I write transformative works of fiction - both interactive and non-interactive - and study fandom and popular culture. I am a lecturer in the Comparative Media Studies program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and I earned a S.M. in that same program; before that, I earned a B.A. in religion from Reed College. Recently, I've been interested in the deep history of fandom and participatory culture, especially amateur press associations and early fanzines.
I'm Chief Participation Officer of The Alchemists Transmedia Storytelling Co. We've put together a lot of very cool projects, most recently a motion comic with ELLE magazine and TRESemmé entitled "Dirty Little Secret."
I started messing around in fandom when I was about eleven, and helped co-found FictionAlley.org, a major Harry Potter fanfiction website, when I was thirteen. Since then I've continued to be involved in Harry Potter fandom, as well as branching out into all sorts of other nerdery. Most recently, I've been a member of the board of HP Education Fanon, which puts on educational conferences centering around Harry Potter.
I live and work in Cambridge, MA, with my partner Nick (otherwise known as Dr. Blue).
Go ahead and call me “Flourish.” My given name is “Madeline,” if you were wondering, but that's not what I go by.
The mascot of my site, Tex, is a textual poacher. Also, he's a moose (we think). Lucas Adams drew him.
Oh, and if you'd like a high-res picture for whatever purpose, here's a good one!