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I sold out of copies of *Premitaj Floroj* last time, so I picked up a few more copies. I'll have them at Readercon to sell via the Small Publishing in a Big Universe dealer table. https://spbu-marketplace.com/

#ScribesAndMakers Create a multiple choices poll with two things that are true about yourself, and one that is true of your MC. Ask people to pick which is the MC.

Guess which is true about Captain Tau from the Better Angels:

Likes to drink beer.
Operates motor vehicles at the speed limit.
Is a NeoBoxer.

"I thought maybe you'd have to write a story where 'can' is used as a verb," Lucy said.
"I #can do that," I replied. #wss366

I thought this word seemed familiar. This is what I wrote the last time we had #can as a #wss366 word (sometime last summer) and I'm not sure I can top it.

"How do you get the food out?" Zsazsa asked.
"Ta da!" Booboo held up an opener. She retrieved the can and succeeded in attaching the opener. She twisted the crank, while they watched, fascinated. After she peeled back the lid, she passed out forks to everyone. "Here! Try some!"
They took turns dipping a fork in and tasting the contents of the can.
"Ew! What is this?" They spat out the tuna into the trash.
"Who cares?" Booboo said. "This the last time I ever eat anything out of a #can!" #wss366

"What is *that* thing?" Susan asked.
Booboo held it up with a flourish. "Guess!"
The Butter Angels studied it. It was a small, flat, silver cylinder.
"Some kind of machine part?" "A radioactive source?" "A door stop?"
"Is it booze?" asked Lolo.
"Nope. It's a #can!" She handed the can to Susan and let them pass it around to inspect it.
"A what?"
"Before replicators, to preserve stuff, people would put food inside a metal can and seal it up."
"Where did you get it?"
"I just replicated it." #wss366

Well, this is something different. A t-pop/k-pop crossover? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx4ka2qBY_A

I finally found time to visit the #UMassAmherst Orchard Hill Pavilion which was created to honor service workers. It's nice — better than I expected. https://www.umass.edu/news/article/pavilion-project-orchard-hill-area-projected-open-spring-2024 #WesternMass

"It's a mystery," Walter mused. "The #Case of the Condom Covered Car. Let's see what the rumor milf has to say about this."
"The what? The rumor milf?"
"Yeah. Holly Blackwater. She knows everything that happens in the neighborhood." He whipped out his phone. (3/3) #wss366

John stood at the dining room window looking out at the driveway. He pointed. Their car was covered with… something. Or some things. Many somethings.
"What are those?" Walter said, peering. "Prophylactics? Used prophylatics?"
"Who could have done that? What does it mean?" John said. (2/3) #wss366

"Hey, Walter?"
Walter groaned and rolled over in bed. "Yeah, Hon?" he called.
"You gotta come see this."
Walter swung his feet over the edge of the bed and, cautious of his back, carefully got to his feet. He put on his bathrobe and came out. (1/3) #wss366

I had the great pleasure to host @youseeatortoise for the Straw Dog Writers Guild last weekend, talking about book cover design for writers. It was a great presentation and I encourage everyone to give it a watch! https://youtu.be/sTAyokED9jY

Forrest landed on the man's head and dug his talons into the man's scalp.
The man screamed. He started to try to tear Forrest off.
Forrest dug his talons in harder and the man froze.
"Know what?" he hissed. "Owl talons can easily pierce the cranium of a human skull. If you don't want yours perforated, start walking to the ranger station."
The man went to drop the piece of cloth in his hand when Forrest tightened his grip just a tiny bit more.
"And don't even think about littering!" (3/3) #wss366

He spotted the little girl that liked to hang around the bear. After being dragged away by her mother, she was wandering aimlessly by herself, kicking stones. Behind her, Forrest saw a man shadowing her, screening himself behind trees as he approached.
Forrest glided closer on silent wings.
"Hey, little girl," the man said, emerging from behind a tree. "Are you lost? Let me help you find your way back." He extended a hand. His other hand was behind his back, holding something. (2/3) #wss366

Forrest circled high above the park, watching for litterbugs. It had been a quiet day and he was just itching to find someone — anyone! — stepping out of line that he could menace. But everyone was disappointingly compliant.
He made a #check on the usual problem areas: near the parking lot — full of SpeedRunners, SkyHoppers, and SkyJumpers — and behind the main pavilion. But they were all spotless. (1/3) #wss366

PG-13 #wss366

"Did I give you permission to speak?" whispered Zsazsa's voice sweetly in her ear.
"No, Mistress!" Booboo said, spreading her legs wider. "Please punish me more, because I am a very bad girl!"
Zsazsa smiled and drew her hand back again. (2/2) #wss366

PG-13 #wss366

Booboo felt a #cool breeze blow across her exposed skin. She got goosebumps across her belly. She strained against the restraints. With the blindfold on, she could see nothing.
"Hello?" she called, experimentally. Then she squeaked when a stinging slap struck her inner thigh. (1/2) #wss366

My #wss366 post today was the PG one. I wrote a PG-13 one, but someone, who is a bit more fastidious than I, suggested it was perhaps a little *too* much. What do you think?

"This… This has possibilities," Booboo whispered. "Do you think we could…"
"Go get a room, you two!" barked Susan.
The rest of the girls made various expressions of gagging and disgust.
"Come, Darling," Zsazsa said, pulling Booboo to her feet. "We have *better* things to do." (2/2) #wss366

The Butter Angels enjoyed a late-night dinner after recording an episode at Mama-sans. Booboo felt a #cool puff of breath on her ear. She turned and Zsazsa kissed her on the mouth. Booboo realized she had an ice cube in her mouth.
"Do you like?" Zsazsa purred, after they broke apart. (1/3) #wss366