Cynthia Swanson
@cynswanauthor.bsky.social
Author of suspense novels Anyone But Her, The Glass Forest & The Bookseller; editor of Denver Noir. Developmental editor, content editor, ghostwriter. Reader, walker, hiker, skier, urban farmer. Blue to the core.
https://linktr.ee/cynthiaswanson
https://linktr.ee/cynthiaswanson
Pinned
Today's edition of my #Substack, The What If Journal, discusses not getting a "win" & and how social media can fool us into thinking everyone else is doing better than us.
Plus, a gift guide of suspense titles for the readers on your list (or you)!
thewhatifjournal.substack.com/p/the-northe...
Plus, a gift guide of suspense titles for the readers on your list (or you)!
thewhatifjournal.substack.com/p/the-northe...
The president for the entirety of 2016 was (checks notes) Barack Obama.
Huh. I wonder what changed for Kegseth.
Weird....
Huh. I wonder what changed for Kegseth.
Weird....
Here's Pete Hegseth in 2016 saying the U.S. military “won’t follow unlawful orders" from a President.
What changed, Pete?
Our Secretary of Defense is an unqualified and unserious person.
What changed, Pete?
Our Secretary of Defense is an unqualified and unserious person.
December 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The president for the entirety of 2016 was (checks notes) Barack Obama.
Huh. I wonder what changed for Kegseth.
Weird....
Huh. I wonder what changed for Kegseth.
Weird....
Today's edition of my #Substack, The What If Journal, discusses not getting a "win" & and how social media can fool us into thinking everyone else is doing better than us.
Plus, a gift guide of suspense titles for the readers on your list (or you)!
thewhatifjournal.substack.com/p/the-northe...
Plus, a gift guide of suspense titles for the readers on your list (or you)!
thewhatifjournal.substack.com/p/the-northe...
December 2, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Today's edition of my #Substack, The What If Journal, discusses not getting a "win" & and how social media can fool us into thinking everyone else is doing better than us.
Plus, a gift guide of suspense titles for the readers on your list (or you)!
thewhatifjournal.substack.com/p/the-northe...
Plus, a gift guide of suspense titles for the readers on your list (or you)!
thewhatifjournal.substack.com/p/the-northe...
Reposted by Cynthia Swanson
December 1, 2025 at 8:20 PM
My son is in his senior year of college as an architecture major. Relieved to see that all the $$$ we put toward his tuition is still (as of this writing) a sound investment.
December 1, 2025 at 9:17 PM
My son is in his senior year of college as an architecture major. Relieved to see that all the $$$ we put toward his tuition is still (as of this writing) a sound investment.
Great suggestions. Shop small and indie!
We know that, for a ton of reasons, a lot of folks don't have as much to spend as they'd like this holiday season. Sooooooo, here's a thread of things you can do that will support your local indie bookstore or other business WITHOUT spending any more than you intended...
December 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Great suggestions. Shop small and indie!
Reposted by Cynthia Swanson
It’s almost a year till the midterms. Dems (including the candidates!) have plenty of time to draft and vet healthcare and immigration solutions, among others. Get started now! We need specific platforms if you want our votes.
Republicans can do the same, including rejecting Tr*mp.
Republicans can do the same, including rejecting Tr*mp.
November 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM
It’s almost a year till the midterms. Dems (including the candidates!) have plenty of time to draft and vet healthcare and immigration solutions, among others. Get started now! We need specific platforms if you want our votes.
Republicans can do the same, including rejecting Tr*mp.
Republicans can do the same, including rejecting Tr*mp.
Reposted by Cynthia Swanson
"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”
—FDR, 1944
—FDR, 1944
November 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”
—FDR, 1944
—FDR, 1944
I'd never consult the White House website these days. If I needed to know something specific on the national level, I'd go to my senators' or House rep's office (all 3 are Dems).
We’ve had people from the U.S. and abroad asking whether the information on the White House website is even accurate anymore. The site has become unreliable, filled with blatantly false and deliberately misleading content.
November 30, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I'd never consult the White House website these days. If I needed to know something specific on the national level, I'd go to my senators' or House rep's office (all 3 are Dems).
SinC is an incredibly supportive community...well worth it to join. Make sure to join your local chapter, too!
Writing marathons are only one of the benefits of being a SinC member. Membership includes free access to Webinars and the Webinar Library, workshops, a writing community, access to the SinC LinC online community, and more!
At $60, that's only a $5/month investment in your writing career!
At $60, that's only a $5/month investment in your writing career!
November 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
SinC is an incredibly supportive community...well worth it to join. Make sure to join your local chapter, too!
Because there will always be new teens, and every generation of teens thinks their teen-years music was the best.
Me? 80s all the way.
Me? 80s all the way.
Why do they keep making new music when the best stuff all came out when I was a teen?
November 30, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Because there will always be new teens, and every generation of teens thinks their teen-years music was the best.
Me? 80s all the way.
Me? 80s all the way.
My corgi-cattle dog mix resembles this remark.
"I came back from the end of the leash, after barking at the deer. Is it treatos time?" #corgi #corgicrew #dogsofbluesky
November 29, 2025 at 10:03 PM
My corgi-cattle dog mix resembles this remark.
This!
