@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

"David! David!" The Better Angels barged onto the bridge.
"What?" he said, sighing.
"We need you to be a #judge," they said.
"OK," he said, taking a sip from his coffee. "What do you need?"
They all struck a pose. "Which one of us is prettiest?"
David choked.
"But you're all identical!"

#wss366

I've been reading a cute manga called *Maou Ga Inaka Ni Totsuidara* (魔王が田舎に嫁いだら) which has a charming sense of *mono no aware* about a demon lord who agrees to marry an elementary school teacher in the countryside because, as a demon of destruction, she loves the ホロビタリティ of the rural environment. They translate this as "decayedness" which I was curious about, so I tracked down the original Japanese manga and laboriously transcribed the katakana to translate it. Don't bother.

The rain storm that had appeared out of nowhere blew through almost as quickly. She stood under the awning of a fruit vendor as the last few drops pattered on the fabric. She overpaid the old woman for an apple as thanks for the shelter.
She stepped out into the sunlight. Curls of steam rose from the hot pavement, but the temperature had dropped significantly. A boy wearing yellow boots stomped in a #puddle shrieking with delight.
She took a bite from the apple and resumed walking.

#wss366

I've gotten my final schedule for #boskone https://stevendbrewer.com/boskone-2025-schedule/

A friend posted something that reminded me of this photograph I took years ago and then used as an illustration in my first book of #Esperanto haiku: *Poŝtmarkoj el Esperantujo*. https://stevendbrewer.com/postmarkoj-el-esperantujo-my-first-book-of-haiku/ #BloomScrolling

#WritersCoffeeClub If people tell you they've always wanted to write, what do you say to them?

I would speculate that they don't want to write, but rather they like the idea of being a writer. If you actually wanted to write, you'd be writing. Wanting to be a writer is like wanting to be an astronaut or movie star. Wanting to be a thing and doing what's necessary to become that thing are different and shouldn't be confused. If they actually became a writer, they'd prolly be pretty disappointed.

#SilentSunday

After breakfast, Kasseh slapped her knees. "Alright! Let's go!"
"Where are you going?" Cecelia asked, clearing the table.
"Oh! Nowhere," Kasseh said. "Today, I'm making gold chain."
"Ooh! Can I watch?"
Surprised, Kasseh looked at her, then smiled. "Sure. It's just kind of tedious."
They walked downstairs to her workshop.
"Can you hand me that #spool of wire?" Kasseh pointed to a shelf.
Cecelia went to pick it up but nearly dropped it with surprise.
"It's so heavy!"
"That's gold for you!

#wss366

I would love one of these but it looks like it costs more to ship from the United Kingdom than it costs for the pin: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1841490403/its-dr-actually-trans-non-binary-pride?etsrc=sdt&variation0=5080357048

*Lady Cecelia's Choice* is Part 2 of *Lady Cecelia's Journey*, a sapphic romantasy road story. It has not yet been scheduled for release, but if you subscribe to my monthly mailing list, you can receive updates when it appears. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

"Good afternoon to you, Lady Cecelia," said a strange man's voice.
Cecelia turned toward the voice, then winced as the movement made her head #ache again. A gallant gentleman, impeccably turned out in a somewhat dated style, stood with his hand on his hip as though he'd stepped out of a storybook. 
"You have the advantage of me, Milord," she whispered.

#wss366 (from *Lady Cecelia's Choice*)

#PennedPossibilities What hobbies do you have outside of writing?

I speak #Esperanto. I write haiku. Or is that still writing? I like walking and playing with boxer dogs. I'm interested in natural history. I dabble in photography. I enjoy manga. I like working with maker technology. I sometimes do programming. Or is that writing again? I like working on web development. I like to cook. I enjoy geology. And travel. I like drinking beer and cocktails. And visiting breweries and distilleries. And…

From *Lady Cecelia's Trial*, Part Six of *Lady Cecelia's Journey*, my sapphic romantasy road story. It has not yet been scheduled for serialization but if you subscribe to my monthly mailing list, you can receive updates when it appears. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

#PennedPossibilities What are your SC’s views on marriage?

Once everyone was seated, Cecelia's father clinked his glass with his knife to get everyone's attention.
"Baron," he said. "Would you offer a toast?"
The Baron stood, cleared his throat, and raised his glass, "To Love. When two hearts find each other, it is the duty of all of us, to bring them together, to support, foster, and sustain their love."
"Hear, hear!" said Lord Boxhead.

Nobody wants to work anymore…

#WritersCoffeeClub Do you think it’s vital for a fiction writer to have empathy?

No, it's perfectly adequate to be a high-functioning sociopath. And, unfortunately, there are plenty of authors who can find a large enough audience of truly horrible people that they can do just fine while directing an army of trolls.

"I did not believe you would come," Serena said, hearing his footsteps.
She stood at the railing, looking east. The sea was steel gray under the low clouds, as dawn approached. He stood beside her.
"You #wound me, Milady," Curtiss said.
"What shall we do?"
"What would you have me do, Milady?" he said, bowing. "I am your servant in this."
"You know my family… They will never accept… You. This."
"Indeed, Milady," he said. Then he smiled. "But I perhaps know something they do not."

#wss366

#WordWeavers In their world, is your MC more traditional or more interested in change?

In *Revin's Heart*, the protagonist was born into a feudal society with huge inequality. He was born female in a particularly repressive, backward community. After escaping, he begins to navigate the society as a young man. After becoming a pirate, and seeing society from a new perspective, he comes to understand that it's the *rules* of society that divide people. And that these rules can be rewritten.

Note: I may have taken a few liberties with the truth. But Mrs Frost was actually my 4th grade teacher who marked me down for reading because I refused to read the insipid chapter books that were assigned. I was too busy reading The Hobbit to waste my time on that garbage.

The young woman came out of the flower shop.
"How delightful!" the passerby said.
"What?"
"Your nosegay!"
She scowled. "My what-did-you-say?"
"Your tussie-mussie!"
Her expression darkened further. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your posy! Your bouquet!"
"What are you? A thesaurus?"

#wss366