Michael Northrop
@michaelnorthrop.bsky.social
NY Times–bestselling author of novels, comics, and graphic novels for young readers, starting a new chapter with my 1st mystery series for adults! Rep’d by @saracrowelit.bsky.social. Research editor at Dance Magazine. More coffee, please!
Pinned
I spy exciting news for The Figman Files, my CIA loner–turned–B&B owner cozy mystery series! Keep watching this space! #writesky #writingcommunity #cozymystery
One of my favorite lines of poetry is by John Ashbery: “… an afternoon of pottering around/Buying shoelaces and the like.” Sometimes I remember it when I’m running errands & it makes me smile. It really is nice to venture into the discount store with a little list and a bit of time #booksky #poetry
December 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
833 words yesterday, 896 today. Not quite hitting word count but they still add up. Just nosed past 25K words in the new mystery.
Starting out, I always heard “Write what you know,” but I’m starting to think the real key might be “Write what you can.” #writesky #writingcommunity
Starting out, I always heard “Write what you know,” but I’m starting to think the real key might be “Write what you can.” #writesky #writingcommunity
December 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
833 words yesterday, 896 today. Not quite hitting word count but they still add up. Just nosed past 25K words in the new mystery.
Starting out, I always heard “Write what you know,” but I’m starting to think the real key might be “Write what you can.” #writesky #writingcommunity
Starting out, I always heard “Write what you know,” but I’m starting to think the real key might be “Write what you can.” #writesky #writingcommunity
This one was some kind of special promotion at Barnes & Noble, thriller of the month maybe, with a little table of them up front & a stack by the registers. I just took a chance on it & it was a blast. 6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk… Who doesn’t love a solid mystery on a snowbound train? #booksky
December 8, 2025 at 11:47 PM
This one was some kind of special promotion at Barnes & Noble, thriller of the month maybe, with a little table of them up front & a stack by the registers. I just took a chance on it & it was a blast. 6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk… Who doesn’t love a solid mystery on a snowbound train? #booksky
Reposted by Michael Northrop
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10
The Tasselled Wobbegong is a master of disguise that can eat a fish almost as big as itself in one gulp. It's classified as a shark, but when it lays on the sea floor it looks like a harmless rug if you manage to see it. But with powerful jaws and sharp teeth they are no fish to mess with.
December 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10
Reposted by Michael Northrop
There are entire vast edifices online built to skim attention and brand recognition away from the actual work of reporting and writing, and it drives me abosolutely fucking nuts
But the people who read articles aloud on YT and TikTok get brand deals and loving praise from their commenters on their “journalism” the people who do the underlying reporting work for companies that increasingly don’t exist and get laid off and are attacked as corrupt/fake news or whatever
December 7, 2025 at 1:45 PM
There are entire vast edifices online built to skim attention and brand recognition away from the actual work of reporting and writing, and it drives me abosolutely fucking nuts
Reposted by Michael Northrop
In 25 years of teaching creative writing, by far and away the two most common traits I've seen among successful writers are that they read avidly and that they support other writers enthusiastically.
November 30, 2025 at 12:39 AM
In 25 years of teaching creative writing, by far and away the two most common traits I've seen among successful writers are that they read avidly and that they support other writers enthusiastically.
I got new author photos! My kids’ books ones were getting old, and I wanted new ones for the mystery novels anyway—and obviously I needed one where I am staring directly at the sun 😂 #writesky #authorlife
December 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I got new author photos! My kids’ books ones were getting old, and I wanted new ones for the mystery novels anyway—and obviously I needed one where I am staring directly at the sun 😂 #writesky #authorlife
Reposted by Michael Northrop
We came home from a long road trip to find that my brother put up Christmas decorations in our yard. Wishing you a joyful and meaningful Leon 🙏🏻✨
December 4, 2025 at 1:38 AM
We came home from a long road trip to find that my brother put up Christmas decorations in our yard. Wishing you a joyful and meaningful Leon 🙏🏻✨
The desperate AI push (I swear it’s like 1 out of 3 commercials this weekend) is like if all the big companies tried to rebuild the economy around Segways. Segway highways! Segway delivery! Segway racing! Segways instead of office chairs! It’s a new technology that no one actually needs.
a man riding a segway in a construction site
ALT: a man riding a segway in a construction site
media.tenor.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The desperate AI push (I swear it’s like 1 out of 3 commercials this weekend) is like if all the big companies tried to rebuild the economy around Segways. Segway highways! Segway delivery! Segway racing! Segways instead of office chairs! It’s a new technology that no one actually needs.
Today’s book haul from @mysteriousbookshop.com: three locked-room mysteries! It’s practically a house! Cannot wait to dive in. @tommeadauthor.bsky.social #booksky #shopsmall
November 29, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Today’s book haul from @mysteriousbookshop.com: three locked-room mysteries! It’s practically a house! Cannot wait to dive in. @tommeadauthor.bsky.social #booksky #shopsmall
Trekked down to @mysteriousbookshop.com for #smallbusinesssaturday. Got the great old JDC paperback for $5, so that’s three murders and a steal! 🔪 😂 #booksky #shopsmall
November 29, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Trekked down to @mysteriousbookshop.com for #smallbusinesssaturday. Got the great old JDC paperback for $5, so that’s three murders and a steal! 🔪 😂 #booksky #shopsmall
Back down to earth with 921 words today. I’ll take it. Writing a novel is like filling a warehouse with shoeboxes. It doesn’t matter if some of them are size 8 #writingcommunity #writesky
November 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Back down to earth with 921 words today. I’ll take it. Writing a novel is like filling a warehouse with shoeboxes. It doesn’t matter if some of them are size 8 #writingcommunity #writesky
Reposted by Michael Northrop
posting AI videos is grounds for blocking with me, even if i would agree with the message in the video
don't post AI
don't post AI
November 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
posting AI videos is grounds for blocking with me, even if i would agree with the message in the video
don't post AI
don't post AI
My plan was to eat sensibly today, but you see there’s all this pie here now
November 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
My plan was to eat sensibly today, but you see there’s all this pie here now
No one: So, Michael, after 10 days away from your work-in-progress, did you write 3,200 words over the last 2 days?