@target it’s not the revamping that’s needed. It’s admitting you bowed to a 79 year old racist who has never stepped inside your store. You chose him over the millions and millions of the loyal shoppers. Bad bet.
November 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This!
I thought it would be much harder to give up Target than it has been. Only thing that will make me go back is a change in their policies.
SMDH
Target still doesn’t get it. They do not get to kick us in the nuts, put lipstick on a pig, then expect us to smile and keep spending. My lifestyle no longer includes shopping at there.
Target still doesn’t get it. They do not get to kick us in the nuts, put lipstick on a pig, then expect us to smile and keep spending. My lifestyle no longer includes shopping at there.
November 29, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I thought it would be much harder to give up Target than it has been. Only thing that will make me go back is a change in their policies.
I can't help wondering what Sr would think of Jr.
Great reminder for all Americans…
November 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I can't help wondering what Sr would think of Jr.
@indivisiblercsd.bsky.social, if San Antonio can do it with a wax figure, Rapid City can do it with the new statue downtown.
November 29, 2025 at 6:55 PM
@indivisiblercsd.bsky.social, if San Antonio can do it with a wax figure, Rapid City can do it with the new statue downtown.
Sometimes, we all have to be Frog.
“No,” said Frog.
November 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Sometimes, we all have to be Frog.
Reposted by Cynthia Swanson
One of my favorite Douglas Adams quotes:
“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others.”
More timely today than ever, don't you think? 💙
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky
“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others.”
More timely today than ever, don't you think? 💙
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky
November 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
One of my favorite Douglas Adams quotes:
“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others.”
More timely today than ever, don't you think? 💙
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky
“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others.”
More timely today than ever, don't you think? 💙
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky
Same...but I wish there was more engagement here. I often feel like I'm shouting into the void on Bluesky. I miss the comments and community on FB and IG, but I'm inactive (for the most part) on both platforms these days.
I don't use Instagram much, and when I do it's such an assault of ads and pushed posts now. I'm grateful for the lack of advertising here. Hope it lasts.
November 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Same...but I wish there was more engagement here. I often feel like I'm shouting into the void on Bluesky. I miss the comments and community on FB and IG, but I'm inactive (for the most part) on both platforms these days.
Reposted by Cynthia Swanson
Your Black Friday reminder that in 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. We must stop the monopolization of America. Shop small if you can, please.
November 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Your Black Friday reminder that in 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. We must stop the monopolization of America. Shop small if you can, please.
A reminder to: 1) not shop today; get outside instead; 2) if you do shop, shop small and indie; 3) I'm participating in #RABFAN & giving 100% of my November profits for copies of Anyone But Her purchased anywhere except Amazon to @foodbankrockies.bsky.social, plus 30% of my Amazon profits.
November 28, 2025 at 3:35 PM
A reminder to: 1) not shop today; get outside instead; 2) if you do shop, shop small and indie; 3) I'm participating in #RABFAN & giving 100% of my November profits for copies of Anyone But Her purchased anywhere except Amazon to @foodbankrockies.bsky.social, plus 30% of my Amazon profits.
Reposted by Cynthia Swanson
20 year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom has died from her gunshot wounds. May she rest in peace.
November 28, 2025 at 1:41 AM
20 year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom has died from her gunshot wounds. May she rest in peace.
My son and I both went with our hearts today in our respective pickem pools: for the Packers and against the Chiefs. (We are equal opportunity Packers and Broncos fans.) We'll see if it pays off. #GoPackGo
November 27, 2025 at 6:37 PM
My son and I both went with our hearts today in our respective pickem pools: for the Packers and against the Chiefs. (We are equal opportunity Packers and Broncos fans.) We'll see if it pays off. #GoPackGo
Happy Thanksgiving from my family and me, including the pups!
November 27, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Happy Thanksgiving from my family and me, including the pups!
I'm already tired of this. Will we get this for December holidays, too? The reality is, turkey prices are down due to no avian flu and more supply. And you can get prepackaged/bundled crap and maybe save a little $$. But "grocery prices are down from a year ago!" is utter BS.
Do better, NPR.
Do better, NPR.
Shoppers can be thankful for discounts on turkey and stuffing this year. While overall grocery prices are up, this year's Thanksgiving meal should cost a bit less than last year's.
Give thanks for the discounts: The feast will cost a little less this year
Shoppers can be thankful for discounts on turkey and stuffing this year. While overall grocery prices are up, this year's Thanksgiving meal should cost a bit less than last year's.
n.pr
November 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I'm already tired of this. Will we get this for December holidays, too? The reality is, turkey prices are down due to no avian flu and more supply. And you can get prepackaged/bundled crap and maybe save a little $$. But "grocery prices are down from a year ago!" is utter BS.
Do better, NPR.
Do better, NPR.
Thank you, Chuck, for saying I want to say to every freaking leaf-blowing asshole out there, even those with electric leaf-blowers because while they're marginally better for the environment, all of your other points are 100% true. Not sure I hate any human invention as much as I hate leaf-blowers.
You know what, I'm just gonna re-up this post
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Thank you, Chuck, for saying I want to say to every freaking leaf-blowing asshole out there, even those with electric leaf-blowers because while they're marginally better for the environment, all of your other points are 100% true. Not sure I hate any human invention as much as I hate leaf-blowers.