David, it was my pleasure. I'm feeling rejuvenated after spending the last few weeks in the county. I've been waiting on Hookland in print for a while and this is a beautiful guide to Hookland. Congratulations! Thank you for Hookland (and Nolan!) Wishing you good health!

Everyone needs to know the origin of the word “rune.” When ancient Germanics formed their own alphabet, they called the letters *rūnōz or “whispers,” because as your eyes followed them, they spoke to you, silently. Reading is magic to a people at the dawn of literacy, who haven’t yet learned to take the miracle for granted.

Across Europe, Nettles have long been believed to possess the power to ward off lightning strikes ⚡ In Germany they were known as Donnernessel "Thunder Nettle", while in Scandinavia they were considered sacred to Thor, the God of Thunder. And when storm clouds gathered and the skies rumbled, people would cast nettles into the fire in an attempt to soothe his anger 🔥 Yet while people looked to the humble nettle for protection from lightning, it was quietly performing another kind of magic...supporting dozens of species of wildlife, its leaves feed the caterpillars of many butterflies and moths, while its often-overlooked seeds provide an important source of nourishment for birds throughout much of the year 🪶🌿 Feared for its sting, treasured in folklore, and indispensable to nature...nettles are awesome.

I wrote 'What You Lost' to process my grief & anger over Hurricane Helene, particularly the response from our Fed Gov't & my Congressman Chuck Edwards. It's one of my more hopeful stories, because it's less about what I lost, (all my fucks) & more about what I found.

Some of you have forgotten that only three years ago you were perfectly capable of writing an essay, writing a eulogy, telling a bedtime story to a child, and it should worry you that powerful companies have convinced us we can’t do things we’ve been doing for 5,000 years.

You have to treat yourself to this story that's like sitting on a porch with a master storyteller I dare you to read a paragraph like this and not nod like you're listening. reckonreview.com/the-exact-m…

Funny thing, English department faculty now earn less than the tutors hired by the athletic department to make sure our star athletes get through ENG 101!

David Southwell who gifted us @HooklandGuide has ( unsurprisingly) just given the most incredible talk about the county and the forteana in its dna for @ForteanLondon

Hookland talk sold out. Ten thousand words written, slides done. There are times when it feels real and that the work matters. Thank you.

Thrilled by cover design of forthcoming book from the research project. aristotlebeyond.co.uk. It will be published open access in November or December.

That good news I was teasing ...

When I was an undergrad, the intro to Indonesian gamelan class was considered kind of a joke (at least in some circles), but here I am 35 years later going to a gamelan performance. College is a great, messy, unpredictable thing, and I think we should want more of it.

I'm so excited to get back to @RMU and see my friends in @RMUArtsHuma I hope you'll come listen to these fantastic students read their work (and me!).

In 1979, children ran through the dark woods of Wollaton Park… chased by tiny bearded figures in silent, gliding cars. Not a dream. Not a story. Something they swore was real. Step into the mystery… #TimeBetweenTimes #WollatonGnomes open.spotify.com/episode/4zX…

Really looking forward to getting to talk to @RayExperience Kyler Campbell, and Scott Gould You should come, too!

Amy is amazing!

This week on BoA: The Revival, writer Amy Boucher joins us for a fascinating conversation about the folklore of Shropshire, England, including tales of witches like the legendary Nanny Morgan, the art of ghost laying, curious cryptids, and, of course, tons more. Links below.

A bonus episode

O yeah!