Nick Arvin
@nickarvin.bsky.social
1.3K followers 560 following 1.3K posts
Writer & engineer. Author of MAD BOY from Europa Editions + 3 other books of fiction. Writing in the NYer, NYT, WSJ, Ploughshares. Technical and consulting work in green energy. Colorado based.
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nickarvin.bsky.social
I'm honored that the University of Colorado, Boulder, English Department chose my novel MAD BOY for this year's Common Read, and I'm really looking forward to discussing it with students.

If you can, come join us for the public event on Thursday 10/16 @ 5:00!
Join us for a reading and discussion with Nick Arvin, author of this year's Common Read book, Mad Boy, about a boy traversing the wilds of Maryland and Virginia during the war of 1812, on a quest to bury his mother and reunite his family. Arvin will read from the book, discuss the writing and research process, and talk about his double career path as a novelist and an engineer.

EVENT DETAILS OCTOBER 16, 2025 5-6PM

AT THE CENTER FOR BRITISH & IRISH STUDIES (LIBR M549)

FOOD AND DRINK PROVIDED STARTING AT 4:30 PM
nickarvin.bsky.social
I also feel like comments like this presume that the purpose of reading a book is to assimilate the plot points, which is fine if that's your gig, but it's not why I read.
nickarvin.bsky.social
The first rule of Condescension Club is that we're disappointed but not really very surprised that you don't know it already.
nickarvin.bsky.social
SCAN ME FOR GODS SAKES PLEASE PLEASE DEAR GOD SCAN MEEEEE!
Reposted by Nick Arvin
stuffabouthockey.bsky.social
Qualified immunity would theoretically protect the individual agent from a lawsuit. It doesn't doesn't prevent lawsuits against ICE, the administration, DHS etc.
Reposted by Nick Arvin
rawlawdog.bsky.social
There is always qualified immunity which is a hurdle but some lawsuits have been brought and some have already prevailed. This pastor sued just last week.
newrepublic.com
Reverend David Black, the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, was praying at the armed agents above him before being shot in the head with a pepper ball at least twice and falling to his knees.

Black said he could hear ICE laughing. trib.al/9Nstfnp
nickarvin.bsky.social
Serious question, where are all the lawsuits against ICE for improper arrest, property destruction, etc. Are they happening and I'm not seeing them? Or are they legally insulated in some manner?
Reposted by Nick Arvin
mbsycamore.bsky.social
Yes, the book tour for TERRY DACTYL is coming right up, please spread the word!!🎉🎉 Starting at the Seattle Art Museum on 10/25, 3 pm & then In conversation w/ @alexanderchee.bsky.social in NYC, Jennifer Natalya Fink in DC, Jeannie Vanasco in Baltimore, & @lenizumas.bsky.social in Portland💎⚡🔥
MATTILDA BERNSTEIN SYCAMORE ON TOUR WITH TERRY DACTYL

10/25 SEATTLE ART MUSEUM BOOKS SOLD BY ELLIOTT BAY BOOK CO.

11/19 THE STRAND NEW YORK, NY WITH ALEXANDER CHEE

12/1 POLITICS & PROSE WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH JENNIFER NATALYA FIOK

12/3 GREEDY READS BALTIMORE, MD WITH JEANNIE VANASCO

1/13 POWELL'S BOOKS PORTLAND, OR WITH LENI ZUMAS

MASKS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
nickarvin.bsky.social
View today from Matthews Winters Park.
Rocky ridge, low brush in autumn colors, distant dark mountains, blue sky streaked by clouds
nickarvin.bsky.social
Pretty much same story with my mom. Ambidextrousness is the silver lining, I guess.
nickarvin.bsky.social
It would have been a good show if there had been somebody there to shoot it every episode of its run.
nickarvin.bsky.social
A Good Show Is Hard to Find
nickarvin.bsky.social
Come for the snacks; stay for the Burning of Washington.
nickarvin.bsky.social
I'm honored that the University of Colorado, Boulder, English Department chose my novel MAD BOY for this year's Common Read, and I'm really looking forward to discussing it with students.

If you can, come join us for the public event on Thursday 10/16 @ 5:00!
Join us for a reading and discussion with Nick Arvin, author of this year's Common Read book, Mad Boy, about a boy traversing the wilds of Maryland and Virginia during the war of 1812, on a quest to bury his mother and reunite his family. Arvin will read from the book, discuss the writing and research process, and talk about his double career path as a novelist and an engineer.

EVENT DETAILS OCTOBER 16, 2025 5-6PM

AT THE CENTER FOR BRITISH & IRISH STUDIES (LIBR M549)

FOOD AND DRINK PROVIDED STARTING AT 4:30 PM
nickarvin.bsky.social
It was in fact a particularly dulcet chirp.
nickarvin.bsky.social
Dreamed last night that I was going to write a book of flash fiction with @duchessgoldblatt.bsky.social, after @elizmccrack.bsky.social suggested it. Then I lost my bicycle. I was still looking for my bicycle when the carbon monoxide detector began chirping because of low battery and woke me up.
nickarvin.bsky.social
It always makes me think of the Zaphod Beeblebrox character in Hitchhikers Guide.
nickarvin.bsky.social
The toddler years are fabulous, and you don't want to miss it. But it also did no one any good if I neglected my own sense of identity and mental health, which for me writing is an essential component.
nickarvin.bsky.social
Sometimes it would come down to stealing a few minutes in a parking lot or right before bed. Almost always it would end up being more than a single sentence, but if not that was okay. The important thing for me was to keep it in my mind and maintain a smidge of day to day momentum.
nickarvin.bsky.social
"Inessential" is pretty flexible. Certainly some amount of social life and relationship maintenance is essential; how much depends on the situation. Regardless, I think it's possible to keep chipping away at the writing. I tried to maintain a "just write at least one sentence a day" rule.
nickarvin.bsky.social
I wrote through that period while working and splitting parenting duties. In my experience, it's possible, but I had to accept a slower pace of progress, and almost everything else that was inessential fell away. Zero TV time, for example.
nickarvin.bsky.social
Teachers would smack my mom's hand with a ruler if she used her left.
nickarvin.bsky.social
Same happened to my mother!