NOT my novella FES IS A MIRROR featuring a former feral child who becomes a DJ amidst the monarchy’s brutal suppression of bread riots in Morocco coming out in Black speculative fiction month! www.willowlit.net

@rhppress.bsky.social will be open for submissions from Saturday, November 1st, until Saturday November 22nd! www.rockandahardplacemag.com/submissions

Not sure who it was that suggested PAYROLL to me, but if it was you, thanks!

Music journalism was once funded by labels advertising. In 2025, barely any record labels advertise, instead paying influencers to gab on. If you believe in cultural criticism and long-form writing, becoming a tQ subscriber is one vital way to ensure it survives: thequietus.com/subscribers/

An essay on Ethan Hawke & NYC in the boogie down '90s @opensecretsmag.bsky.social

Most science-fictioney place ever.

Lucille Ball, Mark Stevens, 'The Dark Corner' (1946). A serious diving injury kept Mark Stevens out of the war. Otherwise, he might not have acted in, produced and directed a handful of stunning crime dramas. (Click photo to read). lalifeanddeath.blogspot.com/2025/09/mark...

By the end of the year I predict there will quite a few stories called "Broken Escalator."

Nothing like defeating the Left (before drinking blood) in the mornings.

Black journalist starter pack on bluesky! More Black folks who know what they're talking about! go.bsky.app/FVsDa69

An early Brad Pitt movie that few remember. The animation was the best part of the film.

Well deserved, those good reviews. IMHO. ‘Orphan Road’ & ‘Gunshine State’ by Andrew Nette, aka @pulpcurry.bsky.social

The upcoming Tylenol lawsuit should be funny as hell.

My latest Substack newsletter is live andrewnette.substack.com/p/everything...

This is your yearly reminder that Redman’s “Whut? Thee Album” was NOT released on September 22nd, 1992 and Wikipedia has been wrong about this for at least 20 years…

I walked past a wine shop in my hood and saw a BK Book fest flyer and went to an incredible talk with the author of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social tome and @maris.bsky.social is so right. It’s the thing that will carry us. On that note what are you doing Thursday? www.eventbrite.com/e/squawkin-s...

“The city is strong in the memory, no matter how much it decays and gives way to the sea.” –Elaine Perry, 1990 #Lit #Afrofuturism #Blackademics crimereads.com/elaine-perry/

Original cover art by John Jennings 💫

Some celebrities deserve a two-part documentary. Charlie Sheen isn't one of them.

Happy Batman 🦇 Day. Art by my favorite Batman artist after Neal Adams and before Frank Miller...the brilliant Marshall Rogers, who I once wrote a cool essay about for @crimereads.bsky.social called "Pulp Penciller." #Batman @dccomics2023.bsky.social @bronzeagebabies.bsky.social

Some celebrities deserve a two-part documentary. Charlie Sheen isn't one of them.

From watching the news it seems as though it's considered DEI whenever a Black person is hired regardless if they are the most qualified. This country just gets wilder and wilder.

Earlier this year I wrote about Eleanor Perry, one of my favorite screenwriters, for @oldstermag.bsky.social

In a 1972 interview, Richard Yates named writers he considered to be most seriously neglected. Some--Edward Lewis Wallant, Brian Moore, Evan S. Connell--are remembered today, but others--Seymour Epstein, George Garrett, Gina Beriault--have fallen into even deeper obscurity. neglectedbooks.com/?...

The great American clown 🤡 car.

At Scribner's I worked with delightful and kind old Jewish gentleman, he'd been in the Third Army under Patton. "You always wanted to stay on his good side."

Remembering friends' slightly older dads: one piloted bombers over France, another landed on Omaha on D-Day, another was a Marine at Guadalcanal. Bookstore owner perky but skinny; was on the Corregidor Death March. 1)

The mass media was designed to amplify fascist-capitalist ideology and beam it into all our brains from the earliest age possible You cannot be seriously surprised that this is where we are TV is a weapon, like any other that was developed and deployed by Cold War America:

I was six in 1969 when Mom was took me to see this flick. We went out for pizza before entering the theater. After gobbling down a slice my belly was bubbling as I took my seat. Seconds later I thought I was going to be sick and mom took me home. 20 years passed before I finally saw the damn movie.

I was six in 1969 when Mom was took me to see this flick. We went out for pizza before entering the theater. After gobbling down a slice my belly was bubbling as I took my seat. Seconds later I thought I was going to be sick and mom took me home. 20 years passed before I finally saw the damn movie.

“Hunger be dumb as money, drum against dome, a thunderous dumpster diver mistaken for a male runway model. Body through the stage door just in time to expand form.” Up now: “Hammer Strike” and two more poems by the late Thomas Sayers Ellis (1963–2025). evergreenreview.com/read/adult-a...

I once met a woman at a party. Attracted to her, we started talking. About twenty minutes in she asked me my name. When I told her "Michael," she laughed and replied, "Oh, no, not another one." That is the factual beginning of my still unwritten short story "City of Mike's."

So cool. As a used book addict I see names in books often, but never thought to take it further.

"You sensitive thugs, you all need hugs." --Jay-Z, "Heart of the City"

"Frankie Five Hundred" was published in the spring/summer 2025 edition of Evergreen Review. The story of young Frances coming of age in 1959 Harlem follows her from high s to adult shenanigans. @evergreenreview.bsky.social @aalbc.bsky.social @electricliterature.com @parisreview.bsky.social

Farewell to a legend. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwPO...

In the '80s I played this album more than Andrew 3000 and Big Boi ever did.

In a 1962 episode of The Twilight Zone actor Robert Redford played the most beautiful version of Death most is have ever seen on screen. Made me wonder if the angel that came for him was equally as handsome. RIP to one of my favorites.

THE SPLIT (1968) #milknoir

Just utterly absurd (and any lawyer would have a field day with this)

Was there. Good sound, visible as if across the open sea.

Blame the Left a new board game from Parker Brothers

These days Ethan Hawke is everywhere, but in the 1990s he was mostly at the Hotel Chelsea. Dig this @opensecretsmag.bsky.social essay by Michael A. Gonzales #NYC #1990s #EthanHawke

"You sensitive thugs, you all need hugs." --Jay-Z, "Heart of the City"

I appeared on GBH Rooted hosted by Paris Alston with my friends Jeneé Osterheldt & Daniel Laurent to discuss “Has Hip-Hop Lost The Plot?”: youtu.be/AjtEQ3lC8fA

National amnesia is...I forgot.

It's Like That: The Makings of a Hip-Hop Writer longreads.com/2019/06/10/i...