Greetings! I began my writing career in 2015 following the death of my beloved mother. The lessons and world views she instilled during my life as I grew and developed maintain a strong thematic presence throughout much of what I write. Her emphasis on the importance of love, kindness, and concern for all is the primary influence behind my material focusing on occasionally uncomfortable topics like emotional vulnerability, abuse, and existentialism. It isn't all mopey, though - I do like to let the hair down and writing about the fun things in life. Like owning an adorable dog that has enormous, "I just saw a ghost" eyes, for instance. While I use this website predominantly for hosting poetry and/or thought pieces, my primary commercially-marketed project is a sci-fi/fantasy series of novels which I originally self-published. The first is titled Continuity and was published in 2016. A sequel, Continuity: Coalescence, was released two years later. I'm thankful to say both were recently picked up by a traditional publisher, Wild Ink Publishing that will be releasing one, consolidated version of both in December 2024. Announcements on this moving forward will also be posted here. As far as the rest, I'm an ex-Vanderbilt baseball player (c/o '09) with a degree in Economics & Corporate Strategy who is ironically trying to forging a career that has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with either of those things. Before my scribbles began, I was an insurance agent for the better part of a decade. Other than that, I enjoy simple living along with my aforementioned co-author, Pip the Pekingese! Thank you for visiting the website. I hope you enjoy your stay, and I look forward to connecting with any and all. No matter who you are or what you believe, you are warmly welcome! M.E. Shao
Your sticks and your stones May break all my bones But these acts, I swear you’ll regret For time heals us all It builds a stone wall And this, we shall not forget You came here to slay To take mine away All that, which we hold close and dear Yet here, I still stand … More Vengeance
In an effort to continue the palpable degree of Thronely enthusiasm generated by this weekend’s Con, I’ve decided to start a new work in progress. So today I announce my new project, aptly titled Thronesify My City. It’s pretty simple. All I plan to do is associate as many parts of Nashville with its most … More Thronesify My City
To give a little context, below is a reflection of my experience (as a volunteer) at the first Game of Thrones conference ever held. Working the Con provided a pretty good view of how things went administratively. I daresay the vast majority of the weekend was a massive success, but there was (understandably) a slight … More The Con of Cons
Dear Mom I want you to know, Mom I’ll never forget The pain and the hurt Nary thought of regret For all you could do And with all you could give You gave to us three In hope that we’d live The life that we dreamed Where good turns to great When happiness soars And … More Dear Mom
The Fly Confusion consumes me I know not what to do I just watched this small creature To my trap it just flew This fly, it has fluttered And flittered about So to end all the buzzing I set flypaper out Yet, now, as I watch it My conscience, it sees And begs that I … More The Fly
Very good advice!
So for our new podcast (check it out!), I’m ending each episode with a poem that pertains to each topic we discuss. For tonight’s recording, we’re going to talk about terrorism and the many ways people view it, as well as a historical account of how its evolved. Below is the poem for Episode 4: … More This Terrifying World
And so on this day A poem, shall have she For promises stand And our word, but are we When darkness shall fall Worry not, she’ll beguile And light up the room With naught but a smile From nowhere she stamps She spins and she stirs Painting life’s purpose The blims and the blurs Once … More The One
For episode 3, Johnny and Matt sit down with Virginia Corbitt, who gives insight into our education system as it was in the 1970s as opposed to the system we have today.
Will Burkitt, who contributed to Episode 1 on Purpose, rejoins as the discussion continues on to institutions such as education, criminal justice, media, government, and organized religion.
As institutional reform is such a deep and important issue, episode 3 of the show is split into two hour-long segments. … More Episode 3: Institutional Reform (Part 2)
Great writing can change the world. We’ve seen it happen time and time again, from philosophies to constitutions. Knowing this, I try to maintain a constant awareness when it comes to writing. Looking for things that influence me in one way or the other. I watched a movie today that had an effect. I’m not … More Conspiracy
How the World Should Work 