L.A.Barnitz

YouTube video by Headline USA Jesse Jackson 'I Am Somebody' on Sesame Street

I shook Jesse's hand after a packed event at MU in 1984. He was a candidate in the Democratic primary & he lit the hall with his positive aspirations for what America could become. It's gone to hell, but he wouldn't give up on this country & we shouldn't either.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuZV...

Sounds like an interesting story! #readingcommunity #bookworm

Here's a little taste of chapter 4 from The Stonebound Heir. #SPFBOXI #epicfantasy #readingcommunity

The problem is, the hype of AI is always so clearly manufactured. It’s sold as essential but mysteriously so — rarely is it portrayed as making life better; it’s sold as doing things WE want to keep doing. We want it to inventory our fridge and detect cancer, not make music and replace us at work.

Trying to figure out the best way to gift a free copy of one of my ebooks to folks who sign up for my newsletter. Any suggestions? Is pushing for newsletter sign-ups even worth it in your opinion?
#writingcommunity

SPFBO XI - The First Update Speculative fiction book reviews.

Just found an intriguing take on Pilgrim by Mitchell Lüthi among the reviews at Fantasy Book Critic. It's one of the #SPFBOXI competing novels this year. This existential & theological horror fantasy set in the 12th century sounds right up my alley! #BookSky💙📚 #ReadingCommunity
shorturl.at/WSV2d

Meme image. Top text reads: Everyone needs a friend who shares your current existential dread. Bottom is an image of two possums on a branch. Text reads "aaaaaaaaaa" over one possum and "aaaaaaa also" over the other.

Good morning and happy Monday, friends.

Both literally and...uh...literally.
#ICEOUT

I'd really like to follow all the other #SPFBO authors on BlueSky. I've found a couple of you, but hey, a follow for a follow and good luck to everyone.
#WritingCommunity #BookSky💙📚 #epicfantasy

SPFBOXI

Angela Hoyt has put up a great spreadsheet to follow the #SPFBOXI reviews and track down where to get each fantasy novel.
#BookSky 💙📚 #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity #Fantasy #Bookworm
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Though most of my posts are about my writing and other good writing, I am not blind to what is happening in this country. My brother has decided he's got to stand up and run for Congress to address this mess, and I couldn't be prouder of him. #WritingCommunity #fightforyourrights #Missouri

Hours after federal agents killed Alex Pretti, Bondi sent Walz a letter: turn over voter rolls, Medicaid data, and SNAP records or ICE stays. Senator Murphy: "They're openly using state violence as a bargaining chip to seize election infrastructure." This is extortion.

We are not okay.

Alrighty then, how about you cozy up with my Ozarks gothic ghost story #novella A Haunting at Bent Creek. Ghosts, Monsters, Guilt, Stubborn Pride, Feisty Old Women. Ebook available at labarnitzbooks.com
#ShamelessSelfPromoSaturday #writerslift #readingcommunity #BookSky💙📚

Writers and Artists Need a Way to Label AI Use: Here’s What That Could Look Like | Jane Friedman To encourage transparency among creators and audience, one writer suggests a simple, two-category system for labeling AI use in works of art.

And 2) what's the best label to indicate that AI was not used at all in a 100% human-generated work? 3/3
#BookSky💙📚 #WritingCommunity
janefriedman.com/writers-and-...

Writers and Artists Need a Way to Label AI Use: Here’s What That Could Look Like | Jane Friedman To encourage transparency among creators and audience, one writer suggests a simple, two-category system for labeling AI use in works of art.

Does it mean you used the internet to research what swords were used in 13th century India, or does it mean you posed a question about swords in 13th century India to an AI program of some kind? 2/3
#BookSky💙📚 #WritingCommunity
janefriedman.com/writers-and-...

Writers and Artists Need a Way to Label AI Use: Here’s What That Could Look Like | Jane Friedman To encourage transparency among creators and audience, one writer suggests a simple, two-category system for labeling AI use in works of art.

I applaud the effort to establish transparent accountability for writers & other creatives who use AI in their work. Only 2 things missing- 1) a definition of what AI-assisted research means. 1/3
#BookSky💙📚 #writingcommunity
janefriedman.com/writers-and-...

Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.

The Stonebound Heir's beautiful cover created by @cristinabencina.bsky.social was in the running for the SPFBO XI Unofficial Cover Contest. We didn't win, but we are honored, & congrats to Camilla Andrew & Eeva Nikunan for the winning cover of When the Stars Alight.
#BookSky💙📚
#writingcommunity

Woot-woot! The Stonebound Heir's beautiful cover created by Cristina Bencina is in the running.
#BookSky💙📚
#bookcovers
#epicfantasy
#writingcommunity

Jason Smith has never had a plan because he's never cared what happened to people in D8 as long as they kept voting for him. It's time that changed. draftfrankbarnitz.com
#missouridems #missouriindependents

Loved that book.

So why do I hate almost every "on trend" fantasy book cover? Most look as if they're designed for a) 14-year-old gamers willing to branch out beyond graphic novels; b) 40+ women into cottagecore; or c) military history buffs.
#writingcommunity #bookcovers

That education will naturally decrease racism and religious extremism, and that the natural world will heal itself of mankind's abuses.

After 10 minutes she leaves. That is my signal to get up, stretch & make a cup of tea, little milk no sugar, before returning to the keyboard.

photo of a cream-colored cat with a darker brown face and blue eyes

Biscuit & I are creatures of habit: She jumps on my desk at regular times then steps into my lap as I type. She turns exactly twice before lying down for pets & the use of my right arm for her chin rest. 1/2

Already following!

I've already found some intriguing stories among #SPFBO11 colleagues to check out, including Tethered to Darkness by Matt Falcon, Remnant by KR Solberg, & The Butterfly Koi by A Sherman Karlsson.
@mattfalcon.bsky.social @ashermankarlsson.bsky.social
#BookSky💙📚 #ReadingCommunity #WritingCommunity