We Write!
I recently came across a series of tweets by Sergej Sumlenny, discussing how Russia had used books, as well as other entertainment media, to prepare its citizens for war in general, prior to its invasion of Ukraine. Here's an excerpt from Threadreader's aggregation of the tweets. Let's start a long thread about how Russian book... Continue Reading →
I recently had the pleasure of discovering the comic art of Steve Ogden, particularly his Magnificatz series. It's defunct now, following the deaths of the cats that inspired it, but it's still available online and in e-book and print form. I particularly enjoy how he expresses the frustrations and realities of the writing life through... Continue Reading →
Ever since I began publishing independently in 2013, friends and fellow authors have warned me, "Don't get involved with Goodreads. It's poison for authors. There are people there who take pleasure in destroying writers - and the platform does nothing to stop them." I wondered about that, but life, the universe and everything has kept... Continue Reading →
I recently came across an article discussing how narcissism has become an increasing problem in America. In 2008, Twenge published a study comparing college students' scores on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory scale to scores from students in 1979, finding that levels of narcissism had risen roughly 30 percent. Additional research has evinced this increase. "59%... Continue Reading →
I have three items to share with you this week, one of which made me laugh out loud - but more of that later. First, Intellectual Takeout notes that "A Decline in Reading Skills Makes Geese for the Plucking". A teacher-friend of mine recently expressed sadness over the stagnation of her students. Before the pandemic... Continue Reading →
I missed this article when it was published last December, but it came up during an Internet discussion this week: Is Superman Circumcised? wins Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year I did a double-take when I saw it, and looked it up to confirm what seemed an impossibly weird headline. Sure enough,... Continue Reading →
I'd like to highlight five news reports from the past couple of weeks that have a direct or indirect bearing on us as writers (and readers, of course). First, the Electronic Frontier Foundation reports on an interesting development where technology runs headlong into copyright law. Dymo’s latest generation of desktop label printers use RFID chips... Continue Reading →
It seems that anti-Semitic prejudice is impacting the publishing world, particularly in Europe, but here in the USA as well. The publishing world today is extremely woke. And woke-approved manuscripts on Jewish themes must now pass a simple purity test: Thou shalt not portray Israel or Zionism in a positive light. American novelist and former... Continue Reading →
I was struck by the words of Twitter's new CEO, Parag Agrawal, in a 2020 interview with Technology Review. Our role is to serve a healthy public conversation and our moves are reflective of things that we believe lead to a healthier public conversation. The kinds of things that we do about this is, focus... Continue Reading →
Peter's latest book is up and available for sale on Amazon, in paperback and ebook! Silver In the Stones What comes with a silver boom? Back stabbers, claim jumpers and con men, and that’s just to start. Walt Ames is working to keep his ranch afloat and his transport business in motion when silver is... Continue Reading →
Mad Genius Club 