I’m moving over to @bethannepatrick.bsky.social — will keep this account open for a bit longer, but please follow me there if you like.

Mitch McConnell, the Schrodinger’s Cat of 2026.

As an experiment, I generated 3K words in AI. I then ran it through one of those AI checkers. The checker said 16% of the text seemed like AI. It's just convincing me that the only writing worth a damn is the writing that comes straight from a person's brain through their fingers.

#5Things: 1. Getting a new, larger desk today. #writerly 2. Ready for college besties, visiting this week. 3. Going to see "The Invite" this afternoon. 4. Erling Haaland's hair elastics. 5. Discovering Hazel & Alice b/c Alice is a pal's godmother. #folkmusic #hazelandalice #alicegerrard

#5Things: 1. Looking forward to a morning Zoom with a friend and colleague. 2. Sunshine after two days of gloomy weather. 3. Movie date with spouse today! 4. My word-puzzle text group, all ride-or-dies. 5. A truly unexpected compliment.

#5Things: 1. A happy, gabby lunch w/a bestie. 2. A fun, quiet hour shopping at Sephora. 3. A delightful video call w/book publicists. Who are THE BEST. All of you. #bookpr #bookpublicists 4. A great salad recipe turning up at just the right time. 5. A welcome cancellation.

A new Inspector Gamache ARE has arrived: MISS WOLCOTT’s GHOST. Please hold my calls and clear the schedule for the next two days. #louisepenny #inspectorgamache #threepines

#5Things: 1. Putting the house back together, EASILY, after a wonderful week with family. 2. Rain and thunderstorms. Grateful. 3. Connecting with a friend who has had very tough news. 4. I need a larger desk and my wonderful spouse got one for me in the sales. 5. BLACK DOVES Season 2 is coming!

#5Things: 1. Ina Garten’s marinade for London broil. 2. Encouragement, which was sorely needed. 3. SWITZY by Emma Cline. Look out for it. A very tough read but excellent. 4. Remembering to do a Duolingo lesson just in time, lol. 5. Sidestroke. It feels elegant.

#5Things: 1. A dream re-connecting me to my high-school self (looking at you, @rhenry.bsky.social). 2. Going out on a boat today. Dolphins? 3. DEAD STILL on Acorn is quite an unexpected show! 4. Do read Rose Tremain's THE HOUSEKEEPR before movie release. 5. Parking both cars in garage at last.

#5Things: 1. Volunteer work. 2. Therapy. 3. Meeting deadlines. 4. Bald eagles at the pond behind our house. 5. An opportunity.

#5Things: 1. An unexpected lunch w/dear ones and ocean views. 2. After 2 weeks w/o wifi, catching up on "Widow's Bay." 3. Sending daughter to Il Papiro in Florence. 4. Video of Emmylou Harris singing "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" last week at Wolftrap's John Prine tribute. 5. Ice-cream cones.

My spouse is bribing me with dinner out so I'll attend an al fresco concert with him. Please pray that the new Sallye Anders insect repellent I bought works (on the pests, NOT on my spouse LOL).

#5Things: 1. Everyone, get out and swim: My BP is 118/52. 2. THE CODE OF THE WOOSTERS. Comfort reading. 3. Had a bad day but moved through it. 4. Friends and family in Greece, France, Italy, Portugal this week. Virtual vacays via photos! 5. A new light fixture from neighbors. #freecycle

#5Things: 1. More swimming. 2. A long phone call with a writer friend. THE BEST. 3. A great meal last night at The Blue Hen in Rehoboth. Get the lobster toast. 4. Happily reading the final Flavia de Luce mystery. RIP, Alan Bradley, and thanks for your wonderful books. 5. Thriving houseplants.

#5Things: 1. Getting properly caught up with work. 2. Swimming laps outdoors for the first time this season. 3. Watching a pod of dolphins with two babies. 4. My dear friend's incredible lobster mac-and-cheese. 5. Widow's Bay.

#5Things: 1. Blue skies/sunshine for the 4th day in a row. 2. Last of the @smittenkitchen.bsky.social Strawberry Summer Cake, mmm. 3. After a brief trip, NO travel or guests thru 6/28. 4. Huge light bulb re WIP. 5. Binge-watching "Amandaland" which is no "Motherland" but still excellent.

Memorial Day. Two weeks ago we attended a meaningful interment ceremony at the West Point Cemetery. I may never reconcile my life as a military spouse with my life as a creative writer. It may be why I haven't written very much. But on this day, I honor our fallen. May they rest in peace.

#5Things: 1. Being rested, clean, dressed, caffeinated, and fed. 2. Looking back on a wonderful visit with longtime friends. 3. Visiting a new-to-me indie bookstore. 4. We have a granddog, her name is Pepper! 5. Episodes of "Would I Lie to You?" (British game show).

#5Things: 1. A truly glorious spring day. 2. The key to no hangnails: Getting a mani w/a Dremel. 3. Meeting a kindred spirit. 4. Taking a trip to be there for a friend. 5. Storm King Arts Center visit. My favorite cathedral.

I'm probably going to delete this account soon and show up again under some version of my real name. I'll be sure to post when I do. Time to kill The Book Maven. . . I promise, it's a mercy killing.

#5Things: 1. A soft-shell crab on my salad, mmmmm. 2. Talking with @annabellegurwitch.bsky.social at the Annapolis Book Fest. Read her new one, THE END OF MY LIFE IS KILLING ME! 3. Fun dinner in Rehoboth w/friends. 4. Loving a novel assigned to me for review. 5. Quiet, careful, appropriate praise.

#5Things: 1. Having a recent passport so I don't have to worry about getting the upcoming version. 2. Remembering to write a thank-you note. #betterlatethannever 3. Singing in the car. 4. Closing a door to open a window. 5. Making a coffee date with a new friend.

#5Things: 1. An unexpectedly delicious lunch. 2. A dear friend's voice at the right time. 3. Discovering a just-silly-enough sitcom. 4. A fresh answer to a tired interview question. 5. Lime/mint seltzer.

#5Things: 1. Blue skies and sunshine. 2. Gave the dog a much-needed bath. 3. Working through a disappointment, mindfully. 4. Listening to The Beautiful South. 5. Crossplay. Even though it’s frustrating.

Back in NYC (well, in Hoboken for the moment). Dragged huzz to "Operation Mincemeat" and he *loved* it and it was fantastic to see it again and I'd go back a third time. Heading to @authorsguild.org gala this evening and expect I will be more than a little starstruck there.

What's your favorite bible verse (wrong answers only) "Your silence will not protect you." -- Audre Lorde

Ken Burnside@kenburnside.bsky.social · 4mo ago

What's your favorite Bible verse (wrong answers only) "And his mind is not for rent. To any God or Government." -- The Gospel of Dubois

What's your favorite Bible verse (wrong answers only) "And his mind is not for rent. To any God or Government." -- The Gospel of Dubois

Glynn Stewart@glynnstewart.com · 4mo ago

What's your favorite Bible verse (wrong answers only) Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. -Tennyson

#5Things: 1. Getting our first annual beach pass here in Delaware. 2. "Persuasion" duet by Richard and Teddy Thompson. 3. Remembering that decluttering is a process. 4. Anything Rao's, but especially their jarred sauces. 5. A much-needed mani/pedi.