Games and Gaming, media

How to Talk to Your Family About Visual Novels

Originally written for VN Game Den in December 2021 Oh no. Youโ€™ve done it.The conversation had been pleasant enough when you all sat down for a holiday dinner with the family. Then Aunt Sheryl (because isnโ€™t it always Aunt Sheryl?) turns to you and asks what seems like an innocent question. โ€œWhat have you been… Continue reading How to Talk to Your Family About Visual Novels

Books and Literature, comics, Creating, Social Deconstruction

Media Piracy Isn’t Inherently Revolutionary, You Weirdos

So weโ€™re in the middle of an organized boycott of Disney products because of their response to government pressure to take Jimmy Kimmel off the air. Great cool. Kimmelโ€™s back on the air as I write this, so it looks like it might have worked. But honestly, who knows! Yay government overreach! In those exact… Continue reading Media Piracy Isn’t Inherently Revolutionary, You Weirdos

Books and Literature, media, Media Literacy and Analysis, Social Deconstruction

I Don’t Need to Tell You Censorship Laws are Bad, but Do You Realize How Bad They Really Are?

There was this trend of conversation on BookTok for a bit, but outside that I still occasionally see conversations about wanting a book rating system similar to the MPAA or ESRB. I've said in a TikTok before, and I'll say again, "no you don't." Especially not in the current climate when so many books are… Continue reading I Don’t Need to Tell You Censorship Laws are Bad, but Do You Realize How Bad They Really Are?

Books and Literature, Reviews

July Reads and Reviews (2025)

For updates on my own books delivered to your inbox, sign up for your newsletter of choice. Queer Fantasy :: Sci-Fi Romance What Moves the DeadT. KingfisherHorror, Novella (2022) โ€ฆas well asโ€ฆ โ€œThe Fall of the House of Usherโ€Edgar Allen PoeHorror, Short Story (1839) From Goodreads: When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood… Continue reading July Reads and Reviews (2025)

comics, Media Literacy and Analysis, World Building

The Summer of Capes and Worldbuilding

Iโ€™m a fantasy and science fiction writer, so, of course I study worldbuilding. As opposed to the worldbuilding itself, I rather like to examine the implementation of it. My favorite style tends to be โ€œIโ€™ll tell you what you need to know for the next little bit, then move on.โ€ I donโ€™t particularly for long… Continue reading The Summer of Capes and Worldbuilding

comics, Media Literacy and Analysis, Writing Theory

We Need the Term Graphic Novel to Actually Mean Something

If I talk about a โ€œgraphic novelโ€ vs a โ€œcomicโ€ in a very casual way, youโ€™d probably generally understand what kind of distinction Iโ€™m trying to make there. At the same time, comic book writers havenโ€™t always had a positive interaction with the term โ€œgraphic novel.โ€ Alan Moore is famous for relegating it to a… Continue reading We Need the Term Graphic Novel to Actually Mean Something

Books and Literature, Reviews

June Reads and Reviews

Check the end for promos, free books, and special sales from the Bookfunnel community of indie authors. For updates on my own books delivered to your inbox, sign up for your newsletter of choice. Queer Fantasy :: Sci-Fi Romance Surfing Samurai RobotsMel GildenScience Fiction, Cyperpunk, Satire Lite (1988) From Goodreads: They have the agility of surfers and… Continue reading June Reads and Reviews

Books and Literature, comics, Reviews

May Reads and Reviews

For updates on my own books delivered to your inbox, sign up for your newsletter of choice. Queer Fantasy :: Sci-Fi Romance The Cosmic ColorT.T. MaddenScience Fiction (2025, Recent Release!) From Storygraph: Eric Fisher, a Black recruit finishing up his training, has always felt strange in his own skin. Now that heโ€™s finally a mecha pilot, ready… Continue reading May Reads and Reviews

Books and Literature, Reviews, Uncategorized

April Reads and Reviews

Check the end for promos, free books, and special sales from the Bookfunnel community of indie authors. For updates on my own books delivered to your inbox, sign up for your newsletter of choice. Queer Fantasy :: Sci-Fi Romance When the Moon Hits Your EyeJohn ScalziSci-fi (2025, Recent Release!) From Storygraph: One day soon, suddenly… Continue reading April Reads and Reviews

fandom, Media Literacy and Analysis, Social Deconstruction

You Really Need to Move on from Harry Potter, I’m So Serious

Last week, J.K. Rowling revealed her ass, yet again, around a UK supreme court ruling. This ruling being that, when referencing the Equality Act, โ€œwomenโ€ specifically means โ€œbiological women.โ€ Effectively, legally stripping trans-women then status of โ€œwomanโ€ in regards to the application of the protections of this act. And Iโ€™m seeing people not quite understand… Continue reading You Really Need to Move on from Harry Potter, I’m So Serious