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So, I get it, now. Make internet search and shopping so broken that you can only do it with some AI agent. Then the AI can learn about you and gently steer you to what its owners want you to know and buy. It's like enshitification on crack.

On November 22, 2025, from 12-2pm, I'll be with the Straw Dog Writers Guild at the Northampton Book Fair! https://stevendbrewer.com/straw-dog-northampton-book-fair-appearance/ #WesternMass

"Your panties?" he echoed.
She nodded.
"Do they feel… different?"
She nodded again.
"Do they feel…"
"Well, they don't feel dry, if that's what you're asking!" she snapped. (3/3) #wss366

"I can just tell," LuluBelle said.
"You can predict the #weather?"
"Well… Sorta."
"How can you tell? Is like a joint that aches?"
"No…" she said blushing.
"Well, what is it?"
"It's embarrassing…"
"Tell me!" he pressed.
"It's my panties." (2/3) #wss366

"Don't forget to take an umbrella," LuluBelle said.
"But it's sunny!"
"Now. But it's going to rain later."
"No way!" He laughed as he left.
Later, he returned home drenched. She handed him a towel as he came in.
"How did you know it was going to rain?" he asked, drying off. (1/3) #wss366

Join me with the rest of the @SFWA Board to kick off our Winter World of Giving beginning today, Sunday, Nov 2 at 1pm PT. Share your creative goals from now until Jan 31! https://www.sfwa.org/event/winter-worlds-of-giving-kickoff-event-with-the-sfwa-board/

"Cheap, #fast, good: pick none?"
"That's them." She sighed. "It's taking even longer than they projected."
"Anything I can do?" David asked, without thinking.
"Now that you mention it…" she said, gleefully rubbing her hands.
David mentally kicked himself for walking into her trap. (2/2) #wss366

Captain Racy Reckless glumly trudged into Angels' Wings.
"What's wrong?" David asked.
"Oh, I needed some work done on N.B.D.," she said, referring to Never Back Down, her old Xerxes Mark III courier ship. "I contracted with HandyCare Detailing & Restoration Service. Do you know them?" (1/2) #wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub What makes character growth believable to you?

I think it's two things: First, the discomfort the character shows. Growth happens when you have to move out of the place where you're comfortable. Growth is rarely something that is pleasant or easy. Second, it's when you have the opportunity to see and reflect on how far you've come: when what was difficult or impossible before, is now within in your grasp. Showing these elements are how I try to represent growth to the reader.

Content warning:adult themes

Soft silken ropes were elaborately wound and crisscrossed around Booboo's arms, legs, and body. Zsazsa stuck a finger in here and there to make sure it was neither too tight nor too loose. Then she picked up her riding crop.
"Ready, Darling?"
Booboo wriggled all over with anticipation. (2/2) #wss366

Content warning:adult themes

"Well, well, well," Zsazsa purred. "You seem to be in a real #bind."
Booboo looked up at her, pleading with her eyes, but saying nothing — probably due to the large ball-gag in her mouth.
Zsazsa walked all around her carefully inspecting her handiwork. (1/2) #wss366

I saw a #beer I hadn't seen before so I had to buy some. Tanuki is excited.

#LesFicFri "afraid" from The Ground Never Lies.

"Well… We learned he doesn't like fishing and he likes cake. Oh! And that he hates surprises."
The Captain stared at the Hero for a moment, then sighed and looked away.
"It was #bound to end this way," he said.
"What do you mean?" the Hero said "End? We've got another date next week!" (2/2) #wss366

The Hero stood on the dock and watched while the firemen worked to contain the raging inferno where the lake cabin had once stood.
"I'm afraid it's a complete loss," the Captain said.
"It's not a complete loss," the Hero clarified. "We learned a lot."
"What did we learn?" (1/2) #wss366

#PennedPossibilities Have you ever created a SC that you later wished was the MC?

In Revin's Heart, I wrote two side-stories that let the pirate captain become the protagonist because I thought his back story was interesting to explore. And another minor character, Lady Cecelia, now has her own series of novelettes. I'm still working on the novel that will tell the story of the Butcher Baron. I used to call this "fan fiction" but a woman at a convention angrily told me it was literary canon.

Today, my university evidently turned on all of the AI bullshit in Zoom. I've seen it in other Zoom events run by other entities, but it hasn't been turned on for my university's accounts before. So, I went into the settings and spent 10 minutes turning it all off — there were like 15 or 20 separate things to disable. Then I restarted my client. Ugh.

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you tend to include epilogues?

I like epilogues. In fact, I also like to write *omake* stories, for when an epilogue alone simply won't do. I wrote them for *A Familiar Problem* and for *Lady Cecelia's Journey*. And I wrote "side quests" as *omake* stories for *Revin's Heart*, which provide back story for the some of the secondary characters.

"It's Cakecrist," the Hero said. "The Frosting Cleaver — Made by the elves, you know."
The Demon Lord extended a finger and tentatively touched the knife. There was a spark and a curl of smoke rose up. He jerked his hand back.
"I think I'll let you cut the cake," the Demon Lord said. (3/3) #wss366

"Aren't you going to cut the cake?"
"With what?"
"Ah! I thought you'd never ask!" the Hero laughed. "Here!"
The Hero offered the Demon Lord an elaborate knife. It seemed to glow blue with an inner light.
The Demon Lord eyed it suspiciously.
"What is that?" he asked. (2/3) #wss366