )

I'm happy to be at SXSW and be reminded that creativity is alive and thriving. Here is some of the cast+writers+director (James Griffiths) of the upcoming movie The Ballad of Wallis Island...17 years in development, made in 18 days on a small budget. Stars Carrie Mulligan.

“How fictional futures can help us strengthen truth” - Sewell Chan says “novelists help us perceive worlds that are only dimly imagined right now.” With authors Stephen Harrison and Laila Lalami.

Director Paul Feig talks about loving genre, and that the story needs to come from the characters. Fast company grill at SXSW.

Cool tree/sky/ocean at Timber Cove, north of Jenner.

I paid too much for this ballpoint pen, but it's named Helvetica, made in Japan, and writes like butter–if that's a thing.

"For some readers, such accolades read as insincere or overwrought. It doesn’t help that blurbs frequently repeat bromides like “spellbinding,” “riveting” and “a tour de force” until they’ve lost meaning." www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a....

My short story, "The Obscurists," is in issue 16 of Wyldblood magazine. Stakes are high in this game of finding and tagging obscure places. Instantaneous travel, evil twins, and extreme allergies. What's not to like? Thanks @wyldblood.bsky.social - get the issue here: wyldblood.com/product/wyld...