I'm realistic in my ambitions, and what I'd really love at some point in my career is not a seven-figure advance or a runaway bestseller but the ability to sell a book off a pitch and not off a full-on proposal. Man, they're murder to write....

Folks, I have green bifocals, which means only one thing: I'm no longer young....

RIP to my aunt Donna. Her life wasn't always an easy one--pregnant as a teenager, her husband sent to Vietnam, night-shift work for decades--but she gave it her best. She lived in the same small town of 4,000 from birth to death, and I wish that I'd gotten there more often.

The thing about living in NYC while working in the arts is that many of your adult milestones become delayed because of financial strain. Anyway, this is all to say that I just had my first ever washer and dryer installed today.

Slash did a podcast yesterday from his study, and if someone had told me in the early 90s that the shirtless, top-hatted guitarist from Guns n Roses was the biggest nerd on the planet, he would've been laughed out of the decade...

A strange thing that happens when you publish a book is that a famous comedian might email you to tell you how much he liked it and you're left wondering whether you can publicize that or if he could maybe post about that on social media, but then you do neither out of timidity.

My daughter's favorite toy is this ice cream stand with colorful scoops and various toppings. Until this week, we used to be able to give her play money for a cone, but now she demands "real ice cream" in exchange for a fake one. She's a smart one.

Bucket list item checked off: I’m at Philip Johnson’s Glass House in Connecticut.

@sartola23.bsky.social Hey, thanks so much for your very kind review. I appreciate it that you're spreading the word about "Moses and the Doctor."

The great Buddy Guy turns 90 today. I spoke with him more than a decade ago about his biography and wrote about it for The Daily Beast. Even more thrilling, I got to see him tear up the joint at his blues club in Chicago afterward. www.thedailybeast.com/when-i-left-...

Stone Crazy, Stone Free

The legendary bluesman Buddy Guy talks to Luke Epplin about his memoir and how close he was to giving up a career in music.

thedailybeast.com

On a whim I pitched a magazine this morning and got a "We'll take this article to our editorial meeting and consider it" response. Hey, not a rejection!

I won't be able to attend this year's SABR convention in Cleveland, which starts today, but I did contribute an essay on Larry Doby to "The National Pastime." Attendees will get a free copy. You can also purchase a print copy here. www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/society-for-...

It's been a rough morning--the Glen Hansard death has hit hard--so here's a clip of Conan and Patton Oswalt breaking down a scene in "Death Wish 4" in which mannequins are used in an explosion. Pure comedy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MXG...

Conan Shares His Favorite Blooper From "Death Wish 4" | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

YouTube video by Team Coco

youtube.com

Oh man, RIP Glen Hansard. I loved his music. He did a cover of "Fairytale of New York" at Shane MacGowan's funeral that is both sad and joyful. It's perfect. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8l...

'Fairytale of New York' played at Shane MacGowan's funeral

YouTube video by RTÉ News

youtube.com

For this week's newsletter, I explore whether the big moves that the Philadelphia 76ers made over the past month--the addition of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in particular--have reconstituted the so-called "Philadelphia Monster" squad of 1976-77. substack.com/home/post/p-...

The Rebirth of the "Philadelphia Monster"?

Or, are the 1976-77 Philadelphia 76ers being reconstituted?

substack.com

Haven't read a short-story collection in a while, but this one, "Out There" by @katefolk.bsky.social, convinced me that I need to start doing so again. It's great--strange and eerie and off-kilter. I found myself explaining "blots" to my wife last night--read it to understand that.

For this week's newsletter, I explore whether the big moves that the Philadelphia 76ers made over the past month--the addition of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in particular--have reconstituted the so-called "Philadelphia Monster" squad of 1976-77. substack.com/home/post/p-...

The Rebirth of the "Philadelphia Monster"?

Or, are the 1976-77 Philadelphia 76ers being reconstituted?

substack.com

@lukeepplin.bsky.social After finishing the book over the weekend, I really enjoyed it! As someone interested in the NBA's history, I felt the book accurately conveyed this Sixers team as a bridge between the ABA and the NBA's globalization. It was great to see a light shed on this overlooked team.

I've worked in book publishing all my life, but there was a time maybe a decade ago when I was a bit jealous of all the cool kids who seemed to be working in digital media. I'm so glad that I stayed where I am, not that book publishing is all that stable, but it's solid enough.

The Hollywood Reporter@thr.com · last wk.

In the first major restructuring move of Byron Allen's ownership tenure, BuzzFeed and HuffPost are set to undergo a significant round of layoffs, with some 180 staffers to be given pink slips, THR has learned.

I, uh, went on a podcast in Finland to talk about the 1948 Cleveland Indians. Yep, that's something I did....

Baseball Terapia@baseballterapia.bsky.social · last wk.

Tämän viikon jaksossa vieraana kirjailija @lukeepplin.bsky.social joka saapui puhumaan kirjastaan Our Team. Haastattelu alkaa kohdasta 20:30. #MLBfi

A great part of getting older is not overthinking something that you like but that others might not. Today, I walked into a glasses store, saw some frames with a subtle green shade, and thought, Those are mine. Never believed I'd be a green-glasses guy, but here we are.

The bound galley fairy left these for me on the free bookshelves at work. Both are coming out in the fall.

First time for my daughter in Brooklyn, had to check out that bridge of theirs.

Enjoying our rooftop in the summer.

One of the biggest differences between the publishing of "Our Team" and "Moses and the Doctor" is the sheer amount of spam emails I now get from book clubs, influencers, and marketers. Today, I got an email from "James Patterson" that read simply this. What does this even mean?

Woke up to someone accusing me of being Gen Z, and I'm equally insulted and complimented. Wrong letter, but I'll take it, I guess. This came on the same day that I went to the eye doctor and got my first bifocal prescription....

Taking the opportunity to promote this book. It’s a terrific read about the players, the game, the times, and of course the city.

Luke Epplin@lukeepplin.bsky.social · 2w ago

Now that LeBron James is heading to Philly, if you want to read more about the last huge free-agent signing by the Philadelphia 76ers (Moses Malone back in 1982), my book "Moses and the Doctor" came out earlier this year. www.amazon.com/Moses-Doctor...

Hey, I just finished this book a couple days ago, and it's great!

Luke Epplin@lukeepplin.bsky.social · 2w ago

In honor of LeBron James signing with the 76ers, here's a scene from "Moses and the Doctor" of when Moses Malone first came to Philadelphia after signing with the 76ers in 1982. He's with a team employee named Tim Malloy, and it's after a press conference at Veterans Stadium.

In honor of LeBron James signing with the 76ers, here's a scene from "Moses and the Doctor" of when Moses Malone first came to Philadelphia after signing with the 76ers in 1982. He's with a team employee named Tim Malloy, and it's after a press conference at Veterans Stadium.

Now that LeBron James is heading to Philly, if you want to read more about the last huge free-agent signing by the Philadelphia 76ers (Moses Malone back in 1982), my book "Moses and the Doctor" came out earlier this year. www.amazon.com/Moses-Doctor...