Huge moonrise over the superstitions from the freeway (car was in hands free mode but I know sorry)

Out of the good gin as the Diamondbacks toy with my emotions.

As long as I'm thinking about book covers, an anecdote: When we talked cover concepts for APPLESEED, I totally straightfaced told my editor that I wanted to spoof the TWILIGHT cover, but with furred, clawed faun hands clutching the apple instead. I cannot tell you how long we stared at each other...

Saddened to hear that a writer was contacted by a fake Danielle Dutton (not our very real and human editor) pretending to be asking for work on behalf of Dorothy. We do not solicit work that way (i.e., cold emails). Please help us spread the word?!

Thinking about book covers today, which also means looking back through my old ones. The painting @edlatalante.bsky.social had done for the French translation of APPLESEED is going to be an all-timer for me!

Tried to text a hopeful message about politics to my family, but my “fingers crossed!” got autocorrected to “fingers corroded,” which is probably a more accurate political feeling.

“A goddamn war mace. It was used by Ostrogoths to split skulls. Fucked-up skulls like yours. Got it in the mail. From an Ostrogoth.”

Louis@louisevans.bsky.social · 2d ago

qt what you bring to interviews instead of iced coffee, wrong answers only

As the weather finally, finally breaks, is it possible to feel joy running in the desert again?

A beautiful sky over Phoenix tonight!

I cannot explain how quickly I bought this. One of my favorite albums from its era. Can't wait, @rockplazacentral.bsky.social!

Chris Eaton@rockplazacentral.bsky.social · 4d ago

Only 45 copies of the Are We Not Horses re-issue remaining thru Bandcamp.

@tobiasbuckell.bsky.social is a fantastic writer and person. If you can help him and his out a bit in what's turned out to be a tough moment, I know it'd be appreciated.

Tobias S. Buckell@tobiasbuckell.bsky.social · 5d ago

I've launched a GoFundMe to help me get my cats to a safer home in Scotland, and you can pay-what-you-want using the GFM system and get 15 of my books as eBooks as a Thank You every Friday as an update! www.gofundme.com/f/help-autho... That's almost 700,000 words of fiction, pay what you want!

Desert Nights, Rising Stars is fast approaching. Join a community of writers. Oct. 16-17. 3 days, 75+ sessions + a legendary line-up. Learn more at piper.asu.edu/conference#a.... With @asuenglish.bsky.social

I've spent the day writing about my dad's dementia for the first time. Just caught myself sitting at the desk with my heart absolutely pounding. Jesus. What a horrible feeling. Including because the selfish, criminal writer part of me that only wants the best story knows I'm on the right track.

Literally every real person I have ever personally seen reading REFUSE TO BE DONE in public has been on a plane. A curious phenomenon!

Joshua Jones Lofflin@jjlofflin.bsky.social · 5d ago

A little bit of rereading for my plane ride west.

"Kids must coddle their excitements. Soon enough the normies have you surrounded. It’s all barricades, bullhorns. Come out, come out with your wonder abated." —Sam Lipsyte, Home Land

Every time I read the word “efficiency” (or worse, hear it in a meeting), I think of Wendell Berry: “The standard of the exploiter is efficiency; the standard of the nurturer is care.”

A beautiful morning for a long run in the desert!

As always, but especially today, read good books, not Bret Stephens. Your brain (and your heart, and your soul) will thank you.

I wrote a book of poetry! It’s called DEATH DOMESTIC, coming soon from @altcurrent.bsky.social. Really looking forward to working with Leah on this.

Alternating Current Press@altcurrent.bsky.social · 6d ago

Welcome to the club, Matt Bell! @mdbell79.bsky.social We're so excited for this! Sign up on our newsletter to stay informed of the release of DEATH DOMESTIC this winter! sendfox.com/lp/3qjr4j

Stay tuned on their page for more information on book club meetings and a Q&A conversation with Miéville and @mdbell79.bsky.social about the book in February. Learn more about the book club and register here: asuevents.asu.edu/event/worldb...

"So we throw out other people’s recognition. What’s left for us to prize? I think it’s this: to do (and not do) what we were designed for. That’s the goal of all trades, all arts, and what each of them aims at: that the thing they create should do what it was designed to do.” —Marcus Aurelius

Last home game of the season is a win over the Yankees! So ends my first season as a Diamondbacks season ticket holder. (In a pool of friends!) However the next weeks go, I’m so thankful to these friends I share the seats with. Thanks for bringing me in!

Homemade mapo tofu dumplings and spicy kimchi noodle soup for dinner tonight! Plus a bottle of Asahi and a bottle of sake. A delicious use of an evening.

No one told me how big this thing was. I had to walk home two miles the other day carrying this damn millstone so I’d be ready for @mdbell79.bsky.social’s book club. Whew.

Benjamin Percy@benjaminpercy.bsky.social · last wk.

I blame @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social and his @nytbookreview.bsky.social review for making me rush out and buy this ghostly beauty. It’s a big one and will probably take me most of October to read.

We'd like your help with something. The one hundredth anniversary of Ursula's birth will take place in 2029. This may seem a long time away, but we’re already starting to think about how to celebrate Ursula’s life and art. We’d love to add your ideas to the mix—there's a brief survey here:

Centenary event planning

Please click the link to complete this form.

form.jotform.com

Roy Kesey is one of my favorite writers, and I can't wait to read his new novel. Winner of Sarabande's McCarthy Prize, selected by the great Ed Park. Go get it!

Roy Kesey@roykesey.bsky.social · last wk.

I've been informed that cover reveals & pre-order requests are still a thing, & so I give you LORE. Huge thanks to everyone at @sarabandebooks.bsky.social for building the beautiful cover, & to everyone who pre-orders (w/ discount via www.sarabandebooks.org/all-titles/p...) - you are beloved by me.

My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: @ajmacadam.bsky.social takes us behind the scenes of the newest season of "In the Dark." Plus @alexanderchee.bsky.social on Annie Dillard, and @mdbell79.bsky.social on sequences in storytelling. niemanstoryboard.org/2026/09/18/h...

How a magazine story becomes a podcast - Nieman Storyboard

Plus: Remembering Annie Dillard, and the National Book Awards announces its longlist for nonfiction

niemanstoryboard.org

For my newsletter this month, I wrote about adapting Paul Joseph Gulino's Sequence Approach for screenwriting to novels, something that's been massively helpful to me in the past few years and looks like it will be again going forward. Especially helpful if you've got a sagging middle to a draft!

#63: The Sequence Approach to Novel Structure

Paul Joseph Gulino

mattbell.substack.com

The National Book Awards Longlist for Fiction is live! It’s been such an honor serving as one of this year’s judges. Congratulations to all the writers whose excellent books were selected! If you haven't read these yet, I hope you will in the months ahead. www.nationalbook.org/longlist-for...

Today I had to cancel class because flooding kept me from leaving home. Several of my students sent me similar photos or videos of where they were, telling me they weren't coming. In 12 years at Arizona State, I have never cancelled a class because of weather. As a Midwesterner, that's astonishing.

Matt Bell@mdbell79.bsky.social · 2w ago

There's only one way in or out of my little neighborhood, and it flooded during the longest monsoon downpour I've ever seen in Arizona. It's been raining since 10:30am. Just started again. My neighbors are kayaking in their backyard.