Rob Vance

Good luck - I am knee deep in research--no writing yet!

The #MicrofictionChallenge250 begins for me in the realm of historical fiction. The prompts are "Clenching" and "Wrong" which depending on your age and education might describe US foreign policy, social media trends, or last night's post-smoke Crunchwrap Supreme.

For the record, my experiences entering Eastern Bloc countries during the peak of the Cold War were easier, more transparent, and ended in more logical outcomes than the onboarding process to become an Amazon Reseller. Just trying to sell a book, Bezos.

His workouts are still a part of my training regime.

52 miles and a 12 dollar milkshake. #running #ultramarathon #notafivedollarshake

YouTube video by Main Street Rag Main Street Rag | Poetry | Exercising Haunts by Rob Vance

For goofs, I did a little reading....

youtu.be/st8J41KxVRs?...

#writerslife #poetry #authors

Exercising Haunts Rob's debut book Exercising Haunts is available for pre-order! Published by Main Street Rag, January 2026. 40 pages, $13 (+ shipping) Exercising Haunts, takes a…

I'm excited that my author's site has launched and Exercising Haunts, an offshoot of my Queens thesis, is now available for pre-order.

robertlvance.com/book/

Raccoon sitting on a branch of a large tree. The raccoon is eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while surveying the country side. Courtesy of GPT-5

While I should have known better, I learned on today's long run that raccoons can climb trees--and as fast as squirrels do. #thingsseenwhilerunning #running #whatsinthatsandwich

Congress eliminated public media funding. At a time of deep division, public media brings us together.

Help keep it strong. Join our monthly donors today: n.pr/458sOhq

#writingtips #bookbuzz #AuthorUproar #BookBoost #BooksWorthReading

James River, Lee Bridge and the mighty Sun.

Week’s rain finally made it into the river. Muddy waters at the rapids.

Brief walkabout before the heat.

Backyard ultra with the local running club—sitting is part of the plan. 😝 #running #ultramarathon

FREELAND by @leighsugar.bsky.social‬ is out today from Alice James: bit.ly/FREEL4ND 🖤🤍

A fierce, inventive debut tracing a love across prison walls and the systems of mass incarceration. Poems on race, memory, mental illness, and freedom.

Available now wherever books are sold 📚

100 mile finish gate for MMT100

Here’s to returning to this side of the gate Sunday morning. #ultramarathon #running

Muddy prints of raccoon and the common mountain biker.

Brief walkabout in the mud. Some good company. Seven days until race day! #running #taper

Sunrise over the Appalachian Mountains. Spring is starting, leaves not quite full on the trees.

Solid six hours on the AT today. #running #ultramarathon

Headlamp beam on sand reflecting on breaking waves. Someone at the beach did not spend his night drinking….

Eight miles of beach running. Headlamps and light houses to guide the way. #running #solitude

James River before sunrise. 9th Street bridge on its spindly piers looks like it is wading across the river.

21 miles the easy way…slow and steady. Pollen is about a foot deep in RVA. #running #sneezing

It's a small joy, but a joy nonetheless, to hold a freshly printed manuscript that is still warm from an old school laser printer. #writerslife

Bear Alert poster: High bear activity has been reported in this area!

Spotted more than halfway into a long run. Truly too late to turn back. This sign set my pace to finish! #Running #SpringtimeinVirginia

Elbows up, Canada!

Excited that the Barkley Marathon is underway!

Race day shorts regardless of temp. Everything else - pants below 50F.

Richmond skyline, a handful of skyscrapers, in concrete grey fog.

Foggy run by the James. Very quiet thanks to cool temps.

Absolutely. Also helps me push mentally the more difficult paces and terrains.

Exercising Haunts: poems, Winter 2025 Release. Background image of what might be poetry books, but hey, they could be comics too!

"Exercising Haunts," my thesis from Queens MFA program, is now under contract for publication with Main Street Rag Publishing Company.

Listening to Radiohead’s “The Bends” while the ink dries.

“Where do we go from here? The words are coming out all weird….”

It’s all a matter of perspective.

Rough day. But it's always a pick me up to receive a nice note in a rejection letter. #writerslife

Cloud banks line up with train tracks and oil cars.

My hikes in RVA are often edited. Here’s the other side of my walkabouts. Pleasant 3 hours au plein air.