Imagine my surprise (and unimaginable delight) when I found my name among the Honorable Mentions for the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine's flash fiction contest. What a way to start a week. #writingcommunity #amwriting #ahmm

I took the opportunity to run my first road 5K. #running #traveltheworld #palmdesert5k

Who knew it would be twenty years after leaving Los Angeles that I would finally get to see the #sanandreasfault #traveltheworld #travelphotography

I've spent all my free time over the last two days trying to create two paragraphs describing WHY my protagonist would do what I need him to do so the rest of the book can happen. I'm not napping. I'm thinking. Promise. #amwriting #writingcommunity

Cracking 75K in my work-in-progress is a Christmas miracle. 😂 #writingcommunity #amwriting

A last article (for now) talking about AI and writing. Specifically about why AI-generated books aren't likely to be as bad for business as authors suspect. bit.ly/496zEFc #writingcommunity #ai

The area in front of Toronto's City Hall is very busy the Saturday evening before Christmas. #traveltheworld #torontocityhall #chrustmad

The difference between the East and West side of #aruba is massive. All because of the trade wind in the southern Caribbean. #traveltheworld #travelphotography

There's something awesome about watching animals just go about their day. #traveltheworld #aruba #ttavelphotography

I'm pretty certain 'iguana' is an imperial unit of measure. 😂 #aruba #traveltheworld #travelphotography

Sunsets on #aruba are considered to be among the most spectacular in the world. Your call. #traveltheworld #sunset #travelphotography

Suck it, fantasy fans. I got an email from George R.R. Martin the other day, and you didn't. Not only does he want to chat with me, he even signed the email 'Steve Martini', so I'd know he wants to keep this quiet. 😂 #writingcommunity #scams #spam #georgerrmartin

If you're trail running in Arikok on Aruba, be aware that tree branches will jump into your path. Branches with sharp, spiky parts #trailrunning #arikok #aruba #travektheworld

When I don't post pictures, it's usually because I'm in Toronto and there isn't much worth sharing. But right now... #aruba #traveltheworld

Understanding why LLMs are not 'smart' is critical to recognizing their limitations. And why they are NOT a threat to authors, regardless of the hype. My latest Substack post goes into the reasons you have no reason to be afraid. 😆 bit.ly/4izz9b2 #writingcommunity

The ongoing onslaught of spam. First, the name in the email differs from the signature. Second, the person could find the book on Amazon, but damn, that Goodreads interface (owned by Amazon, BTW) is just too much to figure out. 🙄 Still, good for a laugh. #writingcommunity

Just got through a long action scene that set up the path to the climax. Cracking 70K words means it's all downhill from here. My goal was to finish the first draft by the end of the year, and I now think I might make it. #writingcommunity #amwriting #deadlinessuck

This is the dynamic duo. Jim L'Etoile has his 'plot hounds'. I have my 'reasons I need to keep a steady paycheck'. Kibble and treats don't pay for themselves. #dachshunds #dogpics

Yesterday, while writing a scene, I had a stroke of inspiration that was perfect for the story. Didn't plan it. Didn't see it coming. Wish I could replicate it on demand, but that's not how these things work. 😆 Moments like that are why I truly love writing #amwriting

Writing pro tip: Don't name your main characters similarly to your pets. My MC is Sticker. My dog is Snickers. I spend a lot of time backspacing and retyping in my manuscript. 😂 #writingcommunity #amwriting #protip #dachshunds PS - The picture is my dog, not the MC.