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, resilient publications that are resistant to outside influence. Member publications, including Brick House flagship Flaming Hydra, pool resources to publish quality independent journalism, criticism, comics, essays and podcasts. 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.
(semi-retired these days, working 40 hours per month)
say hello
email me at maria | at | popula | dot | com
Bluesky at @mariabustillos.bsky.social