David Bowles
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davidbowles.us
David Bowles
@davidbowles.us
5.1K followers 1.1K following 1.5K posts
Writer. Translator. Nahuatlahtoh. Chicano. He/él/yehhua. Pan [💖💛💙]. Representation: Full Circle Literary. President of the Texas Institute of Letters. Associate Professor at UTRGV.
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davidbowles.us
It's #smallbusinesssaturday! IPI Comics is the perfect indie outfit.

Be like the Matron: support smaller companies. You don't have to eat the rich, but don't make them richer!

Pre-order vol. 2 of THE MATRON, pick up vol. 1, put your money where it matters.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipi...
Even the Matron supports small business—especially shops in her hometown that haven't been destroyed by rich folks seeking to gentrify the community. This small business Saturday, please support indie publisher IPI Comics by pre-ordering Volme 2 of our feminist slasher—THE MATRON: THE BITE OF HER AX
November 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
davidbowles.us
'Tis the Season!

If you pre-order volume 2 of the feminist slasher series THE MATRON now, you can pick up volume 1, which makes a KILLER Christmas present.

Remember: the family that slays together, stays together!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipi...
Three images: The Matron, hooded with red-striped red mask; the Matron, her ax covered in blood as she stands in the snow; the Matron, without her mask, surrounded by her family. Text reads "THE MATRON: THE BITE OF HER AX. Season's greetings from the Krenek clan."
November 28, 2025 at 5:36 PM
davidbowles.us
On this fraught yet important day, our family—in Cemithualtin Ximmilcah, we of the Green Mountain Fields—offer up this chant of thanks, not to pilgrims or their culture or their god, but to the three aspects of life that sustain us:

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Tlazohcamatilizilhuitl Tictlazohmatih in totlaltzin in yolquitzin in tohuehcauhcayo. Zan amotlan huel toncateh. _________________ Feast of Thanks We give thanks to our beloved land, the revered animals, and our ancestors. Only through you can we exist.
November 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
davidbowles.us
And while I love the Matron—and the process of working with @monicacomics.bsky.social and Drew Edwards to bring her to life—the lesbian college freshmen who stry to stop her are probably my faves: Roz Krenek, the cannibal killer's granddaughter, and Sam Maldonado, who dreams of joining the FBI.

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A young woman stands protectively in front of another as the Matron threatens them with an ax. "THE MATRON: TFW your girlfriend's grandmother turns out to be a cannibal slasher."
November 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
davidbowles.us
Most of us are engaged in the Mass Blackout, avoiding ordering things online to show billionaires our collective power. But you can still back the woman who mercilessly eats the rich: THE MATRON.

Let's make Black Friday RED!

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A robed figure with a red-striped white mask lifts a bearded ax.
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
davidbowles.us
It's time to pre-order the second graphic novel in the series I'm doing with Drew Edwards and Monica Gallagher: THE MATRON: THE BITE OF HER AX.

If you missed your chance to get a copy of volume 1 (A WIND THAT KILLS) months before the rest of the world, you can pick that up now as well!

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The Krenek family is sitting at the dinner table, with Zina Krenek (the Matron) giving the viewer her back. In the foreground, on the kitchen countertop, is a bloody human hand. The poster reads "This Thanksgiving, let HER do the carving! THE MATRON: THE BITE OF HER AX."
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
davidbowles.us
We had such a joyful time at the National Book Award ceremony last night. It was an honor to represent my friends on the Young People‘s Literature panel by announcing the winner, THE TEACHER OF NOMADLAND by Daniel Nayeri.
Red carpet photo of Young People's Literature Panel: Candice Iloh, Cather Berner, David Bowles, Maulik Pancholy, Jung Kim Close up of David Bowles from the National Book Awards red carpet moment. He's wearing a black guayabera embroidered with colorful alebrijes. David Bowles on stage at the National BOok Awards. David Bowles poses on stage with winner Daniel Nayeri.
November 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
davidbowles.us
Alternate photo for that era.
David Bowles posing with a guitar and white sunglasses.
November 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
davidbowles.us
Post you from a different era.

The rock guitarist, 1987. 🎸
David Bowles in 1987, playing a black electric guitar.
November 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
davidbowles.us
A colleague gave me a huge jar of fresh kimchi (she made it), so I whipped up some 김치찌개 (kimchi jjigae or stew) to warm up my body and soul!
October 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
davidbowles.us
If you're in South Texas, join me for a special LGBTQ+ edition of my intro to Nahuatl presentation! This Saturday, November 1, at 6 pm in Harlingen, as part of RGV Pride.
Picture of David Bowles. Text around him reads "RGV Pride. 6 pm. Nahuatl Language Class taught by David Bowles. Saturday, November 1, 2025. Doors open at 12 pm. Harlingen Convention Center. For more information, visit steprgv.org/rgvpride RGV Pride. LGBTQIA+ & Día de los Muertos celebration focused on trans visibility & empowerment. November 1, 2025. Doors open @ 12 pm. Harlingen Convention Center. Educational workshops, music, performances, vendors, RGV LgBTQ+ history exhibit, community altar, art activities, community resources showcase and more! $500 admission
October 28, 2025 at 3:06 AM
davidbowles.us
Now that AMID THE FLOATING GARDENS has wrapped up, I'm posting chapters of my next Aztec romance to Patreon: SPARK THE RAIN.

