What is Megan Fitzpatrick Up to

[Stew Denton]

Hi All,

I was reading my son-in-laws Popular Woodworking the other day, and noticed that Megan Fitzpatrick is no longer the editor. Her intro articles on the work on her house, and other topics, was always interesting to follow.

Did she retire? If not, what is she up to? I know she had been working on an advanced degree of some type.

Thanks for the update.

Regards,

Stew

[Tony Wilkins]

AFAIK, she’s working for Lost Art Press.

[Jon Nuckles]

Judging only by her Instagram posts, it looks like she is now self-employed. She still does editing, including for Lost Art Press, but I think it is on a freelance basis. She also teaches woodworking classes at various places.

[David Bassett]

... I was reading my son-in-laws Popular Woodworking the other day, and noticed that Megan Fitzpatrick is no longer the editor. ... Did she retire? If not, what is she up to? I know she had been working on an advanced degree of some type....

This is old news, as it was announced last winter. I never saw a detailed explanation, it seems like PopWood management decided to change direction and either she or they felt she wouldn't or couldn't go that way. According to her Blog & Instagram she's freelancing now. She says she will freelance even more for LAP. Freelancing for Mortise & Tenon mag (some, at least.) Taking over as editor of EAIA's The Chronicle magazine. Teaching. And, she published a reprint of Peter Nicholson's Mechanic's Companion as Rude Mechanicals Press.

[Frederick Skelly]

This is old news, as it was announced last winter.

Man, I'm really out of touch - I never heard it either, until just last weekend when I was blog browsing. :o:o:o Good post Stew - I wondered too.
Fred

[David Bassett]

Man, I'm really out of touch - I never heard it either, until just last weekend when I was blog browsing. :o:o:o Good post Stew - I wondered too.
Fred

Clearly you need to read her blog, at Rude Mechanicals Press, the Lost Art Press blog, and both of their Instagram feeds more often. :)

(Not only will you keep up on the career gossip, erh news, you hear about cool new books in the pipeline, and get various supporting material that didn't fit in the books.)

[Frederick Skelly]

Thanks David! Appreciate the tip! I'll look her up.

[Stew Denton]

Hey Fred,

You aren't the only one who is out of touch. I usually say I am always right on the cutting edge of knowing what is going on, especially in cases like this. I found out in just short of a year after the fact! Not bad for me.

Stew

[James Waldron]

https://rudemechanicalspress.wordpress.com/

[Frederick Skelly]

https://rudemechanicalspress.wordpress.com/

Boomarked it! Thanks Jim!

[Stew Denton]

Thanks all,

I went to the sites and read a bit on them. Looks like she is keeping herself busy, teaching, writing and editing, and building stuff. Glad to see it.

Stew

[Megan Fitzpatrick]

Aw shucks – thanks for asking :-)

As others have noted, I've started what can only (at this point) be called a micro-publishing company (Rude Mechanicals Press), through which right now I offer a slightly enlarged (for my old eyes!) hardcover edition of "Mechanic's Companion"; I'll have another (possibly two) titles in 2019.

I'm also now editor of The Chronicle, the quarterly print journal of the Early American Industries Association, and my first issue just hit mailboxes last week...so I'm hard at work on the next. On that note, if anyone has scholarly research on early American tools/trades/industries (woodworking-related or other) you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you: 1snugthejoiner@gmail.com or editor@eaiainfo.org.

I'm also teaching (mostly hand tool) woodworking classes (in 2019 at Lost Art Press, Highland Woodworking, Port Townsend School of Woodworking and Lie-Nielsen), editing for LAP and Mortise & Tenon, writing freelance articles (I just had an online piece w/Fine Woodworking on Knapp joints – that was fun!) and trying desperately to get my house into less-heinous shape :-)

Megan
@1snugthejoiner
rudemechanicalspress.com

[Frederick Skelly]

Glad you're well! Best of luck in your new ventures!

[Stew Denton]

Megan,

Good to hear that you are keeping yourself very busy and it sounds like you are doing some neat stuff. I wish you great success on the projects!

Good luck with working on your house. My experience is that it is a never ending job. I have rebuilt our fence twice, am currently rebuilding our deck, and have remodeled the kitchen and other rooms, and put up scaffolding and painted it.

I built a 120 sq foot storage building a few years ago but this year Hope to build a SHOP (shop!!!) this coming year (it will have a garage door, but it will be a shop.) If I do, it will be my first real shop ever, then I can build my first real workbench (with vises and all) ever!

At any rate, good luck with getting your house into "less-heinous shape!" It seems like it takes forever, but I know it actually doesn't.

Thanks for the update!

Stew

[lowell holmes]

I recently subscribed to the magazine again, but alas without Megan and Chris Schwartz, it is not the same.

[Brad Patch]

I recently subscribed to the magazine again, but alas without Megan and Chris Schwartz, it is not the same.


Lowell,

Your being kind.

Brad

[David Warkentin]

Aw shucks – thanks for asking :-)

As others have noted, I've started what can only (at this point) be called a micro-publishing company (Rude Mechanicals Press), through which right now I offer a slightly enlarged (for my old eyes!) hardcover edition of "Mechanic's Companion"; I'll have another (possibly two) titles in 2019.

I'm also now editor of The Chronicle, the quarterly print journal of the Early American Industries Association, and my first issue just hit mailboxes last week...so I'm hard at work on the next. On that note, if anyone has scholarly research on early American tools/trades/industries (woodworking-related or other) you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you: 1snugthejoiner@gmail.com or editor@eaiainfo.org.

I'm also teaching (mostly hand tool) woodworking classes (in 2019 at Lost Art Press, Highland Woodworking, Port Townsend School of Woodworking and Lie-Nielsen), editing for LAP and Mortise & Tenon, writing freelance articles (I just had an online piece w/Fine Woodworking on Knapp joints – that was fun!) and trying desperately to get my house into less-heinous shape :-)

Megan
@1snugthejoiner
rudemechanicalspress.com

Would like to get over to Highland Woodworking for one of your classes!

[Bob Glenn]

I wish she was back at PWW. The mag has gone down hill since she left. I almost didn't re-up.

[Bill Houghton]

How's that dissertation coming, Megan? :)

[lowell holmes]

Hopefully they read this site. I will not subscribe again if the magazine is in it's present mode.

[lowell holmes]

I received the December issue, and it leaves me cold.

I sure miss the old magazine, but if the subject matter in the current magazines does not improve,
I will not renew.