@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

Before the Nebula Conference in Kansas City, the SFWA Board held a strategic retreat to talk about plans for the coming year. I was really encouraged by how well things are going. https://stevendbrewer.com/sfwa-strategic-retreat/

After reading this article, I'm tempted to start a book club. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/style/fiction-books-men-reading.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Rk8.I2lj.-nmjHA7spcVj&smid=url-share

#WritersCoffeeClub How frequently do other languages (or conlangs) appear in your writing?

My forthcoming book, *A Familiar Problem*, has scenes set in Japan, and there's a little Japanese to go along with those scenes. In *Ecorozire* (a Revin's Heart sequel), they travel to a place where a different language is spoken (that I developed the outline of a conlang for). But I'm cautious about using other languages. I'm a language geek and if I really let my geek flag fly, it might turn people off.

Tutu looked at the glass then at Bebe. "I'm sorry," she said.
"Hmph!" Bebe said, looking away.
Tutu put the glass down and sat on the floor.
Bebe pushed Bellotrix into her glass and knocked it over. It spilled all over Tutu's lap.
"Hey!"
"Oops! Bebe told you Bellotrix was thirsty!" (4/4) #wss366

"Where did you hide my glass?"
"Bebe didn't take it!"
Tutu clenched her fists and took a step toward Bebe. Then David returned from the galley.
"There was was a fly in your drink," he said, handing her the glass. "So I got you a fresh one." (3/4) #wss366

The Angels looked up and around at each other, but no-one said anything. Then Bebe spoke up.
"Maybe Bellotrix was thirsty."
She held her teddy bear up as evidence.
"Bebe! That was #mine! If you're thirsty, get your own drink!"
Bebe looked shocked. "Bebe didn't drink it!" she protested. (2/4) #wss366

Tutu carried her glass out to the lounge and set it on the table. When the replicator dinged, she went back to galley to get her popcorn. She passed David on her return to the lounge. When she arrived, her glass was gone. She eyed the other Angels.
"What happened to my drink?" (1/4) #wss366

The temperature topped out at 101.2°, but it's dropped all the way to 99.6° now! There's a weather station at Computer Science, about a quarter mile from my house. https://weather.cs.umass.edu/