Gay boxers fighting & falling in love in 15th century Chalco. If that sounds intriguing, head over and check out the first chapter free!

www.patreon.com/collection/1...
A gay historical romance set in 1434 in the Confederation of Chalco. When upbeat rookie fighter Mac joins the Duchy of Atlauhtlan's boxing team, popular but prickly champ Pilton finds him grating, if attractive. As the team edges out the competition, the two men fall for each other, only to find themselves facing off in a deadly ritual bout. Even if they survive, can their love do the same?
October 27, 2025 at 11:02 PM
davidbowles.us
"If the working-class masses have no right to land, food, housing, education, healthcare, and the basic comforts that centuries of our labor created, then the capitalist class has no right to peace.

"It's really as simple as that."

— @hamptonthink.bsky.social
If the working-class masses have no right to land, food, housing, education, healthcare, and the basic comforts that centuries of our labor created, then the capitalist class has no right to peace. It's really as simple as that. As things continue to deteriorate, remember this.
October 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
davidbowles.us
You can now read all of AMID THE FLOATING GARDENS, the historical romance I've written under the pen name Aeron Zaldívar, over on Patreon.

www.patreon.com/cw/AeronZald...
AMID THE FLOATING GARDENS a sapphic historical romance set in the year 1432 in the city-state of Xochimilco, one of many Nahua communities in Anahuac, the lake-filled plateau that is now Mexico City. This slow-burn love story follows Eya, a passionate court scribe, as she fights to clear the name of Yoliz, a widowed weaver falsely accused of murder, for whom she falls head over heels.
October 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
davidbowles.us
Who's your favorite Jedi? (Wrong answers only.)

Though it isn't actually wrong ...
Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune wielding two swords.
October 18, 2025 at 3:39 AM
davidbowles.us
Cover reveal for the next installment in the TALES OF THE FEATHERED SERPENT GN series! THE HERO TWINS IN THE REALM OF FRIGHT narrates the harrowing & hilarious adventures of the Maya Hero Twins as they descend into the Underworld to rescue their father & uncle. Art by @charlenecbowles.bsky.social
Cover features twins in clown costumes entertaining two of the leaders of the Underworld.
October 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
davidbowles.us
New update on Ancestry [dot] com confirms that people from nearly every continent have mingled together to make this particular Mexican American, heh.
Image showing regions in North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia that David has ancestry from.
October 11, 2025 at 2:29 AM
davidbowles.us
Checking in with the Texas Education Agency whether it's going to investigate teachers who make fun of the illness and death of liberals and progressives ... or wheter that only applies to their MAGA puppet masters. [J/K obviously TEA is just as fascist as the rest of the villains.]
A news clip followed by two comments. "Trump on Biden (who was diagnosed with prostate cancer): 'You know Biden was always a mean guy but never a smart guy ... he was a stupid guy. He was always a mean son of a bitch. Not working out too well for him right now. So, when you start feeling sorry for him, remember he's a bad guy.' Mehdi Hasan: 'It's amazing how they can lecture us about civility and respecting people while their cult leader happily says stuff like this.' Disinformation Destroyer: 'Donald Trump gets to freely celebrate Joe Biden having cander, but normal people get fired if they say anything negative about Charlie Kirk.'"
September 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
davidbowles.us
“Lucinda” has sent me a THIRD email, this one clearly NOT generated by an LLM:
Hi David Am still looking forward to hear from you or are thinking that am a scammer no am not like that if you want proof I can refer you to some authors I have work with
September 19, 2025 at 12:27 PM
davidbowles.us
My first boardbook! Drops October 7, 2025, so get one for the little Spanish-speaking reader in your life.
Author and translator David Bowles holds up a copy of "EL PEZ ARCOIRIS," his Spanish translation of the RAINBOW FISH boardbook. It features a multicolored fish with some glittering silver scales.
September 18, 2025 at 4:04 AM
davidbowles.us
The epitome of far-right male douchebaggery
Kirk saying: “Black will men like Joy Reid, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Shiela Jackson Lee, and Michelle Obama … oses affirmative action because they do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously… so they had to steal a white person’s slot.”
September 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
davidbowles.us
And the hits keep coming ...
An image from Occupy Democrats that reads "Things to remember about Charlie Kirk: He said it was a 'huge mistake' to pass the Civil Rights Act in 1964. He blamed 'Jewis money' for ruining American culture. He said gay people are 'destructive' and endorsed having them put to death."
September 11, 2025 at 12:41 AM
davidbowles.us
I mean ...
An image from an October 31, 2022 piece showing a smug Charlie Kirk with a mic (again). The headline reads "Charlie Kirks says a 'patriot' should bail out alleged Paul Pelosi attacker." Then the sub-header reads "The right-wing troll smirkingly allused to a homophobic conspiracy theory about the home invasion."
September 11, 2025 at 12:38 AM
davidbowles.us
And of course, this banger:
Another picture of Charle Kirk, smiling smugly into a microphone. It's from the Newsweek website on April 7, 2023, and the headline reads "Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths 'Unfortunately' Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment."
September 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
davidbowles.us
BTW ... one comment to consider:
An image of Charlie Kirk, wearing a sports coat and smiling as he speaks into a microphone. Across him is a quote from him: "I can't stand the word empathy, actually. I think empathy is a made-up, new age term, and it does a lot of damage."
September 11, 2025 at 12:20 AM