My Substack usage evolved since the platform opened.
Sorting out Substack
QUICK SUMMARY: I have two substacks: @nola, which mirrors this blog and replaces my old “YatPundit” account on the bird app, and @NOLAHistoryGuy
When Substack first became A Thing, I wasn’t overly motivated to go there. After all, my blogs (here, YatPundit, and NOLA History Guy) rolled along just fine. With respect to the people screwed over by major publications, I wasn’t one of them. I didn’t require a landing spot. So, I read blogs of folks I enjoyed reading at their former homes, as well as supporting local friends and writers.
As the platform grew, Substack added their “notes” feature. I wasn’t overly moved to adopt it. While still a sewer, Twitter worked for me. The ownership switch that turned Twitter to Xitter created a vacuum for me. I lived-tweeted hurricanes, power outages, potholes, and restaurant reports since the early days of the platform. Substack, along with BlueSky, broke out of the pack of Xitter replacements. That’s when I installed the app on my Android device.
Notes replace Xits
Yeah, no Xitter for me, and that was before grok attained notoriety as a CSAM platform. Even though way too many writers and pundits I enjoy reading stayed (most notably for me, the ObamaBros), many of their followers shared and commented on their stuff via Substack notes.
This is where things got complicated for me. I usually stayed logged in as NOLA History Guy on the Substack app. Unlike the old bird app, there’s no provision for reading a note on one account and re-stack it to another. So, my history account evolved into an omnibus mess of politics, goofy shit, and, oh yeah, history. This broke a long-standing policy of mine that went back years on old bird app. I talked politics on one account, foodie stuff on another, and NOLA stuff on the history account.
Mind you, it’s not that I worry about offending people reading NOLA History Guy with all my liberal political positions. Don’t like it? Don’t read my stuff. I divided up the topics for my liberal friends. Like many folks, I have times when I want to read current events and times when I want to admire architecture of houses in Faubourg St. John. So, we’re going back to that. The Substack app primary device connects to Eloquent Profanity and my tablet to NOLA History Guy.
Wednesday, 15-August, is the official drop date for my latest novel, “Trusted Talents“. Here’s the back-cover blurb:
Someone’s stealing magickal artifacts – in the middle of Mardi Gras The priests of the Ordo Archangelli keep their tools hidden until needed. New Orleans has kept some of their secrets well, until now. Daniel McCain is a Dark Adept of the same group that tried to kill Ren Alciatore at Samhain.
Now, McCain comes close to acquiring a powerful set of tools. When all are in his possession, challenging and defeating him will cost lives. And there’s no better time to hide these thefts than Carnival The Ordo don’t know where the theives’ next target is. Ren wants to enlist the help of one of McCain’s cousins, Brooks Stirling Sumner, to learn more about the artifacts.
Renard Alciatore’s Talents are no longer hidden. Will the shadowy group known as the Assembly trust him? With the guidance of a Coven of Witches and knowledge from his new friend, Ren and The Assembly must protect their city from those who want to win at all costs. Bullets and magick are a strong combination to defeat.
Trusted Talents picks up where my first contemporary sword-and-sorcery novel, Hidden Talents, leaves off. If you like magick, magickal duels, ritual, and extrasensory “Talents”, you’ll enjoy these two books.
Continuing the story of Renard Alciatore and his mentor, Fr. Michael O’Donnell, is so much fun. I’m always playing with little short scenes. I post those to my Facebook Author Page, as well as the Bayou Talents Book Group. Trusted Talents features three women on the cover, because this book is all about strong New Orleans women!
Trusted Talents is avaolable for pre-order at all the usual suspects!
The Cathedrals of Baseball are open
For business across the nation.
The lesser houses of worship
Have been open for some time now.
The high school chapels,
Kirsch-Rooney,
Farley Field,
To name two in New Orleans.
Are active and filled with congregants.
Some of the churches are open,
Built for the college crowds
Holding nine-inning revivals,
Giving the lesser seminarians
A chance to discern
Their vocations.
But today, the Cathedrals
Opened their gates,
As the faithful filed into the
Pews, breaking bread,
And the occasional donut-hamburger.
