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Things I've learned from manga and anime number 327: People that use fancy parasols are probably not human at all.

"Not fair!" screamed Forrest.
Brunhilde thought for a moment.
"How about a good, old-fashioned footrace?"
Forrest shook his feathers out, spread his wings, and took off with disgust.
"Since Forrest has conceded, will you race me?" the bear asked Brunhilde.
"With pleasure!" (3/3) #wss366

"Not so," the bear replied. "Do you want to make wager?"
"You're on!" Forrest said, landing nearby.
"Alright," the bear said. He turned to Brunhilde, "What kind of race do you want? Diving to the bottom of the lake to pick up a coin? Or who can #finish a cigarette first?"(2/3) #wss366

"Hey! Hey!" Brunhilde said, walking alongside the bear. "Who would win in a race? You or Forrest?"
"It depends," the bear said, thoughtfully after a lengthy pause.
"Lies!" Forrest screeched from the treetops. "You know that I would always win!" (1/3) #wss366

#WritersCoffeeClub How does your social class influence what you write?

*Revin's Heart* is fundamentally a story about feudalism. My experience seeing the longing in the United States for royalty (e.g. celebrating the excesses of the hyperwealthy and a president who appointed his children to positions of authority) make me feel that we are entering a neo-feudal era. *Revin's Heart* is about finding a third-way forward between enlightened and repressive feudal regimes.

#WordWeavers Do you have any fight scenes in your work?

Nearly every one of my stories ends up having fight scenes. My current WiP, *The Ground Never Lies*, has a lot.

"You know your mother doesn't want you to fight," her father said.
"If the boys would leave Liz…" She paused midword, then continued. "If they'd leave me and my friends alone, I wouldn't fight them," she said. "Are *you* going to tell me not to fight them?"
"No," her father laughed. "No. I'm going to teach you how to win."

I was grumpy this evening, so my wife talked me into going up to Berkshire Brewing Company to get a glass (or two) of Foxglove. I'm still grumpy, but now I'm grumpy and kinda drunk.

#ScribesAndMakers Talk about the book that got the fewest votes in yesterday's poll, or share something about all three.

The book that got the fewest votes was *Treasure Island*, a classic young-man's adventure story. *Revin's Heart* is by no means a pastiche of *Treasure Island*, but it did give me the idea. In *Treasure Island*, the pirate, Long John Silver, escapes while Jim goes back to his old life. I always wondered what would have happened if Jim had, instead, gone off with Long John…

From *Devishire!* an unpublished sequel to *Revin's Heart*. You can receive updates when it appears through my monthly newsletter. https://author-sdbrewer.micro.blog/subscribe/

"What did you talk about?" Revin pressed Lidja as they walked to the stables. 
"Oh, stuff," Lidja said, with a little bounce in her step. "Girl stuff."
"You can tell me, can't you?" Revin persisted. 
"You're not a girl, are you?" Lidja asked, archly.
Revin scowled and Lidja hugged him. #wss366

We watched the first two episodes of *With You and the Rain,* which is the anime for *Ame To, Kimi To*. They really captured the atmosphere of this gentle slice-of-life story and the animation is gorgeous. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TUd3sDJOipY

Sunset over #UMassAmherst.

I wrote some reflections on running a dealer table in the bookstore at #Readercon34. https://stevendbrewer.com/readercon34-bookstore/ #readercon

Google proposes to turn the @SFWA Bylaws into an "engaging video" using their stupid AI bullshit.

No-oh-oh-oh.

#ScribesAndMakers Create a multiple choices poll listing 3 books you personally consider “classics” and ask others to choose the ones they have read.

The Three Musketeers
Treasure Island
To Kill a Mockingbird

It was really hot and not many people came by the Amherst Artisan Market today, but I did sell a copy of senokulvitre. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1491276940

I've developed a pitch that seems to work pretty well for it. "senokulvitre means 'without eyeglasses' and it's about that *mysterious world* you find yourself in when you don't have your glasses on." It immediately resonates with anyone who wears glasses.

I noticed today that Google Docs has added a stupid "Try Gemini" icon, so I took some time to try to figure out how to remove it. I went into the settings and turned off all the "smart features" in Google Workspaces, but the icon persisted. I ended up spending nearly an hour trying to figure this out. Finally, I searched in the Google Help interface and found this which seemed like the right thing. Then I read it. Now I have clicked "I have the same question" and subscribed to the item.

The Chief and a cordon of constables escorted Veronica through the streets of Cloudrise, just beginning to become busy with workers heading to the inns and pleasure houses to get ready for the evening's business. 
As the adrenaline #rush passed, Veronica began to feel the effects of the alcohol and she started to stagger. The Chief cautiously put a hand under her elbow to steer her. #wss366 from *The Ground Never Lies*.

This tag has been on my keychain for a while.

#WritersCoffeeClub Share a description you're proud of.

In *Devishire!* Revin discovers Lord Vallon's private club, which is designed to look like the interior of an airship.