This is going to be us tonight! We can't wait to get a copy of our newest anthology, SoWest: Danger Awaits! Join us and we can giddily bounce around the @poisonedpen.bsky.social together.

Lovely Friday afternoon thunderstorm (with hail even) making this pluviophile very happy!

A college student spends his summers digging for gold in a secret mine until his boss mysteriously disappears. "Herman Pines and Archie" by Bill Butler, from the Desert Sleuths Anthology, SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS! Pick up a copy: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNS2H162 #SinC #AmReading #Mystery #Suspense

A police officer training for a marathon in the desert witnesses a terrible accident… or was it murder? "The Bride Wore Blood" by Wendy Harrison, from the Desert Sleuths Anthology, SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS! Pick up a copy: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNS2H162 #SinC #AmReading #Suspense #PoliceProcedural

A down on his luck father-to-be gets sucked into a dicey murder for hire gig as he tries to support his family. "A Killer Job" by Roberta Gibson, from the Desert Sleuths Anthology, SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS! Pick up a copy: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNS2H162 #SinC #AmReading @robertagibson.bsky.social

Cheerful black-eyed Susan blooms. #PhoenixGarden

Definitely a great WriteNOW! Conference full of fab speakers! I had a wonderful time and I'm feeling inspired all the way down into my stubby little pinky toes. ✨❤️✨

Host Christina Estes kicked off Saturday by introducing Wendy H Jones who gave us beaucoup tips on how to "Self-edit Your Way to Being a Better Writer." #WriteNOWConference #DSWN @wendyhjones.bsky.social @reporterestes.bsky.social

The Mercury eliminated the defending champion Liberty in the WNBA playoffs. Alyssa Thomas was a clear winner. The refs were losers again.

Yay, Mercury move to the semis! Go Merc! #WNBA

Us, thinking about the WriteNOW! Conference THIS weekend!! ✨😍✨ Register: desertsleuths.com/writenow-2025/

Last chance for: -PitchNOW! - pitch an editor/agent your book -EditNOW! - get feedback on your first 3 chapters -CraftNOW! - Catriona McPherson's workshop on "Planting Clues and Red Herrings" RegisterNOW!: desertsleuths.com/writenow-2025/ #DSWN #AmWriting #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity

I visited the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix yesterday for the last day of their special exhibit, Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars. I went to go see all of the wonderful instruments, but especially this beautiful guitar from the School of Matteo Sellas, c. 1625.

Next Friday, Sept 19, Editor Melissa Rechter of Crooked Lane Books & Alcove Press is taking zoom pitches at the WriteNOW! Conference. Let's take a closer look at her manuscript wishlist. #DSWN #AmWriting #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity

On Friday Sept 19, Literary Agent Ginger Hutchinson of Moveable Type Management is taking zoom pitches at the WriteNOW! Conference. Let's take a closer look at her manuscript wishlist. #DSWN #AmWriting #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity bsky.app/profile/dese...

The Kim Possible theme song is running through my head as I try to go to sleep. There are worse things, I suppose.

Hey you crime fiction writers! Saturday 9/19 @desertsleuths.bsky.social WriteNow! conference I’ll be moderating "Doing Justice to Characters Unlike Yourself" with the brilliant @alexsegura.bsky.social, @dmrowell.bsky.social Rowell & @robyngigl.bsky.social. desertsleuths.com/writenow-202...

Sign up now to get some precious zoom face time with Editor Melissa Rechter of Crooked Lane Books and Alcove Press. These are priceless networking connections as well as pitching opportunities! Register: desertsleuths.com/writenow-2025/

Great deal alert! 1. Choose your editor (Terri, Jay, or Anne). 2. Get helpful feedback on your first 30 pages. 3. Level up your manuscript. 4. Take the publishing world by storm! #DSWN #AmWriting #MysteryWriters #ThrillerWriters #CrimeWriters #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity #SinC

An animal sanctuary owner accused of a rancher's murder calls upon a Sherlockian duo to clear her name. "Just Enough Rope" by @maryadlerwrites.bsky.social, from the Desert Sleuths Anthology, SOWEST: DANGER AWAITS! Pre-order on Amazon Kindle: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNS2H162 #SinC #Mystery #Sherlock

If you are interested in #kidlit make sure you are taking advantage of all of what the community here on Bluesky has to offer. Find out more about the lists, feeds, and helpful people here: briankirbystudio.com/a-list-of-li...

