Images look glorious. It has that new book smell. I am immensely excited to share labor of love.

The cover of BFI Film Classics volume VELVET GOLDMINE — a pink and blue watercolor rendering of Brian Slade — sits on a tabletop on Scrabble tiles

IT’S REAL! It’s full color! It’s coming to a bookstore near you (in a little while)!
I cannot wait till my VELVET GOLDMINE book is out in the world (on June 11! Less than 2 months away!)

Preorders from @bloomsburymedia.bsky.social or your favorite bookstores

Congrats — can’t wait to read it!

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) - Heaven on Their Minds Scene (1/10) | Movieclips YouTube video by Movieclips

It’s still Palm Sunday on the West Coast, so I’ve still got time for the yearly observance.

Sean Connery Singing in Darby O'Gill and the Little People YouTube video by amandablaze007

Celebrating St Patrick’s Day the traditional way — by watching famously Scottish Sean Connery sing an ode to Irish women.

A Spanish language lobby card for the film NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, showing stars Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters

A Mexican lobby card for NIGHT OF THE HUNTER?! This baby is getting framed right away. Long Beach flea market is the best.

Never a bad time to rewatch!

100%. (And agree about some Bowie similarities!)

Found while moving my books out of my leaky campus office:
Willi Apel’s Notation of Polyphonic Music (1953 edition), complete with newsletter is celebration of Apel’s 70th birthday (in 1963!)
This brings back fond memories of notation seminar in grad school!

A still from PHANTOM THREAD: closeup of a receipt with writing “for the hungry boy — my name is Alma”

Happy New Year, or PHANTOM THREAD rewatch to all who celebrate

Velvet Goldmine It's 1984, and investigative reporter Arthur Stuart is trying to locate Brian Slade, the glam-rock superstar who staged his own death and vanished from the spot…

Prefer to get it direct from @bloomsburymedia.bsky.social? It’s discounted there, too!

www.bloomsbury.com/us/velvet-go...

Velvet Goldmine|Paperback It's 1984, and investigative reporter Arthur Stuart is trying to locate Brian Slade, the glam—rock superstar who staged his own death and vanished from the spotlight ten years earlier. Todd Hayne...

Oh, Barnes and Noble has a sale on book pre-orders? Look what’s available for pre-order… You definitely need more VELVET GOLDMINE in your life in 2026, and you could be getting it for 25% off.

Fussed over a cute dog on the street… then noticed Jessica Lange was walking said dog.

I feel like this tale is brought to us by a certain Food Friday recurring segment! (And I tend to agree)

To add insult to injury, when I got in my car, I had a low tire pressure warning light and had to get back out to pump up my tire (in my teaching shoes and fancy clothes, while the other car was there.)

I should never be allowed to be in public again.
/3

I walked over to talk and realized slowly that I DO NOT KNOW THIS PERSON (in my defense it was dark). We politely pretended we knew each other as the person they ACTUALLY said hello to climbed into their car.

/2

In case you’ve ever thought you were awkward, fear not: I out-awkward you.

I finished my last class tonight and walked to my car. The car next to me rolled down its window and someone called “hi!” I said hi… and then thought I recognized the person as a former student.

/1

What a run Reiner had in the 80s. What a loss.

It remains hilarious, heartfelt, and pitch perfect.

Decided to watch the wonderful THE PRINCESS BRIDE tonight. Somehow I’ve never realized that this is a Christmas movie.

Ok I posted before I had seen the ending and WOW. “You must hear the concerto to the end!”

Laird Cregar at the piano in HANGOVER SQUARE

First time watch: HANGOVER SQUARE

Bernard Herrmann score, extremely dramatic Guy Fawkes bonfire scene, deranged composer? This one’s a keeper.

Still from KNIVES OUT (2019) showing Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in a gorgeous wool coat w exaggerated herringbone

Post-Thanksgiving dinner KNIVES OUT viewing and lusting after the outerwear.
(That’s a beautiful huge herringbone. Raglan sleeve. Mmm.)

Pulp - Help The Aged (Live at Finsbury Park 1998) - 4K Remastered YouTube video by 4K Pulp - Lives & Rare

Approaching my new-decade birthday like:

Pulp: Tiny Desk Concert YouTube video by NPR Music

A Tiny Desk version of “This is Hardcore”?!

A schnauzer mix hides under a wood coffee table

10th inning and my dog is so nervous he’s hiding under the coffee table.

Post something random or you’ll have an awful November (though how could you once you’ve seen Puppy-wan Kenobi?)

Preorder available! @bloomsburymedia.bsky.social

www.bloomsbury.com/us/velvet-go...

Book cover for BFI Film Classics Velvet Goldmine volume. The image is a rendering of Brian Slade in 3/4 view, with a pinkish watercolor wash

My book has a cover! I love that the BFI series has moved to interpretations of images from the films. I had no idea what they would come up with for Velvet Goldmine and the image surprised me. Love that it feel like a memory. I can't wait for the rest of the book to be out in the world next year.

I can’t hear Graceland without feeling my dad near, even after four years without him.