J. Matthew Saunders
@jmattsaunders.bsky.social
Writer of vampires and werewolves and demons (oh my!). HWA, SFWA. Fan of fiddles and bagpipes. Star Wars, history, linguistics. https://linktr.ee/jmattsaunders
Pinned
Hi! My name is Matthew, and I make up stories about make believe things. You’ll probably see the following things posted here:
-Linguistics/Languages
-European history
-Vampires
-Folklore
-Star Wars
-Science fiction/Fantasy
-My books
-My chaotic taste in music
-Running/Fitness
-Linguistics/Languages
-European history
-Vampires
-Folklore
-Star Wars
-Science fiction/Fantasy
-My books
-My chaotic taste in music
-Running/Fitness
Editing my action-packed superhero spy thriller and realizing my two hardened ex-Soviet agent main characters are basically these guys:
winnie the pooh is standing next to a tree in the woods holding a book
ALT: winnie the pooh is standing next to a tree in the woods holding a book
media.tenor.com
March 22, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Editing my action-packed superhero spy thriller and realizing my two hardened ex-Soviet agent main characters are basically these guys:
One of my favorite pieces of Ides of March triva is that Caesar’s purported last words may not have been an expression of shock at a friend’s betrayal, but a curse: “You, too,” meaning, “Screw you, I hope the same thing happens to you.”
March 15, 2025 at 10:51 PM
One of my favorite pieces of Ides of March triva is that Caesar’s purported last words may not have been an expression of shock at a friend’s betrayal, but a curse: “You, too,” meaning, “Screw you, I hope the same thing happens to you.”
Non-Southerners need to understand there is nuance to the meaning of, “Bless your heart!” It doesn’t always mean, “F*ck you!” Sometimes it means, “You have just said/done something so monumentally stupid I am amazed you don’t forget to breathe, and I am truly sorry for the hand fate has dealt you.”
February 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Non-Southerners need to understand there is nuance to the meaning of, “Bless your heart!” It doesn’t always mean, “F*ck you!” Sometimes it means, “You have just said/done something so monumentally stupid I am amazed you don’t forget to breathe, and I am truly sorry for the hand fate has dealt you.”
Since Russia is attacking the Ukrainian language itself, news outlets need to spell Zelenskyy’s name correctly, with 2 “y’s” at the end. In Ukrainian Cyrillic it’s Зеленський. The last two letters are both transliterated as “y” in the Latin alphabet (as used for English) but pronounced differently.
February 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Since Russia is attacking the Ukrainian language itself, news outlets need to spell Zelenskyy’s name correctly, with 2 “y’s” at the end. In Ukrainian Cyrillic it’s Зеленський. The last two letters are both transliterated as “y” in the Latin alphabet (as used for English) but pronounced differently.
From the WIP:
“All animals are equal,” George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, “but some are more equal than others.” Kolya’s family, they were “more equal.” His father, Grigoriy Dmitrovich Kirillov, was a hero of the Revolution and an esteemed member of the Leningrad Soviet, after all. 1/2
“All animals are equal,” George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, “but some are more equal than others.” Kolya’s family, they were “more equal.” His father, Grigoriy Dmitrovich Kirillov, was a hero of the Revolution and an esteemed member of the Leningrad Soviet, after all. 1/2
February 16, 2025 at 9:36 PM
From the WIP:
“All animals are equal,” George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, “but some are more equal than others.” Kolya’s family, they were “more equal.” His father, Grigoriy Dmitrovich Kirillov, was a hero of the Revolution and an esteemed member of the Leningrad Soviet, after all. 1/2
“All animals are equal,” George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, “but some are more equal than others.” Kolya’s family, they were “more equal.” His father, Grigoriy Dmitrovich Kirillov, was a hero of the Revolution and an esteemed member of the Leningrad Soviet, after all. 1/2
By the way, I wrote a novel about the insidious evil of N*zis and their spiritual kin. It also has werewolves. www.amazon.com/dp/B09YN5F6R...
Nothing but the Blood
Amazon.com: Nothing but the Blood eBook : Saunders, J. Matthew: Kindle Store
www.amazon.com
February 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
By the way, I wrote a novel about the insidious evil of N*zis and their spiritual kin. It also has werewolves. www.amazon.com/dp/B09YN5F6R...
Humans are capable of creating beautiful things. youtu.be/a23945btJYw?...
Evenord-Bank Flashmob Nürnberg 2014 - Ode an die Freude
YouTube video by Evenord-Bank eG-KG
youtu.be
February 3, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Humans are capable of creating beautiful things. youtu.be/a23945btJYw?...
Other writers choosing character names: This character is a physician who has lost his faith in humanity, so his given name comes from the Icelandic word for “broken,” and his family name is based on an Old Occitan word meaning “healer.”
Me choosing character names: You look like a Fred.
Me choosing character names: You look like a Fred.
January 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Other writers choosing character names: This character is a physician who has lost his faith in humanity, so his given name comes from the Icelandic word for “broken,” and his family name is based on an Old Occitan word meaning “healer.”
Me choosing character names: You look like a Fred.
