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
Despite the fact that I’m still rigorously working on Continuity, I can’t get this other idea out of my head. So I’ve decided to start on my next project, which is going to be a solo book titled Currency (I’m an advocate of open idea-sharing, so I don’t mind putting this out there). The plot … More My Next Book
If you frequently find yourself in the middle of political debates, this post should be helpful for you. At least I hope it will be. I’d like to discuss why directly debating political candidates is less effective than taking a more idealogical approach if you’re trying to prove a point. As with the majority of … More Why Political Debates are Pointless – and How to Change That
I’ve been thinking a lot about why so often the works of people don’t become recognized until after they’re dead. Like painters, writers, and the like. I think I’ve got a pretty good idea as to why this occurs so frequently, and my explanation might be a bit outside the currently accepted paradigm. So if … More The Human Condition and its Fickleness
Chapter 1 “Can you believe it’s been eleven months since the Battle for Free Servitude?” Peacefully plowing her fields of terrible-tasting seasonal carrots, Stephanie the server comments to her co-worker, Brian the Frequently Requested, about how quickly time has passed since the epic liberation from their oppressive managers. “It’s hard to.” Brian replies. “It seems … More The Lenghornian Revolt: The Full Second Sequence
🎼🎤🎼 “Weelllllllll weeeee, fought for our soldiers, And launched crouton boulders, And freed our fair ladies, And now we serve on our own! Buuuutt wheeeen we sip on our Foldgers, And put out the smoulders, We knew it’d be easy, And now we serve on our own!” 🎼🎤🎼 Back in the server village, Stephanie the … More The Lenghornian Revolt Returns: Epilogue
“Servers! Notch your Silver Arrows of Ware! Fairies! Load croutons!!” Pointing her steak knife toward the castle, Stephanie the Strong commands her legion of servers. Closing in on the walls protecting Slug’s domain and the Tower of Management, the Lenghornians have sliced through his outer defenses like a hot knife through butter. Darkening the sky with … More The Lenghornian Revolt Returns: Pt 12
“Teeheeheehee!!!!” Approaching from the Western hills, the chicken-winged brainless cooks fly toward Slug’s Keep, nestled not far beyond his castle walls and the Tower of Management. Swooping in through an open stone window, they perch themselves on top of the banisters overlooking his bedchamber. “My liege,” one of the cooks screeches. “Our quest is complete! … More The Lenghornian Revolt Returns: Pt 11
Due to the many requests I received to consolidate the individual chapters, below is the first installment of The Revolt in its entirety. Enjoy! Chapter 1 You have got to be kidding me. Reaching into her apron for the third time, Marcia grabs yet another straw and hands it to the four year old child … More The Lenghornian Revolt: Full First Sequence
“Behold! Cedric the Everhigh has strengthened our siege weapons of old!” Returning to the village of servers, Bobby and Norman haul the Battering Ham and Crouton Catapult into the center of the town square. “At last! They hath returned!” Pip the Well-Bodied cries in excitement. “Come servers, let us greet our champions!” As the servers … More The Lenghornian Revolt Returns: Pt 10
“What news from the West?” Back in the Tower of Management, Kelsey asks Slug what his minions have discovered about the servers’ recent activities.” “The simple-minded slaves think they are one step ahead of us. Fools!” Slug says, cackling to himself. “My faithful flying informants saw them uncovering the Battering Ham and Crouton Catapult of … More The Lenghornian Revolt Returns: Pt 9
How the World Should Work 