Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. ✶✶✶✶
@tvayyyy.bsky.social
Writer. Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians. Born and raised in Chicago.
Sacred Smokes, Sacred City, Sacred Folks. Never Whistle at Night.
The El has arrived. Available everywhere.
Books and more here: theodorevanalst.com
Sacred Smokes, Sacred City, Sacred Folks. Never Whistle at Night.
The El has arrived. Available everywhere.
Books and more here: theodorevanalst.com
Pinned
Now available for preorder wherever you get your book on. Got some cool words from cool folks on there.
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738830...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738830...
I made the final cut! Voting opens today!
The El —
Best new book by a Chicagoan (Oct 2024-Oct 2025)
Also, @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social for Best novelist!
The El —
Best new book by a Chicagoan (Oct 2024-Oct 2025)
Also, @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social for Best novelist!
It’s officially voting time! The Best of Chicago ballot is live on our website until Dec 31. Winners are decided by audience vote, so make your voice heard! Go show your favorite Chicagoans some love here: https://bit.ly/4pc5Lde
December 1, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I made the final cut! Voting opens today!
The El —
Best new book by a Chicagoan (Oct 2024-Oct 2025)
Also, @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social for Best novelist!
The El —
Best new book by a Chicagoan (Oct 2024-Oct 2025)
Also, @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social for Best novelist!
Rabbit rabbit
December 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Rabbit rabbit
Holymoly! Honored to have made the Chicago Public Libraries Favorite Books of 2025 List!
Lots of holds on the book in their system, but The El is available from your favorite bookseller
Lots of holds on the book in their system, but The El is available from your favorite bookseller
November 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Holymoly! Honored to have made the Chicago Public Libraries Favorite Books of 2025 List!
Lots of holds on the book in their system, but The El is available from your favorite bookseller
Lots of holds on the book in their system, but The El is available from your favorite bookseller
Great article
An examination of Martin Scorsese’s mob movie 30 years after its release. https://bit.ly/48Ce8c8
Casino (1995) belongs in the Chicago film canon - Chicago Reader
Examining the "Chicagoness" of Casino (1995), Martin Scorsese’s classic mob movie, 30 years after its release
bit.ly
November 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Great article
For those who celebrate
November 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
For those who celebrate
Reposted by Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. ✶✶✶✶
your whole office might want to vote. whole fleet. family. squad. class reunions love to be pulled into this kind stuff. small town? big enough to vote. big city? they're just a series of connected small towns. mailing list? discussion board? everyone at the mailbox? people on your plane?
The Goodreads Readers' Favorite Books of 2025 poll is in its last round and @sgj.bsky.social' THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER is a finalist for Horror!
Might I have voted it? I might have!
Might you? 😉
www.goodreads.com/choiceawards...
Might I have voted it? I might have!
Might you? 😉
www.goodreads.com/choiceawards...
Final Round: Vote for the Readers' Favorite Horror of 2025!
Discover the Readers' Favorite Horror in the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards.
www.goodreads.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
your whole office might want to vote. whole fleet. family. squad. class reunions love to be pulled into this kind stuff. small town? big enough to vote. big city? they're just a series of connected small towns. mailing list? discussion board? everyone at the mailbox? people on your plane?
Some amazing poetry this morning:
Two poems by Weiji Wang about having noteworthy nipples and lusting after the most narcissistic boy, Narcissus.
My Nipples Are a Public Safety Hazard - Electric Literature
Two poems by Weiji Wang
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Some amazing poetry this morning:
A much appreciated review here:
My review of THE EL by @tvayyyy.bsky.social is live on Goodreads. I listened to the audio, but would recommend that you choose the paperback or eBook. Loved Teddy. @blacktopkid.bsky.social recommended it.
David Wilson's review of The El
4/5: First, I think this is a wonderful book. Second... I wish I'd read it myself, rather than listening to the audiobook. I'll mention why below. The sergments of this book in the head of Teddy, the...
www.goodreads.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A much appreciated review here:
Reposted by Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. ✶✶✶✶
If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!
