Today is 30 years to the day since a sentence was handed down in my trial on terrorism-related charges in Canada. If you're curious how things turned out, you have a few options: Purchase a signed copy of my memoir...  read

The Electoral College convenes today in state capitols across the country to stamp its imprimatur on our recent, horrifying election. This antiquated, anti-democratic convocation was much on my mind two weeks ago when I returned to Chicago to appear at...  read

It was a magical moment. That's how Barry put it, and who am I to disagree? Barry Goldblatt is my friend and literary agent. He also happens to be literary agent to actor/​comedian/​author Michael Ian Black, with whom you may...  read

Yes, the controversial music video defaces sacred LDS symbols, but in doing so it brings to visceral life the nightmare journey of the apostate.  read

This morning we wake up to a world without David Bowie. It seems impossible that he's gone. If anyone on Earth seemed otherworldly enough to transform himself into something eternal and transcendent, it was Bowie. But even he tried to...  read

I've been so focused on my book for the past year or more that I can't even remember the last time I posted an Ella update here to the blog. I find that unconscionable, so I'm here to remedy that....  read

This poem debuted live at Tuesday Funk #48 in Chicago on September 4, 2012, the same day it was written. I've submitted it to a few editors since then, but since they (probably sensibly) turned it down, my birthday present...  read

Let me tell you about the night I hung out with Mötley Crüe. Okay, to be honest, it was only half of Mötley Crüe, and it's not like we were out clubbing it up with groupies and blow. But we...  read

Some of you know I co-produce and co-host a monthly reading series, Tuesday Funk, at a great little bar here in Chicago. At our October event about three weeks ago, I read my story "The Visitors at Wriggly Field," which...  read

Ella the Wonder Dog saves the day again, this time warning the Invisible Hounds of Hell away from Astoria before they can instantiate a doorway into our dimension.  read