by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Mar 18, 2026 | Author Update, Book & Movie Reviews, Turnings, Zeitgeist
I’ve been pondering a lot about the return of King Arthur in the new zeitgeist. I am starting to wonder if Arthur will return, and specifically, if he will return to America. America has had two kings and neither of them were Arthur. Our kings were Davy Crockett, King...
by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Mar 18, 2026 | Author Update, Turnings, Zeitgeist
This conversation unpacks how stories reflect cultural “turnings” in the zeitgeist, using Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Marines in wartime, and superhero tales as case studies. The Thomas Umstattd Jr. and Jonathan Shuerger explore the spectrum from Grimbright to...
by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Jul 30, 2025 | Author Update, Genre Analysis, Turnings, Zeitgeist, Zeitgeist 101
Explore the cultural vibe shift reshaping reader preferences and learn what sells now and where fiction is headed next.
by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Oct 30, 2024 | Strategy, Turnings, Writing Craft, Zeitgeist, Zeitgeist 101
If it takes you two years to write a book, you owe it to yourself to ask the question, “What kinds of books will be popular in two years?” Reader preferences change over time, but sometimes they change rapidly. If you don’t keep up, you can get stuck...
