Tessera

Substack just added an AI detector for readers, and there's a lot of discussion there now about using AI in writing. Here's my explanation of how I use AI. (Hint: I do NOT use it to write for me!!!)

How do I use AI? Let Me Count the Ways. . .

It’s just come to my attention that Substack has added an AI detector.

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The Whimsical Muse@whimsicalmuse.bsky.social · last wk.

Yes they do!!

Libraries make the world a better place.

Ooh, I love it! A fake newspaper article and headline for CHORDS OF DECEPTION! In case you can't read it, it says: "Harmony Turns Deadly. What began as a celebration of music ended in tragedy last night when [1/2]

QUESTION: What's the difference between a writer and a large pizza? I don't know, what's the difference? A large pizza can feed a family of 4. #WriterJokes #WritersLife #AmWriting #WriterHumor

Split screen image: writer on left, large pizza on right

Gee, I wonder if Rafaella Dimitris is a real person at MacMillan, and if she knows she sent me an email. . . #WriterScams

Retired nurse sleuths are elite, and I will die on this hill (peacefully, with tea). ☕️😄 Why Lily Gallagher is built for clues: • Nurses notice small changes—tone of voice, shaky hands, forced smiles. 🩺 • They’ve seen every kind of “I’m fine” that actually means [1/3]

Is anyone else experiencing this? Since July 1 I have been inundated with spam calls, about 8-10 a day. My phone service blocks them, but the hallmark is a silent voicemail that lasts from 20-23 seconds. Then I get a VM notification. Very annoying.

Picture this: Central Florida afternoon heat, a rehearsal humming along… and the orchestra librarian is found dead in the music library. 🌴📚🎶 Across the hall, kids are still playing their instruments—oboe lines weaving through the air—while the adults scramble to understand what just happened. [1/3]

youth orchestra rehearsal seen through an open doorway

Let’s talk about the most deliciously suspicious setting: a youth orchestra. 🎼👀 Why it works so well for a cozy mystery: 1) Everyone’s invested—kids, parents, volunteers, donors. Lots of opinions. Lots of egos. 😅 2) People come and go constantly during rehearsal. Perfect for [1/3] buff.ly/xf1r9PT

image of youth orchestra rehearsal with oboe in the foreground

Everyone's heard about #WritersBlock, but do you know what it is? This about sums it up. . . Writer’s block is nature’s way of telling you that you’ve spent three hours researching medieval spoons instead of writing your novel. #AmWriting #AmWritingFiction #BooksBooksBooks

Color me surprised! This just showed up in an email from Amazon recommending books for me to read. It's the first time I've seen it recommend one of my own books. #AlgorithmAtWork #AmReading #AmWriting #LilyGallagherMysteries

Yes, this is how tariffs REALLY work. American consumers and taxpayers are paying them twice as companies get reimbursed. youtu.be/ONGiazKQt6w?...

Trump forced to GIVE THE MONEY BACK

YouTube video by David Pakman Show

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I just finished LATTER END by Patricia Wentworth. It’s in the middle of the Miss Silver series, but somehow I missed it until now. I loved the surprise twist. . . buff.ly/Ws4kY9i #CozyMystery #MissSilver #AmReading

“In cozy mysteries, the sweetest places hide the sharpest secrets.” Sunshine on the sidewalks. A youth orchestra tuning up across the hall. ☀️🏡🎶 And then—one wrong note that changes everything. If you love your mysteries with warmth, wit, and a Florida breeze, you’re [1/2] buff.ly/xf1r9PT

Curious. If you belong to a subscription e-reading service, which one do you use? ➡️ 1. Kindle Unlimited ➡️ 2. Kobo Plus ➡️ 3. Everand (formerly Scribd) ➡️ 4. Nook Unlimited ➡️ 5. Other Let me know in the comments! Thanks! #ReadingSubscription #KindleUnlimited #KoboPlus #Everand #NookUnlimited

Plot twists belong in the STORY. Not the BOOK. There's a reason why "may you live in interesting times" is considered a curse. . . buff.ly/oDXniW2 #AmWriting #ChordsOfDeception #IndiePublishing #CozyMystery #Bookish

Interesting Plot Twists Should Stay in the Story, Not in the Publishing

It’s been an interesting two weeks.

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A minister, a priest, and a rabbit walked into a bar. "What'll you have?" the bartender asked the rabbit. "I have no idea," the rabbit replied. "I'm only here because of autocorrect." What are your thoughts on #autocorrect? Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between? #WriterJokes #WritersLife

I just finished binge re-watching a series from years ago called Burn Notice. Every episode starts with the words, "My name is Michael Westin. I used to be a spy." It's violent, the characters do illegal things without facing consequences (mostly), and [1/2]

So today I'm scratching my head and trying to come up with a good topic for this week's newsletter. It's not normally something I have any problems with. So why am I stressing about it today? Because what's front-of-mind for me [1/2]

Sometimes readers write reviews that highlight an aspect of my book's characters that I hadn't even really thought of. This one talks about sadness in the villains. Hmmm. . . 🦹🏻 Feeling good about the "intimacy and warmth" of the others, though. 🤗 #AmWriting #ChordsOfDeception #EdgyCozyMystery

Image of a reader's review: "I have just finished reading Chords of Deception. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is a typical cozy mystery with an intriguing plot and interesting characters, but it is more than that. It is the story of complicated relationships. Even the simplest relationships have intimacy and warmth, and the villains a sadness that is seldom found in a traditional mystery."

QUESTION: How many writers does it take to change a lightbulb? I don't know, how many? Eight. One to change the bulb, and seven to discuss whether the bulb's motivation is believable. Drumroll please. . . #WriterJokes #WritersLife

What's the saying, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans? Lily's plans for a restful retirement go right out the window when her daughter and granddaughter move in unexpectedly. Then it gets worse. . . #CozyMystery #LilyGallagherMysteries #ChordsOfDeception #FloridaFiction

Quote from CHORDS OF DECEPTION: I always expected retirement would include rest and relaxation.