A reminder that the median book deal for a debut author in the UK is £7000, paid over 12-18 months. (from 2022 Society of Authors report). Some of your favourite writers are struggling. societyofauthors.org/2022/12/06/a....
A profession struggling to sustain itself - The Society of Authors
ALCS report on author incomes shows 60% drop in median incomes since 2006
societyofauthors.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!
This whole week is just three Thursdays in a trenchcoat.
November 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This whole week is just three Thursdays in a trenchcoat.
Heading into the dark chased by the light #photography
November 23, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Heading into the dark chased by the light #photography
Reposted by Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. ✶✶✶✶
It’s #FridayReads time! Books make great gifts and are tastier than turkey. Repost this and let us know what to repost for you. Here’s a (45% off!) novel full of monsters, friendship, love, magic, revenge, ghosts, storms, syncretism, and maybe a bit of violence…
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
November 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It’s #FridayReads time! Books make great gifts and are tastier than turkey. Repost this and let us know what to repost for you. Here’s a (45% off!) novel full of monsters, friendship, love, magic, revenge, ghosts, storms, syncretism, and maybe a bit of violence…
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316...
Reposted by Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. ✶✶✶✶
As always, thanks, Gabino!
#Novellavember will be wrapping up soon, and I know some of you are still looking for new books to round out the month.
Want a bittersweet love story? Or an ineffable space horror? Maybe both?
linktr.ee/authorlevai
#Novellavember will be wrapping up soon, and I know some of you are still looking for new books to round out the month.
Want a bittersweet love story? Or an ineffable space horror? Maybe both?
linktr.ee/authorlevai
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
As always, thanks, Gabino!
#Novellavember will be wrapping up soon, and I know some of you are still looking for new books to round out the month.
Want a bittersweet love story? Or an ineffable space horror? Maybe both?
linktr.ee/authorlevai
#Novellavember will be wrapping up soon, and I know some of you are still looking for new books to round out the month.
Want a bittersweet love story? Or an ineffable space horror? Maybe both?
linktr.ee/authorlevai
Reposted by Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. ✶✶✶✶
Libraries do so much for our communities and families and we'd like to give back!
Please take time this coming week to send an email or postcard of appreciation for your library to your superintendent, school board/city council, county commissioners court- or to librarians themselves!
Please take time this coming week to send an email or postcard of appreciation for your library to your superintendent, school board/city council, county commissioners court- or to librarians themselves!
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Libraries do so much for our communities and families and we'd like to give back!
Please take time this coming week to send an email or postcard of appreciation for your library to your superintendent, school board/city council, county commissioners court- or to librarians themselves!
Please take time this coming week to send an email or postcard of appreciation for your library to your superintendent, school board/city council, county commissioners court- or to librarians themselves!
Trip to Prairie Edge to sign some books and admire the @sgj.bsky.social shelf. Bonus — they had just sold out of Never Whistle at Night — again.
November 21, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Trip to Prairie Edge to sign some books and admire the @sgj.bsky.social shelf. Bonus — they had just sold out of Never Whistle at Night — again.
Well holymoly. Thank you Chicago Public Library!
THE EL is available everywhere across formats (oh — the audiobook has a 14-member cast including D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Michael Beck, who played Swan in The Warriors. Audio sample at link)
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738830...
THE EL is available everywhere across formats (oh — the audiobook has a 14-member cast including D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Michael Beck, who played Swan in The Warriors. Audio sample at link)
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738830...
November 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Well holymoly. Thank you Chicago Public Library!
THE EL is available everywhere across formats (oh — the audiobook has a 14-member cast including D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Michael Beck, who played Swan in The Warriors. Audio sample at link)
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738830...
THE EL is available everywhere across formats (oh — the audiobook has a 14-member cast including D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Michael Beck, who played Swan in The Warriors. Audio sample at link)
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738830...
Some Mississippi River #photography
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Some Mississippi River #photography