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Mike Nagel

@misternagel.bsky.social

Bullshit essayist. Author of Duplex and Culdesac from Autofocus Books. Father of Costcocore. Dallas kid. www.michaelscottnagel.com

256 Followers  |  131 Following  |  44 Posts  |  Joined: 20.08.2023  |  2.1465

Latest posts by misternagel.bsky.social on Bluesky


๐Ÿ˜‚โค๏ธ

23.01.2026 20:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Literally JUST finished an interview where I raved about @misternagel.bsky.social & Duplex, saying it was why I wanted to work with @autofocusbooks.bsky.social, and reading it in one sitting on a long plane ride specifically inspired TACOMA's length and goal for what it would feel like to read.

02.01.2026 19:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 11    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐Ÿซถ

04.01.2026 16:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Ah hell yah, thanks for checking it out, Mitch!

04.01.2026 16:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thanks so much for checking it out, Chris!

06.12.2025 00:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Love this essay from @misternagel.bsky.social on Dirt. Thatโ€™s where itโ€™s published, itโ€™s not about dirtโ€ฆ
#writersky

05.12.2025 18:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Very Important People Mike Nagel on not being famous.

"It seems we've reached the point in our relationship with celebrities where we just want to throw stuff at them . . . Like sending a satellite through a blackhole or petting a squirrel. It just seems worth a try." โ€” @misternagel.bsky.social for Dirt

03.12.2025 17:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
A poster for "an evening of literary conversation and celebration with local legends John Waddy Bullion and Mike Nagel, December 12, 6pm, @ your favorite local bookstore, 465 S. Main St. Suite 110, Recluse Books" taking place in Fort Worth

A poster for "an evening of literary conversation and celebration with local legends John Waddy Bullion and Mike Nagel, December 12, 6pm, @ your favorite local bookstore, 465 S. Main St. Suite 110, Recluse Books" taking place in Fort Worth

D and/or FW folks: Join me and indie-lit superstar @misternagel.bsky.social for a TWWNROOS release party and reading at Fort Worthโ€™s newest and best bookstore Recluse Books at 6pm on December 12th!

01.12.2025 14:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
Very Important People an essay by Mike Nagel

make @misternagel.bsky.social famous
open.substack.com/pub/littleen...

28.11.2025 17:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Man Vs. Wild โ€“ THE HOOGHLY REVIEW

โ€œโ€˜Thereโ€™s a bobcat in my backyard,โ€™ he said.

โ€˜No there isnโ€™t,โ€™ the guy on the phone said. โ€˜*Youโ€™re* in the bobcatโ€™s backyard. This is *their* territory, sir.โ€™โ€

@misternagel.bsky.social in @thehooghlyreview.bsky.social thehooghlyreview.com/man-vs-wild/

01.12.2025 01:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Agree!!

28.11.2025 20:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
ABOUT THE BOOK

Inspired to โ€œtake a break from lifeโ€ by the idyllic housesitting situation they were offered for the summer, Aaron and Amber find themselves in Aaronโ€™s hometown of Tacoma, Washington. Amber works her remote job, Aaron tries to write and goes for runs along the waterfront, and they explore their temporary summer city on daily walks and regular excursions. Soon, noticing that the landscape seems to keep shifting around them, Aaron starts drawing a map of it all, attempting to document and make sense of the changes. When Tacoma starts to open up bigger and bigger with possibility and wonder, Tacoma starts to fold in on itself, becoming both more self-referential and more like the spontaneous, fantastical stories Aaron has been writing. A friend rides an orca to come visit. Pirates guard a wormhole in the forest. A secret doorway in the Tacoma Mall tunnels back to Aaronโ€™s childhood bedroom. Blending autofiction with fantasy, meta with magic, and earnestness with absurdity, Tacoma presents a recognizable but also magical world where we ask, if nothing is real, then why not have as much fun as possible?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aaron Burch grew up in Tacoma, Washington.

