Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 19
March 9, 2022
What is good technology — 10 years of Mac
As the saying goes, you need the right tool for the job. For the past 10 years, my computer of choice has been the MacBook Pro. I bought my first one, a 15-inch early 2011, in March 2012. When that started conking out in 2016, I got a 13-inch 2015 model. My current MacBook Pro, […]
March 3, 2022
Why good will triumph over evil
There was a moment this week that convinced me everything will eventually be OK. It was when Belarussian dictator Alexander Lukashenko got on TV and spilled the entire battle plan for the invasion of Ukraine. This moment brought all the tropes of cheesy action movies to real life. The bumbling minion combined with the stock […]
February 26, 2022
A word for our times
Everything matters in war, including language. What we call things and how we pronounce words can make a huge difference. Whether someone calls the capital of Ukraine Kyiv or Kiev tells you where they stand. One word has gained importance in this war, and that’s fuck. John Aravosis posted a video on TikTok about how […]
February 20, 2022
How I retired from certain foods
When people ask about my success with getting healthy, I talk about retiring from certain foods. Not only do I choose not to eat them, I have no desire for them. As I was at the supermarket today, I walked through the bakery section past the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes with peaks […]
February 15, 2022
“Ask your doctor if reading is right for you.”
A few years ago, I started developing a slight tremor. It didn’t bother me, except when I signed books or the rare occasion I had to write a check. I thought it was just from drinking too much caffeine, so I decided to live with it. (I could retire from a lot of other foods, […]
February 7, 2022
Tips on writing in first-person
Years ago, I made a significant change in my fiction writing. I switched from writing in third-person to first-person. My first two novels were written in third-person and were heavily plot-driven. By switching to first-person, I focused on character, which also helped me write better plots. I used this approach with Amiga and The Remainders. These are […]
January 29, 2022
How to survive a nuclear war
With tensions rising between the West and Russia over Ukraine, we’re again facing the threat of a nuclear war—something younger generations never had to deal with. As a Boomer, I can offer some guidance. I was still in diapers during the Cuban Missile Crisis, did duck-and-cover drills, gave a sigh of relief during detente, gasped […]
January 24, 2022
Interview with Joseph Lewis
In my latest author interview, I talked with Joseph Lewis about crime and mystery writing, his love for the Green Bay Packers and all Milwaukee sports, starting a writing career later in life, and his latest Black Rose Writing novel, Blaze In, Blaze Out. I saw on your Facebook page that you’re a Green Bay […]
January 17, 2022
What makes a great review
I recently received a great review for my novel The Remainders. It’s not just great because it’s a five-star review. It’s because it is beautifully written. It gives a thorough evaluation of the book, and it shows the reviewer’s skill as a writer. The reviewer is Michael Hartnett, author of The Blue Rat. His latest novel, Death […]
January 3, 2022
My Eat Like a Writer Interview
In July 2021, I was interviewed by Liz Barrett Foster on her Eat Like a Writer website. Unfortunately, she is discontinuing her website so she can focus on her writing. Here is the interview. Follow Liz on her website and LinkedIn to learn more about her writing and upcoming projects. Matthew Arnold Stern began his writing […]
