Mark Simpson-Vos

No… (now uneasily wondering why one might ask)

White background, red ribbon. Text says “World AIDS Day”.

My wife has been HIV+ for 34 years. She’s alive today b/c work of activists who destigmatized the virus, pushed medical science to adapt & find ways to treat it, & advocated for gov health programs that helped fund her care. The current U.S. regime may want to go back in time, but we won’t let them.

My wife just surprised me with a Bonne Maman advent calendar and I am here to tell you I have never felt more loved. It’s 24 days of little pots of delicious jam, people!

Good luck!

I am very very sorry for your unspeakable loss.

Lord have mercy

Iykyk

Opinion | My Antidote to Early Evening Despair

This was lovely.

Amen!

The Pillsbury Dough Boy float at the Macy's Parade

He is risen

Happy Thanksgiving! Sounds like a great way to start the day.

Which Thanksgiving? When Americans sit down to our annual Thanksgiving meal with family and friends, we like to imagine that we are reenacting a scene that first took place in 1621.

In honor of the holiday, I am reposting my op-ed on the history of Thanksgiving from the LA Times. (Spoiler: it ends badly for the Wampanoags.)

www.latimes.com/archives/la-...

Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens

I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.

Gift link:

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...

Justice, representative, senator Willis P. Whichard has died | Coastal Review Former state Supreme Court Justice Willis Whichard, one of four individuals widely credited for securing passage of the state’s Coastal Area Management Act, died Monday in Chapel Hill.

Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Willis Padgett Whichard, one of four individuals widely credited for securing passage of the state’s Coastal Area Management Act, died Nov. 17 in Chapel Hill. A public memorial service is planned for January.
coastalreview.org/2025/11/just...

It’s working for you. (Plus I’ve always felt weird about this too)

This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.

This needs lots of amplification for writers of academic nonfiction (other writers too)

Take a lesson from me and don’t wait until you are “through” w/ the project (trying to perfect it) before sending it out. I’ve been blessed in my career to have great feedback on my manuscripts, but I was often too exhausted to really dig in.

narrator: 50 years ago...

me: [nods] in 1945

narrator: in 1975...

me: what

It’s the hope that kills you.

Go Rebecca Go!

Lifelong music lover and about to see my first ever show at the Ryman. I am giddy!

Yes!!! Love to see it. Two great people with their great books.

Two fantastic @uncpress.bsky.social authors with their new books! Couldn’t be happier for @forthepoor.bsky.social and @sdahl.bsky.social here in Boston @aarweb.bsky.social

Yeah, it’s really good.

🚨🚨 In recent weeks, a third-party law firm, ClaimsHero, has launched an aggressive online campaign urging authors to opt out of the Anthropic settlement. But as the federal judge overseeing the settlement made clear last week, ClaimsHero’s campaign is not just misleading—it may be unlawful.

Joint Statement from Goodlander, Slotkin, Kelly, Crow, Deluzio, and Houlahan

I am available to hire as an editor! Take my memoir writing class!

anamariecox.com/workshop

This is incredible. Editor to editor I am in awe.

Less than 2 days left of first round voting for the UNC Press Readers' Choice Award!

Vote Now:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...