ABOUT THE BOOK Inspired to โ€œtake a break from lifeโ€ by the idyllic housesitting situation they were offered for the summer, Aaron and Amber find themselves in Aaronโ€™s hometown of Tacoma, Washington. Amber works her remote job, Aaron tries to write and goes for runs along the waterfront, and they explore their temporary summer city on daily walks and regular excursions. Soon, noticing that the landscape seems to keep shifting around them, Aaron starts drawing a map of it all, attempting to document and make sense of the changes. When Tacoma starts to open up bigger and bigger with possibility and wonder, Tacoma starts to fold in on itself, becoming both more self-referential and more like the spontaneous, fantastical stories Aaron has been writing. A friend rides an orca to come visit. Pirates guard a wormhole in the forest. A secret doorway in the Tacoma Mall tunnels back to Aaronโ€™s childhood bedroom. Blending autofiction with fantasy, meta with magic, and earnestness with absurdity, Tacoma presents a recognizable but also magical world where we ask, if nothing is real, then why not have as much fun as possible? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Burch grew up in Tacoma, Washington.

cover! synopsis! preorder! out in feb!!

"Blending autofiction with fantasy, meta with magic, and earnestness with absurdity, ๐˜›๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข presents a recognizable but also magical world where we ask, if nothing is real, then why not have as much fun as possible?"

autofocusbooks.com/store/p/tacoma

13.11.2025 17:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 117    ๐Ÿ” 22    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 13    ๐Ÿ“Œ 9
Preview
WOO WOO - Farewell Transmission By Mike Nagel My sister-in-law Molly grew up as a pastorโ€™s daughter but at some point in her mid-thirties she became more of a witch. I thought that being a witch meant you invited the devil into your...

Got a little woo woo for the fine folks at @farewelltransmiss.bsky.social.

farewelltransmission.net/2025/10/woo-...

10.10.2025 20:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

this is all i've ever wanted to hear

04.08.2025 17:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
The cited quote and information written in red and black against a white background. In the upper lefthand corner is a gray and blue burst of rays against a gray background.

The cited quote and information written in red and black against a white background. In the upper lefthand corner is a gray and blue burst of rays against a gray background.

โ€œIt wasnโ€™t until I was falling asleep later that night that I wondered: If there hadnโ€™t been a blood clot, what had they removed?โ€

From โ€œOrientaton,โ€ a new original essay by @misternagel.bsky.social.

โžก๏ธ buff.ly/TIOZvYa

23.07.2025 14:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thank you so much for reading! Appreciate you! ๐Ÿ™

22.07.2025 19:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thรฉo, you're awesome. You really helped this piece come together and found jokes and connections I'd completely missed. So grateful for your help!

21.07.2025 23:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Orientation - The Rumpus At the time, though, I couldnโ€™t make much sense of anything. So I accepted everything with the detached nonchalance of a guy who has no idea whatโ€™s going on.

I'm so excited to share this essay by @misternagel.bsky.social for @therumpus.net with the world. I remember the first time I read it, I was delighted by how perfectly he captures the absurdity of the situation, amidst the mind-bending power of pre-emptive grief. It was an honor to edit.

21.07.2025 22:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

omg that's perf. you understood the assignment.

21.07.2025 19:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If you're ever unsure which term I prefer, you're usually safe going with the most pretentious one you can possibly think of.

In this case, the word would be essay.

21.07.2025 18:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Ah man, thanks dude! That means a lot to me.

21.07.2025 18:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™

18.07.2025 17:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Orientation - The Rumpus At the time, though, I couldnโ€™t make much sense of anything. So I accepted everything with the detached nonchalance of a guy who has no idea whatโ€™s going on.

I absolutely adore this @therumpus.net essay by @misternagel.bsky.social about the upside-down-ness caused by a family health emergency. #RumpusEssays
therumpus.net/2025/07/17/o...

18.07.2025 16:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"My father-in-lawโ€™s stroke, an event that has certainly turned our lives upside down, happened at a time in my life when I was feeling a little turned around to begin with."

NEW MIKE NAGEL!

17.07.2025 16:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ

17.07.2025 17:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I'm trying to play it cool, but landing something in The Rumpus is kind of a huge dream come true for me. So stoked

17.07.2025 16:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Orientation - The Rumpus At the time, though, I couldnโ€™t make much sense of anything. So I accepted everything with the detached nonchalance of a guy who has no idea whatโ€™s going on.

Wrote about my father-in-law's stroke and the feeling of getting all turned around for one of my all-time favorite magazines @therumpus.net.

๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡

therumpus.net/2025/07/17/o...

17.07.2025 16:37 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3

JEALOUS. Have fun!

09.07.2025 20:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Listen to me and Aug yuck it up!

We talk Vonnegut (obvs), touring, music, the whole deal. Very fun chat.

09.07.2025 15:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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