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Cynthia Swanson

@cynswanauthor.bsky.social

670 followers 340 following 520 posts

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

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Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 2d

In today's What If Journal on #Substack, I discuss the oh-so-helpful (catching the sarcasm there?) AI "suggestions" that permeate our lives—and how to navigate them if you prefer thinking for yourself.

#WritingCommunity #Creativity #Books

thewhatifjournal.substack.com/p/no-i-dont-...

No, I Don't Want a Smoothie for Breakfast

On the Invasiveness of AI in Our Lives

thewhatifjournal.substack.com

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 2h

Wait, what? Johnny Cash was cool? Wow, who knew????

Casey Stegman @caseystegman.com · 3h

He was called “the man in black” and released two hit records that were recorded in prisons. What the fuck are you talking about.

ESSAY
It's Finally Time to Give Johnny Cash His Due
Compared to Dylan and Springsteen, the country-music legend can seem deeply uncool.
It took years for me to appreciate his profound, plainspoken strength.

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 3h

Unfortunately, the people who need to see this will never see it.

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 9h

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 5h

Colorado, too. Got mine last week. Thanks, blue-state governors!

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 1d

Can’t believe I have to say this, but in Minnesota you will continue to have the freedom to get your COVID and flu shots.

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 10h

Are we winning yet?

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 10h

An artificial heart for children with congenital heart defects was almost finished. Families had waited for years it.

Then, Trump canceled billions in grants for universities — including the grant for this device.

The cruelty is endless. www.npr.org/2025/10/09/n...

This 4-year-old's heart is failing. A federal grant that might help him was canceled

A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.

www.npr.org

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 11h

I'm so sorry. It's heartbreaking to say goodbye, even when you know it's the right thing to do.

Reposted by Cynthia Swanson

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

🏆 How does a comedy show have the best news research team? @thedailyshow.com

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Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 1d

Looks pretty scary. Be careful out there, folks.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d

#WarRavagedPortland

Reposted by Cynthia Swanson

Carole King @carolekingofficial.bsky.social · 2d

Carole at home in the canyon, 1970.

📷@guywebsterphotography

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Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 2d

No, I Don't Want a Smoothie for Breakfast

On the Invasiveness of AI in Our Lives

thewhatifjournal.substack.com

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 4d

That looks exactly like my grandparents' house in Milwaukee (decades ago). But they didn't have a cat!

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 5d

Ya think???

Just Jack @just-jack-1.bsky.social · 5d

Nothing says America First like bailing out Argentina while making healthcare unaffordable for 20+ million Americans.

Or signing an Article 5 protection treaty with Qatar coz they bribed you with a plane, while screwing over longstanding NATO allies.

Folks, I think America First might be a scam.

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 6d

Best thing I read on an otherwise doomscrolling type of day.

Rae Radford @raeradford.bsky.social · 6d

#BookSky

🤗

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Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 8d

I've been listening to this beautiful audiobook by Jane Goodall, with Douglas Abrams...all the more special upon hearing news of her passing. RIP, Dr. Goodall, you will be missed.

libro.fm/audiobooks/9...

The Book of Hope Audiobook on Libro.fm

In a world that seems so troubled, how do we hold on to hope?This program is read by the authors and includes a bonus PDF.Looking at the headlines—the worsening climate crisis, a global pandemic, loss...

libro.fm

Reposted by Cynthia Swanson

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10d

Pritzker: "In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists & protesters when unprovoked what would we call it? If officials marched down streets harassing civilians & demanding their papers, what would we say? I don't think we'd have trouble calling it what it is: authoritarianism"

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Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 11d

Many thanks to my in-laws for having the foresight to have my husband at the end of September, so we would be able to always celebrate his birthday with a glorious #Colorado aspen hike.

#Fall #Aspens #ColorfulColorado

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 13d

All of this!

I hope "seeking out independent publishers along with books from the major corporate publishers" also means indie authors. Yes, there are indie authors who pub before they're ready, but there are also many high quality indie pubbed books. Seek them out & support those authors, too.

Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 14d

My way of coping with all of the madness is focusing on what I can do to make my community a little bit stronger. So excuse me for all of the earnestness, but I wrote about ways we can all pitch in to support a thriving literary culture. lithub.com/how-to-be-a-...

How to Be a Good Literary Citizen (in Seven Easy Steps)

Last Sunday I spent hours at the Brooklyn Book Festival, a too rare occasion for me to pull myself away from the internet for an entire afternoon. As I looked around at the crowd on their way to pa…

lithub.com

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 13d

Did a college campus tour today with my kiddo, and can I just say, I love college campuses? Every time I’m on one, I want to go back and get a do-over for college. I definitely did not appreciate it enough the first time around.

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 13d

Great piece -- thank you, Tajja. After two Big 5 novels, both of which were fairly successful but have not yet earned out, I ended up self-pubbing my 3rd novel, which has done quite well by self-pub standards. Will do so again if novel #4 (in progress) isn't picked up by a large or midsized house.

Tajja Isen @tajjaisen.bsky.social · 13d

I spent the summer reporting this essay on why it seems harder than ever to sell a book right now—especially if it isn't a debut and comes with the dreaded "sales track." I'm grateful to the writers, agents, editors, publishers & experts who spoke to me for this piece: thewalrus.ca/the-publishi...

The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem | The Walrus

Companies keep betting on the next bestseller. Literature is poorer for it

thewalrus.ca

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 14d

Great reminders. I'm biking a lot these days -- spending more time on the bike (thanks to Azalea, my new ebike) than in the car, and that's making me more aware of these issues than ever before.

Stay safe out there, everyone!

NPR @npr.org · 14d

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

8 walking and biking safety tips that just might save your life

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

n.pr

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 15d

I see your Molly and raise you a Molly (such a good dog name).

Cynthia Swanson @cynswanauthor.bsky.social · 15d

Apparently, no one ever showed this to the orange menace.

Reposted by Cynthia Swanson

Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 16d

Let's be clear: no one should be taking medical advice from the man who told Americans to inject bleach.

To moms worried about the Tylenol they took while pregnant: you deserve better than being RFK Jr's scapegoat.

And to the autism community: you are loved exactly as you are.

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Reposted by Cynthia Swanson

Hillary Rodham Clinton @hillaryclinton.bsky.social · 18d

Jimmy Kimmel and other late-night comedians have certainly said things about me that I found offensive, even outrageous.

It never crossed my mind to call up the networks and say, "Hey, get rid of this guy."

Because that's not how America works.
play.prx.org/listen?ge=pr...