A year ago today I had an amazing night in NYC. Saw "Good Night and Good Luck" and went to the Friki Tiki and sang show tunes and met cool people and drank rum through a straw. My wife just let me know they tore that bar down. It no longer exists. This feels profound to me. I can't tell you why.

I exercise at home and have a box fan. This box fan used to be white but is now yellow-ish. The handle broke off maybe 6 years ago and last year it lost both its footings so it wobbles sometimes. I should have replaced it years ago. But it does it's job every time. I feel like that fan today.

I just fielded a phone call from an AI trying to steal my money. Daily occurrence. What was special about this one was it was a female voice with the sounds of a toddler playing in the background. At one point it said "mommy". Does the person who prompted this know they're going to hell?

I was honored to be part of the Ames Reading Series through the LIncoln Public Library today. Deb and her team were fantastic to work with and I got some really good questions from the audience after I babbled for more than a bit. I will post the Youtube video when it’s available.

Editor: This paragraph is confusing, can you reword? Me: *deletes paragraph*

I’m doing a line edit of my upcoming novel and submitted a “finished” manuscript with the phrase “keeping the peach” instead of “keeping the peace”. I submitted this to an amazing, well-known editor. Write your book, everyone. I guarantee you’re smarter than I am.

The audio for my 4th novel is on sale today for four bucks. I think the scene where the naked guy has to escape four guys with knives in a darkened theater space covers that cost. If I’m not mistaken, you have to be an audible member get the sale but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Not to be...apocalyptic but my next novel is set in a future where the climate has collapsed and one of the examples I use to illustrate this is a day in March that's over 100 degrees. With the current forecast and half my state currently on fire, clearly didn't dream big enough.

My friends, may we have a brief conversation about shot composition and stagecraft...

It’s an amazing bit of computer engineering that Apple is able to make each version of Pages the worst word processing system I’ve ever used, but they find a way. This latest update is damn near unusable.

Here's how my Sunday is going in case you're curious.

Is it wrong that this might be one of my favorite reviews I’ve ever received?

I'm doing something a little out of the box for me this summer as I'll be part of the @hauntthereaders event in Pennsylvania. There are so many amazing authors taking part. Consider me intimidated and excited.

I got an email this morning that was basically a confirmation that someone had gotten something I sent them. The email said “Thanks, Mike” then had an email signature. The uninvited, unwanted AI summary said “Gratitude has been conveyed”. Well, that was worth several gallons of water.

@edzitron.com using a Mr. Plinkett "Oh My Gaaaawd" in today's Better Offline about the financials of AI companies was delightful in about 5 different ways. @redlettermedia.com

Not to be a downer, but I got to my day job today and heard from a coworker that they had hit a cat with their car. They had taken the still living cat and thrown it in the dumpster. Me and another coworker went to find it. It was a lovely cat, black and tan colored, but it's leg was mangled.

Contributing to #childhoodcinema This is the StarShip 9. Admission was around $2. I went there after prom at Rock N Roll Runza. I saw Pulp Fiction there 7 times. First kisses and first exposures to art and Saturday afternoons spent jumping theaters. Got in a fight outside there once. Just the best.

For my day job I just had a conversation with a woman at the Colorado DMV. At some point she asked "how's the weather" as you do. I told her it's been a very hot and dry winter in my state. She said "me too" and then, unprompted, said "this isn't good. Our whole state is going to be on fire soon."

I was in a meeting today that got delightfully derailed by this little goblin.

Jessica is an amazing writer and I encourage you to read this piece, particularly as the new year looks more and more ominous.

Like Fantasticland, @mikebockoven.bsky.social's Come Knocking is a tour de force of epistolatory horror. It's got so much to say about performance and violence and how simulation becomes reality. I was reminded of @vortexegg.com's recent posts about play and fascism. Really great stuff.

Two things about this video that was sent to me about my novel Fantasticland. 1) The synopsis is spot on. 2) I swear I've heard the music while shopping at Hobby Lobby. youtu.be/1orXDYG7AjE?...

If I could add up all the time I've spent listening to a robot tell me "when you're finished with your call, just hang up", I bet the number would be incredibly depressing.

I heard there was a Cohen song, And all the Christians got it wrong, But you don’t really get the meaning do ya? ‘Cause you see its about getting laid, It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith, But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”

The great @samintheflx created this collage based on Fantasticland. I cannot tell you how much I love it when my books inspire other artists.

