@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

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

#WritersCoffeeClub What's your greatest weakness as a writer?

My unmatched ability to fluently generate limpid prose.

(I've always heard that with these questions, you should somehow turn it around to be a strength.)

Apropos todays #wss366 word #cool is this NYT article (gift link provided) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/well/mind/cool-people-traits-study.html?unlocked_article_code=1.TE8.bGvJ.O-LQzGW_mDrW&smid=url-share

"Cool people are largely perceived to be extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open and autonomous."

Well, one out of six isn't bad…

INDIE AUTHORS MEETUP
For @SFWA and Nebula Conference Members
Topic: The Year So Far--Sales, Marketing, and anything else new and different in the world of indies!
Saturday, July 5th, @ 4:00 Pacific Time
Join us for expert talk, Q & A, and networking!
https://events.sfwa.org/upcoming-events/

Wrote a generic sort of a mid-summer post, mostly for my newsletter that comes out tomorrow: https://stevendbrewer.com/junely-begends/

Now I have more than one fan! (h/t @tobadzistsini)

"Hey! Hey!" said Brunhilde. Today she and Forrest were riding on the bear as he made his rounds through the picnic area. "Do you know how to get #down off a bear?"
"I don't know," said the bear. "How do you get down off a bear?"
"You don't!" she squealed. "You get down off an owl!"
Forrest clacked his beak menacingly.
"Try it and you'll lose a finger!" #wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub When is a piece of writing done?

Leonardo DaVinci is reported to have said, "Art is never finished, only abandoned."

I know people who are perfectionists who want to keep tinkering with their writing endlessly. I'm not like that. I like to finish things and get them out the door so I can focus on the next thing. Because the next thing is going to be EVEN BETTER.

I thought maybe I'd seen my first spotted lanternfly, but I think this is actually a giant leopard moth. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_leopard_moth

"You really have amazing hands, Mr. Bear. You could be a hand model!"
He skeptically regarded his furry paws and opened his mouth to speak, when Brunhilde's mother appeared.
"Brunhilde! Stop teasing the bear!"
She dragged Brunhilde away, squealing and struggling.
The bear looked sadly at his paws and felt the smooth edges of the two claws she'd had time to work on.
"Hey! Hey!" Forrest said. "Maybe next she can add some fingernail polish!"
"Pink would be nice," the bear sighed. (3/3) #wss366

She took his paws in her tiny hands and inspected his huge claws.
"Hmm. I think you could do with a buff and a shine, Mr. Bear."
"I don't think there's…"
"It won't take but a minute, sir! Just wait here!"
She ran to a nearby SpeedRunner and returned a few moments later with a small case. She pulled out a nail #file and started to work on the rough edges of his claws.
"Don't you think this world is moving too fast, Mr. Bear?"
"Too fast?" (2/3) #wss366