about me
I’m a writer, editor and information activist focused on digital ownership, library rights, and press freedom; I am the founding editor of Popula and co-founder of Flaming Hydra and the Brick House Cooperative.
Brick House is a collective that operates several publications including Flaming Hydra and Popula. The goal of the organization is to create sustainable, resiliant publications that are resistant to outside influence. Member publications, including our flagship, Flaming Hydra, pool resources to publish independent journalism, criticism, comics, essays and podcasts. (Please support our group here.) Brick House is also developing BRIET, a system whereby libraries can buy permanently-ownable ebooks and other digital media that can be owned and loaned to their patrons forever.
I live in Oakland and Scotland. Some things I love are: textiles, alt-rock, Lamu, 18th-century literature, the Fowler brothers, Gilbert and Sullivan, alabaster lamps, Zoolander, Jay Ward Studios, P.G. Wodehouse, Cecil Beaton, Anita Loos, and Tom Stoppard.
say hello
email me at maria | at | popula | dot | com
Bluesky at @mariabustillos.bsky.social
Mastodon at @maria@thelife.boats
I used to be on Twitter at @mariabustillos, but since those garbagios broke it in late 2022 I mainly go over there to ask people to switch to Mastodon. (Switch to Mastodon!)