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Ooh. *The Third Time's the Charm*, Part One of *Revin's Heart* is #1 in "Children's Steampunk Books" at Amazon (again). https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product-category/book-series/revins-heart/ #books

Today may be the last day for sitting in the tent until the spring. Temps in the 60s today, but nothing above the 50s as far out as the forecast goes… I'm going to take full advantage!

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you agree with Samuel Johnson, who said, "What is written without effort is generally read without pleasure"?

Scroll a bit and look: How much effort do the posts in Mastodon take? How much pleasure do you derive from them?

Case closed.

#wordweavers What emotions did your character experience in the last scene you wrote?

Veronica Bellox gets angry when she meets up with the brother of her favorite prostitute and beats him up for being drunk and not adequately answering her questions. In *The Ground Never Lies*, the protagonist, Veronica, is a geomancer with an anger problem, so she gets angry a lot.

A stone lantern at Japanese House at the University of Illinois Arboretum. #SilentSunday

They sat together on a deep #pile rug before the fireplace at the inn. The flames made light flicker & shadows dance across Sophie's face. She leaned up against Veronica, resting her head on her shoulder.
"Dreaming that you were coming for me was the only hope I had," she whispered.
"Oh, doll baby," Veronica murmured. "If something had happened to you, I could never have forgiven myself."
She pressed her face into Sophie's hair, breathed in her scent, & kissed her on the top of her head.
#wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub Do any of your characters have pets? Tell us about them.

In *A Familiar Problem*, the demon Tseluna captures Rory, binds him as a familiar, and begins to train him up for something. Tseluna presents as female and uses all of her wiles to forge a strong emotional bond with him. As he becomes aware of their vastly different knowledge, age, & abilities, he asks, "Are we like insects to you?"
"Maybe a little," she replies. "But to say that you're just pets isn't right either."

I basically haven't gotten any fiction writing done for several days. My mom was in the hospital (she's OK and home now) and I've been buried in commenting on student papers in my class. But I'm declaring myself done for the day so I can spend a few hours tonight writing fiction.

#PennedPossibilities How intelligent is your SC overall?

Cecelia thought for a moment, took a deep breath, and then said, "I know someone we can ask."
Lord Kenderback merely raised an eyebrow.
"We can ask Ka… Um… My, um… My maid."
"Your maid?"
"Yes," Cecelia said, more confidently. "I'm certain Kasseh can figure it out."
"Cecelia, just who is Kasseh? She's a commoner. But she's not really just a maid, is she?"
"She's… She's a genius."

(from Lady Cecelia's Choice)

In just a few moments, he and three other men got out instruments. One started beating a #drum and then the others joined in with strings & a woodwind horn.
"Number one!" Scarlet called. Cecelia watched her carefully and tried to mimic her steps & movements. 
"Number two! You're doing great! Number three! You're a natural! Smile! Don't forget to smile, Sisi! Now shake it!" She shook her breasts and it made Cecelia blush when she tried to mimic the motion.

#wss366 (from Lady Cecelia's Sacrifice)

Yesterday, I attended my first SFWA Board Meeting as Secretary. I had a great time! https://stevendbrewer.com/my-first-sfwa-board-meeting/

I've decided to create a filter so posts containing the string "Trump" and "DJT" appear behind a content warning. But I made the mistake of naming the filter "trump" which meant I saw "Filtered by: trump" in my feed over and over again. So I changed it to be named "that fucker". Much better!

#WordWeavers SC POV: Who knows your deepest secrets?

"But that means… Oh, no!" Tseluna said.
"Yes! I can read *your* mind now!" Rory said. "Aww... You always liked me!"
"Don't say it like that!" she said angrily. Then quieter, reading his mind in turn, she said, "*Baka*. I missed you too."

#WritersCoffeeClub Where do you get your books?

Amherst's local *Jones Library* is really excellent. We also have several outstanding local bookstores: *The Odyssey* (in South Hadley) where I've seen Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, Lois McMaster Bujold, James Cambias, Max Gladstone, & others offer readings & book signings. And Kelly Link's *Book Moon* in Easthampton. We also have a Barnes & Noble nearby that I like to patronize when I can. Oh. And I have ordered books from Amazon. I know, I know…

#WordWeavers Do your MC's values align with the traditions and values of the community they come from?

"Where I grew up, girls only had one choice," Revin said. "As soon as you showed signs of 'womanhood,' you were married off to a man to bear his children and do his housework. And if you talked back, you got beaten."
"You got beaten?" Words said, with horror.
"I got beaten a lot," Revin said. "I got beaten for talking back. And for not acting girly enough. I even got beaten for reading books."

On the shelves were stacks of folders, labeled with neat #print. Cecelia pulled one down and flipped through sheets of thick paper, filled with neat, flowery script. Each page contained the salutation "Dear Milady Faeth." With shock, she realized that she was seeing the private correspondence of the former Baroness. Who knew what secrets reposed here, undiscovered in the years since her passing?
Cecelia closed the secret door and walked home, pensively thinking deeply on what to do.

#wss366

Cecelia put her tools away in the Botanical Garden's workroom. She was about to leave when she noticed a place where the wainscoting wasn't evenly aligned. Curious, she stepped forward, moved some tools out of the way & felt the wall. There was a slight give. After feeling a bit more, she found a hidden catch. When she pushed, a section slid back revealing a passage.
She stepped through to a small room containing a writing desk surrounded by shelves, everything covered with thick dust.

#wss366

promeni sola… folioj akompanas, vente pelitaj / walking alone… accompanied by leaves driven by the wind #hajko #haiku #esperanto

I didn't check the election results last night so I could sleep, and waited until after coffee to look. Once I saw, I closed the tab and spent all day grading papers. Then, tonight, I wrote a little fiction. I don't know when I'll be willing to look at the news again. I suspect it won't be for a long time.

He led her to the grand foyer, went to a closet, and put his hand on the doorknob.
"Please turn around, Milady."
"What?" she laughed.
"Humor me, if you please."
Cecelia turned her back to him. She heard him open the door and then heard a rustle, as of fabric. Then she felt him take her arm and slip her arm into the sleeve of a #coat. She shrugged it the rest of the way on and then looked down. She was enclosed in a stunning coat of whitest ermine.
"Milord!" she exclaimed with surprise.

#wss366