Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 9

What to read between writing projects

Writers write, but we also read. And periods between writing projects are great times to catch up with reading. The four books I chose are all outside my typical genres, and that’s why I wanted to read them. Here’s why I chose each of these books and what I got from them. Bulletproof: What works […]Related posts:Interview with Lucy McLaren45 things I learned about writing400 books

Lessons from 2023: Level up

Brian Fitzpatrick, one of my writer friends, asked what word or phrase we wanted to bring into 2024. I answered, “Level up.” After the past four years, when I’ve had two novels published by Black Rose Writing, brought my weight down to a healthy level, lived through a pandemic, and adapted to working from home, […]Related posts:Lessons from moderating panelsAuthors and the power of communityAn interview with Joannes Rhino

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

The holidays let us wrap up the old year and get ready to start fresh with the new one. This is why holiday music always raises my spirits (with a few exceptions). I always find one song that particularly fits a year. In this chaotic and painful year, it’s “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” […]Related posts:If I bought the AngelsCalling All AngelsDodgers versus Angels

40 things I learned in 40 years about technology

Forty years ago this month, I started my first job in the computer industry. I got an internship with EnTech, a small Commodore 64 software company in the San Fernando Valley. I’ve been working in the computer industry ever since. (A couple of my novels, Offline and Amiga. are set in that industry.) Like other […]Related posts:The day Commodore diedThe Apple Watch and how customers “get to yes”The joys of technical writing

What if WeightWatchers goes away?

I’ve been on WeightWatchers (formerly WW and Weight Watchers) this go around for four years. Since then, I’ve dropped 82 pounds (37.2 kilograms) and kept it off. This isn’t the first time I’ve been on this program, and it isn’t my first attempt at getting to a healthy weight. I’ve been on Jenny Craig, the […]Related posts:The language of healthInterview with Karen E. OsborneThree boxes of books

Black Friday Sale!

After years of lining up in front of stores to get Black Friday deals (which includes an overnight stay in front of Best Buy to get a PS3), I finally have a Black Friday sale. And you don’t have to drive to the mall to take advantage of it. My publisher Black Rose Writing has […]Related posts:60 quotes about 60 things I’ve learned in 60 yearsAn Amiga of my ownWriting with a Kindle

Readers, why you should go to author events

Suppose you’re looking for new books to read. You could get Fourth Wing or another Colleen Hoover book, but you want something different. Something outside your typical genre. Something from an author you never heard of before. But Amazon has millions of titles, your local bookstore has shelves stuffed with used and new books, and Costco […]Related posts:Are author events worth the time?Cars and fiction400 books

Be thankful when times are good

You’d think it would be easier to be grateful when times are good. It’s actually easier to be grateful when times are bad because the good stuff becomes easier to see and appreciate. When times are good, we can take things for granted. Or worse, people can feel they’re entitled to good fortune. They believe […]Related posts:Why gratitude is magicIs Thanksgiving a lie?The other side of gratitude

Authors and the power of community

The day after I moderated four panels at Indie Author Day, I watched a heartbreaking TikTok video by fellow indie author J.C. Wade. At a school where she works, she met another author who was signing books for the library. When she told her she was also an author, the visiting author gave J.C. “the […]Related posts:My visit to the Little Free LibraryAn interview with Joannes RhinoMy Eat Like a Writer Interview

Who is the real devil?

This week is Halloween, although you probably couldn’t tell from all the Christmas decorations that have been in the stores since July. But it’s still time for scary movies, and it’s the 50th anniversary of one of the scariest of all, The Exorcist. I never watched it. The stories of people fainting and fleeing theaters […]Related posts:How to read a religious textHorror movies: Fantasy lessons for the real worldGiving The Talk in 2022