Incoming President of @sincworldwide.bsky.social, Raquel V Reyes will pep us up abt our writing careers, & boy, could we use that positive energy! Come get a dose & a plan! Register for the WriteNOW! Conference at DesertSleuths.com #DSWN25 #AmWriting #WritingCommunity @latinasleuths.bsky.social

📜 FLOCK OF FABLES; a formline bestiary 🐉 (🔁) #formline #indigenousart #telekitneticart

Just opened my commissioned pet portraits package from amazing artist & #kidlit friend @jengubicza.bsky.social. Look how fun and cute they are! Jen used highlighter & colored pencils for each of my kitties. This is still in its plastic cover protector until I find the perfect frame. Thanks, Jen!

One thing is for sure. Kids need our art and stories. ❤️ Bring on the weird and wonderful books. This image is made using photos of real 3D puppets in actual sets with the facial expressions drawn on top digitally. Art Directors & Editors: I’m rep’d by the wonderful @kaitfeldmann at @ktliterary

I love Wednesday's kickass Sherlock Holmes cape jacket. I wish I lived somewhere I could actually wear one regularly. In high school I was desperate for a chic trench coat (like Highlander [with sword of course], La Femme Nikita, X-Files) but that never made sense in the desert.

I ate the zucchini before it rotted in the fridge drawer. /earns Medal of Honor/ I can just eat garbage this weekend right?

If you see this, repost with a vampire that is not Dracula.

Me, after reading my unfinished first draft short story after a few days away: Well, it's not shit! My uncle: Uh, that's not really a ringing endorsement. Me: No, it totally is! You just don't understand the author mindset during the drafting process.

Hi #KidLitArtPostcard day, I'm Mike! I usually post cheerful scenes but this month I'm showing some range with a new spooky MG cover illustration instead. I'm also excited to share that I'm now repped by @vickyweberbooks.bsky.social at CMA! 🎉 mdashow-kidlitart.carrd.co #spooky #kidLit #kidLitArt

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm an author/illustrator and current #PBRisingStars mentee about to dive into the #amquerying trenches. I enjoy creating lovable oddball characters who are definitely, probably, never evil. Check out more of my work at: brookebaum.com #kidlit #kidlitart

“According to [research] taking as little as six minutes to relax and read a book can lower your stress levels by as much as 68%. This was compared to the success rate of other stress-relieving activities such as listening to music (61%) and walking (42%).” www.henryford.com/blog/2025/02...

If you are in the Edmonton area Fiasco is still missing - please check garages and sheds and engines! Let's get him home, please share x

Local bookstore favorite, The Poisoned Pen, is hosting the launch party & book signing for our latest Desert Sleuths Anthology, SoWest: Danger Awaits! Free event. Come get to know us! Register for the WriteNOW! Conference at DesertSleuths.com #DSWN25 #MysteryWriters @poisonedpenbooks.bsky.social

UPDATE: we're looking at more like 1:30 folks, thanks!

In the Highlands area of Edmonton, Alberta Canada, Fiasco (‪ @premeemohamed.com 's cat) is still missing. His 'sister', Franca, is home safe. Here are more images of Fiasco. Fiasco is chipped but not collared. He is deeply loved and sorely missed. edmontonacccpets.shelterbuddy.com/animal/anima...

EDMONTON: this is Fiasco, @premeemohamed.com's beautiful boy. after slipping outside a few days ago, he needs help finding his way home. can you share this with your local circles?

Me: Now that I have finished with Invisalign, I should take a selfie and show people my updated smile. Also me: /Does not wash hair for a week/

I edited 5 of the short stories in this book! I'm proud of our hard work & psyched for its release next month. If you like crime & mystery short stories, we've got a fun variety, all set in AZ; a little bit of the old west, gold diggers, dangerous canyons, ghosts, deduction, & dodgy jobs gone awry.

Work in progress is happening on this piece for a group show at @nannygoatgallery.bsky.social 👻 #art #gothic #dollart #sculpture

DEAD AGAIN is one of my all-time favorite movies. I love when other people appreciate it too.

I know that pumpkin spice is already on people's minds, but I'm really craving an Apple Crisp!

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day! The adorable black cats in my life; my cat Sorsha on the left, my parents' cat, Zakk, on the right.

When you run out of clean shorts during the Phoenix summer, it means no more procrastinating on laundry.

Absolutely ridiculous amount of flowers. It’s so deceptive too because it’s probably around 90 flowers but it doesn’t look like it to me? Anyway, she’s all finished! #art #sculpture #polymerclay #handmade

I finished the mystery short story. I'm about 130 words over the 5k limit, but that should be easy to trim when I go back to do revisions. Yay!

I'm 3500 words into writing a 5000 word mystery short story. I even kinda know what to do with the ending. Inconceivable! I'm psyched to finish the first draft.

I would love to fall into a pool right about now. Why do I not have a pool? I wonder if my neighbor would notice me hopping the fence and sliding into the water.

Yay! I love this writers conference!!