I am so lucky to be able to share the cover for my 5th novel, “Your Best Chance of Survival” coming out on Feb. 2 through Simon & Schuster. This is a mean one. Can’t wait to share more. www.simonandschuster.com/books/Your-B...

There are two wolves inside of me after making it through an edit of my latest novel from a professional, well respected copy editor. One wolf wants to send the copy editor a long apology letter and a box of chocolates. The other wolf wants to shrink in shame and hide forever.

If you're a podcast person, might I suggest this week's "Better Offline" ep with @edzitron.com Someone is saying "hey, all this 'end of the world' talk surrounding AI is hurting people and the technologists pushing it are cultist weirdos" and I think this needs to be said more.

I'm a bit behind on promoting this but I'm honored to be doing a book talk on July 12th at Sower Books in Lincoln as part of their SummerWeen celebration. Tory has an exceptional staff and I'm really looking forward to it. sowerbooksne.com/events/56153...

The worst part of editing is the fact that I’ve already read this thing, multiple times, and I would rather finish “Coffin Moon” by Keith Rosson.

I have entered the age where I am sending sentimental Tik Toks to my grown daughters and labeling them "sentimental dad shit". Like, listen I don't like this any more than you do but this is where we are and we're both going to have to deal with it.

I have two projects, a day job, a kid going to college soon and other obligations absolutely beating me about the head and shoulders right now. Working on a new novel feels like a dirty little secret, something I shouldn’t be doing. Hell yeah.

I think about this piece all the time. Multiple times a day. It's like a song in my head that I can't get out. It's been like this months.

A few months ago I was part of the Ames Reading Series at the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors in Lincoln, which was an honor for me. I got to talk about Nebraska, the state of horror lit (it's great!) the Internet (it's mostly bad!) and a ton about writing and art. I appreciate them having me.

I have a LOT of love for Whalefall the novel (and everything I've read of @danielkraus.com so far) but the trailer to Whalefall has all the markings of a really bad time at the movies in the best possible way. If that makes sense. What I mean is "I'd like to see it now, please".

I just listened to a podcast where it was put forth that the current Lords of Technology agree with us that AI is a human disaster and climate change is coming for us all. That's why they're so desperate to horde wealth and resources. They know the apocolypse is neigh and they want a nice seat.

[To the tune of The Black Parade] When I played For Jersey I worked hard And won the Norris Trophy For great defensive play Now I'm calling The finals In Vegas Instead of dressing flashy I'm black Gerard Way

I just got sent fan art of…me. I’m trying to respond with grace and gratitude while my college age daughter loses her shit in the background.

Oh man, #KingofAshes by SA Cosby is an eloquent rocket sled to hell. Great book.

The "E" stands for Enormous.

So The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first Star Wars movie in...checks notes...7 years. Me:

I watched #buffetinfinity over the weekend and found it charming. I'm not sure if that's the right word for a cosmic horror movie built out of nothing but ads for local businesses, but dammit, it was charming. I was thoroughly charmed.

I’m trying to work and Spotify kicks on an ad. I’m usually able to ignore them but this one is for dog treats where a guy says they are “sloooooooow” cooked. He draws the word “slow” out for over 6 seconds. To whoever wrote that ad, fuck you forever.

I’m starting a document to track one of my character’s many injuries. Writing is going well this afternoon, is what I’m saying.

I spent my lunch hour ushering my kid into the long-standing family tradition/lost cause/futile exercise of voting Democrat in Nebraska.

I am at work. The FedEx guy comes in. We have a package for him. And...action. Me: We have a package for you. FEG: A package? Me: Yeah. Outgoing? For us to give to you? FEG: What? ME: I literally don't know what other words to use. I hand him the package. He silently walks out. And scene.

My day job is as a recruiter and it's very fun when you ask for someone's email and they sigh and say something like "[email protected]". It's a delight every single time it happens and it happens quite frequently.

[RALPH WIGGAM VOICE] Today I wore a black shirt and I spilled toothpaste on my black shirt and then I used a paper towel to clean my black shirt and it left pieces all over my black shirt and now the white stain on my black shirt is still there but so are little pieces of the paper towel.

I saw a cute dog. Here is that dog. It is sunny and he is happy.

Last night I did a Zoom with a horror book club that had emailed me. I love doing those. When I logged on, folks were dressed up as the tribes from FantasticLand. I may be the luckiest guy in the world.

Look, I don’t know if you’re into really intricate comedy music or not, but these guys are the real deal. And the last song is a total horror novel. Love me some #wolvesofglendale youtu.be/RNWMe-0jcQo?...

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!”