Les Monstrueuses at mudac in Lausanne is an exhibit of Kévin Germanier’s haute couture work using upcycled materials. Stunning and inspiring.

Captured along the lakefront and sharing along with my wishes for all the joy and wonder in 2026. #Suisse #LacLeman #Lausanne

Here in Lausanne, we have a rather unique way to celebrate the new year...

Wanted to sleep on it to ensure it was really, really true and yep, in the full light of the following day I can say I finished that novel draft yesterday. Sure the heck I did.

We watched the movie “Friendship” this holiday break on high recommendation and… I didn’t get what was supposed to be great about it? What’d I miss? What’s so fantastic about this film? (Serious question, because I am feeling seriously out of touch.)

Given that we’re in the season of meals eaten in company, whether of family or friends, why not look into the invention of etiquette for this month's Letter? Where the heck did all these rules come from, anyway? (Right?)

A local store gifted me a bar of soap for the holidays. Before now, outside the dentist's office, I have never encountered the exact smell of that "cinnamon-flavored" tooth polish used in the dentist's chair.

Civilizational high or low that we now have Haribo jewelry for sale in high-end department stores?

There be snow in them there alps. #LacLeman #Suisse #France

My spouse performed a birthday miracle earlier this week: He found me an honest-to-goodness delicious US-style cake.

Head down over here trying to finish the first draft of my latest novel before the end of the year. This year was yet another rough one, writing-asperations-wise, so I'd like to end it on a high, if I can.

I say this every year, but *how,* seriously, am I already setting meetings in February?

Where the heck did November go, anyway? observingleslie.com/magazine/mon...

Amidst a worldwide epidemic of loneliness and on the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving, I've been thinking about this again. Additional ideas for the list, anyone?

I'm "that aunt," the one who gives books as presents. Recommendations for reads to captivate a 10-year-old girl and an almost-12-year-old boy? (Both are somewhat reluctant readers, but I'm trying to change that.) 📚

In next week’s Letter, I’m going to tell the story of William Tell (see what I did there?)… …including my favorite version of the legend. 🏹

Have we reached "this video call could have been a regular call" yet? Or is that just me?

Applause for this fierce Swiss graffito. Made me smile, anyway.

It's finally hoodie season!

I've read this analysis a few times and it's the one that rings the most true to me. 😬 www.vox.com/the-highligh...

Recs for relatively recent short story collections you loved? #amreading 📚

I looked forward to the change of seasons this year when I realized that the turn inward gives me more time, quiet, and focus for my fiction writing. Exploring out in the world fills the well, but the words don’t end up on the page until I’m seated somewhere.

I know someone knowledgeable has hypothesized about what comes after the social-media era (as we know it, anyway). Can anyone point me in the direction of an interesting paper or article or two?

C'est la Toussaint, pour tous ceux qui la célèbrent. 🪦

I went on a Halloween hunt for scary creatures in these parts, and where what I found (and didn't find!): 👹🧌👻

Walked past a woman walking slowly, immersed in her ereader, and I desperately wanted to talk to her. (Hi, friend!)

Changed time yesterday in my part of Europe. Fun fun. Thing is... you may not have changed time where you are yet (if you change it at all).

If I were anywhere near NYC, I'd be there tomorrow, because @danchaon.bsky.social has written some of my all-time favorite novels. So if that isn't an endorsement to get there if you can, I don't know what is.

We had some glorious autumn color these past couple of weeks. 🍂

Spooky... Denmark? 🐴💀🐴 See where my latest research rabbit hole took me in my Letter next week. Sign up here if you haven't already!

Random question: Am I imagining a time in the past when gift shops everywhere sold back scratchers, whether in plastic or bamboo or hand-carved?

The books I finished reading in Q3 2025. My favorites, as always, in bold. 📚 Oh, how I agonize over the bolding!

How I'm rethinking the shorter days and colder weather...

Writers among you, is there a craft book you return to at least once a year?

If you could have any author as a writing mentor or teacher, who would you choose and why?

In today’s Deep Thoughts by Leslie Farnsworth: Am I the only person with one nostril that runs a lot more than the other?

It's spooky season at last! And lest you tell me you don't like horror novels, especially if you haven't read one in a while, hear out my reasons why I think you should at least give it a try.

September felt like a lot of ramping up and getting back into gear with one big break in the middle.

I just learned that October 1 is Older People’s Day. When, I wonder, does a person qualify for the category?

Review: "some unnecessary and out of place swearing in the book" Me: BUY NOW

Anyone else ever flummoxed by the books recommended to you by whatever reading algorithm?

I am winning Wednesday. Just washed a massive load of laundry without detergent. Go me.

Today's a federal holiday in my part of the world... the Swiss Federal Day of Fasting. (Nope, not a typo. I really did mean to write "fasting," and not "feasting.")

In this month's Letter, the "galop infernal" starts a storm. Here's where to subscribe:

European Heritage Days this weekend, fellow Europeans! Friendly reminder to check out what's up where you are. (I love European Heritage Days.) Here's a round-up of links for finding out what's planned: observingleslie.com/magazine/beh...

It's embarrassingly absurd how long it takes me to put together a single short e-mail newsletter.

Dreamed I was in a seminar with a 100 percent Dan Chaon syllabus taught by Dan Chaon. And it was fantastic. So I'm game for that, @danchaon.bsky.social , you know, just in case.

Do people even use the term "pound sign" anymore or has that been lost to "hashtag?" If so... I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Almost like the weather here rubbed its nefarious little hands together and said, "Cusp of autumn at last! Ready miserable conditions. LAUNCH."

Just ran across a NYT headline reading "Charlie Sheen is Ready to Tell You Everything" and why the hell would I want that, seriously?