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"I'll take it with a little cream," said the Hero.
"And would you care for some coffee cake?"
"Yes, thank you."
She made a bob, backed away from the table with her eyes downcast, then turned and left the room.
"So…" the Demon Lord asked. "What do you think of my new #monster?" (2/3) #wss366

The Hero arrived to visit the Demon Lord for coffee. He was ushered into the Demon Lord's breakfast nook. The Demon Lord looked up from his paper and warmly greeted the Hero.
"How would you like your coffee?" asked the maid. She was a charming lass of 16 or 17 with rosy cheeks. (1/3) #wss366

Sundays on Mastodon… Thank goodness for filters!

A new #introduction as I make a major life change. After 30 years as a faculty member at #UMassAmherst, I am becoming emeritus this fall. I look forward to having more time to write speculative fiction & devote to service. I'm the author of several books of science fiction & fantasy. I serve as Secretary of @SFWA, as creator of @wss366, & on the program committee of the Straw Dog Writers Guild. I also speak #Esperanto & have won awards for my poetry, stories, & essays. https://stevendbrewer.com/

(My mom thought this was hysterical.)

"I've got it!" the boy crowed. "Swordy McSword Face!"
"Swordy McSword Face! Swordy McSword Face!" the crowd chanted.
The hero drew Swordy McSword Face and broke the blade over his knee.
"I'll get a new sword," he said. (3/3) #wss366

"Aww!" the boy said, disappointed.
"I'll tell you what," the hero said. "If you think of a cool name, I'll name my sword that in your honor."
The boy's face lit up with excitement.
The hero waited while the boy wracked his brain for a cool name. The crowd grew silent with anticipation. (2/3) #wss366

After vanquishing the dread Spectre of Despair, the hero was feted with a parade through the town. As he passed by, a boy called out from the crowd.
"Hero! Hero! What's the name of your #sword?"
The hero paused a moment, then replied, "It doesn't have a name. It's just my sword." (1/3) #wss366

The plates at Masuda's Cafe are pretty. #WesternMass

Forrest hissed sharply in his ear and he froze.
"WHO is going to pick that up?"
"I will! I will!" the young man squeaked.
Forrest took to the wing again as the young man retrieved the cup.
"I guess them vultures are alright," the querulous old man said. (4/4) #wss366

One threw a paper cup down as he walked by.
The querulous old man opened his mouth to say something when a dark shadow passed silently overhead and Forrest landed on the young man's shoulder.
The young man flinched and then screamed as Forrest dug his talons in. (3/4) #wss366

"It's actually an owl," the bear said.
"It's too big to be an owl!" the old man insisted. "Ain't no owls that big."
"Eagle owls are that big," the bear said.
"Well, I don't like 'em," the man said.
Just then a group of burly young men walked by laughing. (2/4) #wss366

An old man was sitting at a table at the Volpex Picnic Park while his family bustled around preparing to use a grill. The bear offered a few tips and pointers as they got ready to start the charcoal.
"Why do they got that #vuture circling around up there?" he said, in a querulous voice. (1/4) #wss366

I wrote a review about Palace of Deception: a book that describes the creation and early history of the American Museum of Natural History: https://stevendbrewer.com/review-palace-of-deception/

While walking Tanuki, I noticed a teeny tiny bun bun. Tanuki did not see.

"It could have been a sword."
He gave her a withering stare. "Who stabs anyone with a sword anymore?"
"I do!" she said, and stabbed him with a sword concealed in her cloak.
"That's a #dagger!" he gasped, as he expired on the floor.
"It's a sword!" she yelled. "It's just a short sword!" (2/2) #wss366

He looked up from the body on the floor.
"He's dead."
"Dammit!" she said. "How did he die?"
"He was stabbed."
"Stabbed, huh? With what?"
"I dunno," he said. "A #dagger, maybe?"
"Not a knife?"
"No."
"How can you tell?"
"The wound was made by a blade that was sharpened on both edges." (1/2) #wss366

monardo regas novalan florĝardenon… papilia fest' / monarda rules the fallow flower garden… butterfly party #hajko #haiku #esperanto

#WritersCoffeeClub How arbitrary are the names in your work?

I rarely use names that have symbolic meanings, with a few exceptions. Most of the names I use are ordinaryish, but often with small tweaks to make them distinctive. Some names are ordinary with a single character substitution. Secondary characters often just have ordinary names. But, as I say, there are exceptions. In Better Angels, the villain's names are frequently mashups of real-life villains, e.g. Jeon Besk.

No! She couldn't do it! Staff meeting or not! She went to jump back onto the SkyJumper before it departed. But then froze. There! The owl was there! The owl was standing in the door of the SkyJumper.
"Going so soon?" Forrest said.
Melly screamed and ran for the office.
Forrest chuckled. (5/5) #wss366