Me choosing character names: You look like a Fred.
Mirror: OMG, Dude! You’ve got abs!
Camera: LOL, nah.
Camera: LOL, nah.
January 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Mirror: OMG, Dude! You’ve got abs!
Camera: LOL, nah.
Camera: LOL, nah.
My most recent selfie.
January 22, 2025 at 12:24 AM
My most recent selfie.
I swear this is purely coincidental, but I was doing research for my novel on Sunday and learned that shortly after WWII, several pro-N*zi parties in South Africa were absorbed into the National Party, which won the elections in 1948 and immediately went on to officially implement Apartheid. 1/2
January 21, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I swear this is purely coincidental, but I was doing research for my novel on Sunday and learned that shortly after WWII, several pro-N*zi parties in South Africa were absorbed into the National Party, which won the elections in 1948 and immediately went on to officially implement Apartheid. 1/2
#linguistics A lot of people think language change is haphazard and just happens. I've seen many writers create languages for their stories or extrapolate "future" versions of current languages make that mistake. They make up things that "sound right,” but there is no internal consistency. 1/8
January 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
#linguistics A lot of people think language change is haphazard and just happens. I've seen many writers create languages for their stories or extrapolate "future" versions of current languages make that mistake. They make up things that "sound right,” but there is no internal consistency. 1/8
This song is about being abducted by fairies, and you can’t convince me otherwise. youtu.be/u8rT6ij0PSo
Pentatonix - Come Along (Official Video)
YouTube video by PentatonixVEVO
youtu.be
January 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This song is about being abducted by fairies, and you can’t convince me otherwise. youtu.be/u8rT6ij0PSo
Now that Christmas is over, we return to our regularly scheduled unhinged mix of Gothic Americana, a cappella, fiddles and bagpipes, and world electronica. #music youtu.be/-ew_bfFvros
Home Free - Man of Constant Sorrow
YouTube video by Home Free
youtu.be
January 15, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Now that Christmas is over, we return to our regularly scheduled unhinged mix of Gothic Americana, a cappella, fiddles and bagpipes, and world electronica. #music youtu.be/-ew_bfFvros
A poem, by me:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But they’re all dead now,
And I’m cold.
I hate winter.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But they’re all dead now,
And I’m cold.
I hate winter.
January 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A poem, by me:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But they’re all dead now,
And I’m cold.
I hate winter.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
But they’re all dead now,
And I’m cold.
I hate winter.
Book cover trends are fascinating. For a while we had Faceless Woman, and the we had Broken Red Lollipop and Blobs of Color. Now it’s Title in Giant All-Caps Sans-Serif Font Superimposed on Ominous Monochrome Background. (Also a shout-out to Creepy (Un)Dead Rabbit.)
January 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Book cover trends are fascinating. For a while we had Faceless Woman, and the we had Broken Red Lollipop and Blobs of Color. Now it’s Title in Giant All-Caps Sans-Serif Font Superimposed on Ominous Monochrome Background. (Also a shout-out to Creepy (Un)Dead Rabbit.)
I love the juxtaposition of Christian and pagan imagery in the video for this. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” by Annie Lennox. youtu.be/ZlsJD8RlhbI?...
Annie Lennox - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
YouTube video by AnnieLennoxVEVO
youtu.be
December 13, 2024 at 9:57 PM
I love the juxtaposition of Christian and pagan imagery in the video for this. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” by Annie Lennox. youtu.be/ZlsJD8RlhbI?...
Weird, but it works. youtu.be/grVrDsqQdXc?...
Erasure - Gaudete (Official Video)
YouTube video by ErasureVEVO
youtu.be
December 9, 2024 at 7:58 PM
Weird, but it works. youtu.be/grVrDsqQdXc?...
“Carol of the Bells” is my favorite Christmas carol, but it was originally a Ukrainian New Year’s carol and since New Year’s Day used to be in the spring, the original lyrics reflect that. I hadn’t heard the original Ukrainian before this video and it’s stunning.
Shchedryk / Щедрик. Carol of the Bells. Original Ukrainian Version with English and Ukrainian Lyrics
YouTube video by Eileen
youtu.be
December 6, 2024 at 10:39 PM
“Carol of the Bells” is my favorite Christmas carol, but it was originally a Ukrainian New Year’s carol and since New Year’s Day used to be in the spring, the original lyrics reflect that. I hadn’t heard the original Ukrainian before this video and it’s stunning.
My favorite genre of Christmas music is “This song is completely 100% about the birth of Christ threre are absolutely no references to any pre-Christian beliefs or practices related to the winter solstice why would you even think that?”
December 3, 2024 at 11:04 PM
My favorite genre of Christmas music is “This song is completely 100% about the birth of Christ threre are absolutely no references to any pre-Christian beliefs or practices related to the winter solstice why would you even think that?”
To paraphrase Roy Scheider, we’re going to need a bigger tree.
December 2, 2024 at 10:04 PM
To paraphrase Roy Scheider, we’re going to need a bigger tree.
I’m about to get obnoxious, y’all.
December 2, 2024 at 8:38 PM
I’m about to get obnoxious, y’all.