Me, triumphantly: No, I wrote 3,200 AND EIGHT words!
No one: So basically—
Me: And two of those eight were “knock knock”!
#writesky
Me, triumphantly: No, I wrote 3,200 AND EIGHT words!
No one: So basically—
Me: And two of those eight were “knock knock”!
#writesky
November 28, 2025 at 5:17 PM
No one: So, Michael, after 10 days away from your work-in-progress, did you write 3,200 words over the last 2 days?
Me, triumphantly: No, I wrote 3,200 AND EIGHT words!
No one: So basically—
Me: And two of those eight were “knock knock”!
#writesky
Me, triumphantly: No, I wrote 3,200 AND EIGHT words!
No one: So basically—
Me: And two of those eight were “knock knock”!
#writesky
Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving, anyway you slice it
November 27, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving, anyway you slice it
EOD! Four (4!) writing days ahead! Also eating, drinking & TV watching days, but let’s focus on the writing, shall we? Excited to get back into the next mystery #writingcommunity #writesky
a laptop with a picture of a kitten on it
ALT: a laptop with a picture of a kitten on it
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:15 PM
EOD! Four (4!) writing days ahead! Also eating, drinking & TV watching days, but let’s focus on the writing, shall we? Excited to get back into the next mystery #writingcommunity #writesky
People throwin elbows in the Aldi cheese section today #culturewar
November 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
People throwin elbows in the Aldi cheese section today #culturewar
Reposted by Michael Northrop
Reminder that books make awesome gifts for all holiday events, and they taste sweeter when they’re from indie bookstores. Don’t know what to get? Indie bookstores have gift cards!
November 24, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reminder that books make awesome gifts for all holiday events, and they taste sweeter when they’re from indie bookstores. Don’t know what to get? Indie bookstores have gift cards!
Just, uh, just one more question. Is NYC ready for my new t-shirt?
November 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Just, uh, just one more question. Is NYC ready for my new t-shirt?
I get up at 6, which was easier before it was cold & dark out then, but mornings are my favorite time of day. I feed Lotte the spare-lot cat, who is always waiting for me. I get a coffee & sit on a bench by the park. If the fact-checking load isn’t too heavy I write for a bit…
November 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I get up at 6, which was easier before it was cold & dark out then, but mornings are my favorite time of day. I feed Lotte the spare-lot cat, who is always waiting for me. I get a coffee & sit on a bench by the park. If the fact-checking load isn’t too heavy I write for a bit…
Reposted by Michael Northrop
This wknd, consider buying a book from your local indie bookshop? (It doesn't have to be mine) Other ways to show your support: tell other people about your local indie bookshop, share this post.
Also see my Indie Bookstores & Booksellers list:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
#IndieBookstores #ShopLocal
Also see my Indie Bookstores & Booksellers list:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
#IndieBookstores #ShopLocal
a cartoon of a woman hugging a book standing in front of a store that says support indie bookshops
Alt: Illustration a woman hugging a book standing in front of a store that says support indie bookshops
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This wknd, consider buying a book from your local indie bookshop? (It doesn't have to be mine) Other ways to show your support: tell other people about your local indie bookshop, share this post.
Also see my Indie Bookstores & Booksellers list:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
#IndieBookstores #ShopLocal
Also see my Indie Bookstores & Booksellers list:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
#IndieBookstores #ShopLocal
Reposted by Michael Northrop
One of my favorite things about NYC is that the entire fleet of NYC ferries was named by 2nd graders. I think about this every time my run takes me past the docks.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
November 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
One of my favorite things about NYC is that the entire fleet of NYC ferries was named by 2nd graders. I think about this every time my run takes me past the docks.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
Anyway, there are people who went to work this morning aboard The Tooth Ferry and the Ocean Queen Rockstar.
There’s a line in a Bee Gees song that goes “And you come to me on a summer breeze” and when I was a kid I thought it was “And you come to me on a submarine.” Everything was a James Bond theme to me back then.
November 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM
There’s a line in a Bee Gees song that goes “And you come to me on a summer breeze” and when I was a kid I thought it was “And you come to me on a submarine.” Everything was a James Bond theme to me back then.
The book haul so far at @necrimebakecon.bsky.social 📚 Murders, a loyal K-9, a touch of Agatha Christie, sure—but I was not expecting Sondheim! #writesky @loriraderday.bsky.social @joshpachter.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The book haul so far at @necrimebakecon.bsky.social 📚 Murders, a loyal K-9, a touch of Agatha Christie, sure—but I was not expecting Sondheim! #writesky @loriraderday.bsky.social @joshpachter.bsky.social