I just heard a very specific song from the late 90's that didn't make the top 40 at all in the grocery store. It took me back to a very specific place and time and persons and actions. It's the sort of thing that, if I didn't have a million things to do, might knock me out for the day.

I am using the spooky holiday as a shameless reminder that my 4th novel, "Come Knocking" has an audiobook available now. I've included one of my favorite (out of context) passages. Ryan Haugen and Jennifer Pickens did a great job with the novel.

I have curated my digital life to the point where I get notifications about Godzilla’s birthday. I am very pleased with this.

My novel “FantasticLand” was named one of the most popular horror novels of the last decade on Goodreads, which puts me in some absolutely amazing company. If you’ve given the book a read I appreciate it more than you know. www.goodreads.com/blog/show/30...

The plot of Stephen King's "Thinner" except instead of uncontrolled weight loss the curse is just a big, dumb clumsy doofus who gets bigger and dumber and clumsier as he gets older until he finally dies of stubbing his toe too many times or something.

I was fortunate enough to catch @tmbg.bsky.social in the opening show of "The Big Tour" last night and extremely fortunate to take my wife kids, who are getting harder to get together in one place as we all get older and busier. It was my favorite weirdo band with my favorite band of weirdos.

Well, that’s a hell of a thing. If there are any teachers out there who have questions or might want me to talk to their class about FantasticLand, shoot me a DM.

For those of you who have been curious, the audio of “Come Knocking” is currently in production and is due to be out before Halloween his year. I will update when I know more, but it’s coming and I can’t wait.

Today is the final day for the Ghostland board game kickstarter from my fellow horror head Duncan Ralston. I have a short story as part of an anthology that comes with the board game which is only available here. If you’re a board game person, give it a look. www.kickstarter.com/projects/gho...

One time in high school a girl lightly implied that she thought of me when she listened to the song "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" by Sophie B. Hawkins and, seriously, it's one of those things I think about when my mental health is really bad.

I absolutely hate to do this but my latest, "Come Knocking" is stalling out in terms of reviews. If you read it and have thoughts (seriously, positive or negative!) can these weiner dogs lightly encourage you to leave a review? Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Good Reads, wherever. I appreciate it.

So proud that my hometown B&N is carrying my latest.

On Tuesday I had to put my old dog down. It was a rough day. I posted a photo on IG, like you do. Yesterday, I started getting targeted ads for memorials, key chains, portraits and other shit all to "honor your pet". What a goddamn ugly dystopian hellscape we live in. Jesus Christ.

I took the recycling out after a particularly nasty storm yesterday evening. The night was full of fireflies. Hundreds of them. There was another storm rolling in. They lit up anyway. For a short time before the storm rolled in and killed them. It was beautiful.

I want to extend my intense gratitude to everyone who made the launch day of my 4th novel, "Come Knocking" an amazing one. From my friends at Rooted Books & Gifts to everyone on Bookstagram (and Bluesky) to shared their excitement to everyone who bought the book, I am so grateful for you.

I know my new book drops tomorrow (more on that soon) but I HAD to share this. My new friend Courtney Farrington just shared this tattoo of the Warhogs from FantasticLand, my first novel. This is beyond cool. Thanks for sharing, Courtney. Our mutual friends owe you a postcard :)

I had a great talk with Kyler from Salt Lake Dirt about my new novel, living in the middle of the country and the horror books that messed us up. I appreciate the chance to be on this show. saltlakedirt.com/tv-%26-film/...

May I share a positive review, please? I cannot take a compliment well so I will just say that’s exactly what I was going for and the review is incredible. Thank you Anna Rose! You can order Come Knocking here: www.skyhorsepublishing.com/978151078344...

My kid is funny.

Come on, man...

I wish they had included my upcoming summer release "Beer In My Butt and Other Stories of Soapy Racehorses".

"Proud" doesn't cover it. Not even close.

Last night, while I was still galavanting in the Atlantic, my kid premiered her horror comedy short film as part of her final at the University of Nebraska Lincoln EMA program. I'm intensely proud of ya, kid.

“The scariest bit of theatre horror since James Corden in Cats” is top 10 compliments I may have ever received.

Social Distortion and Plague Vendor are playing in the town next to me on a random Tuesday. This also happens to be the random Tuesday that my 4th novel drops. The universe is giving me a big, much needed hug.