Leslie Farnsworth

Ugh. Here we go again: The world gets chronologically confused for the second time in a year.

In next Wednesday's Letter, we're going to look into what Frankenstein gets wrong about Switzerland. Deal breakers? You'll tell me. Here's where to sign up:

Eyup.

Absolutely nothing that has happened today should have the anthem from “Rocky” playing in my head and yet.

I feel like there has to be someone I know on here who would be amazing for this position:

I am still confused by these shorter days. I have no sense whatsoever of what time it is.

Much-needed sunny-day escape into the mountains yesterday. Last hike of the season? Probably. <sigh>

And here's my books-read post for Q3 2026, my particular favorites of the quarter in bold (as always)! 📚 Any you read and liked as well?

Fascinating to me how belief in an afterlife (whether yes, no, or unsure) is not tied to religious belief or practice, per this research. (The data visualization here is fantastic, too, by the way.)

Feeling this one right now...

I am now the proud owner of a digital camera! Now to figure out how to use it... (Yes, I've had a digital camera before. But that was DECADES ago.)

September was packed and felt long... but I'm still surprised it's already over!

Midterms ballot now in the mail toward the United States. Doing my part, best as I can and such as it is. T-1 month to election day.

Hey hey! How's this for fun? I just heard @mtamblyn.bsky.social shout out @tadethompson.bsky.social's ROSEWATER on this inspiring episode of the Open Books podcast. 🤩 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...

It's chestnut-feast season here in Switzerland! Warning: A feast of chestnuts is far, far heavier than you might imagine. (At least, it was far heavier than I'd imagined, anyway!)

Increasingly irritated that it seems like even the simplest conversation (other than with friends) has to be a video call. This is ridiculous. Bad enough that even a quick five-minute clarification discussion has to be scheduled. But then it has to be a video call in addition? 😒

Heart full after a long weekend hearing from and meeting some amazing authors at Festival America. Already looking forward to 2028's edition! www.festival-america.com

It's cow-parade season here in Switzerland, but there's concern it will soon be no more than ceremony. 😟

In this month’s Letter, going out next Wednesday, we’re going to celebrate the bicentennial of photography by talking about the first-ever photograph and the musings it prompts about keeping and sharing our secrets. 🤫 📷 🤐 Subscribe to The Letter here:

What book was widely panned that you absolutely loved? I might need to read it. I'm often shocked to see the popular reviews of the books I adored. Not *always* terrible, but quite often surprisingly lower than I could have imagined.

Holy effing hell. Seriously? Guess here's yet another reason not to use generative AI...

And now.... for the Swiss federal day of fasting. (Yep, that's today, folks. Photo in post from a previous year...)

If you're in Europe, heads up: It's Heritage Days weekend!

Why do I get so much spam from LinkedIn about Snoop Dogg? Honest question. Are they pushing this to everyone? If it’s just me, I can’t think why.

There are authors whose works I admire mightily, but don't particularly enjoy reading. This has got to be true for every reader, no? (Surely it can't just be me.)

I don't want a new smartphone (mine is ancient, and more privacy-secure that way), but I *do* want a digital camera that doesn't take abysmal pictures but is still pocketable and simple (point-and-shoot). Anyone on here have any ideas or recommendations?

I'm not even a big Queen fan, and I absolutely adore this.

Reposting, because today's the day (in the US, anyway). Hey, I rhymed!

August was hectic... but wonderful!

The U.S. celebrates labor this weekend / next Monday. More countries by far celebrated labor on the 1st of May. Here's the reason for the difference.

Saw a recent reference to the show "Twin Peaks." All these years later, and still it comes up. I've never watched it. Does it hold up even for people who aren't watching it for nostalgia reasons?

I love this prize! The shortlist and the winner each year introduce me to books I hadn't before encountered. I hadn't even heard of this year's winner before!

The only thing saving me from end-of-vacation doldrums is a visit next weekend from a friend and her husband. Any other tips for sidestepping the immediate-post-vacation doldrums (other than planning the next one)?

Would love another pen pal or two for exchanging notes, postcards, and so on. Anyone else out there adore getting and sending snail mail?

In next week's Letter—headed your way on August 26—we're going to talk about a set of warehouses in Geneva, Switzerland, where untold museum-worthy art and artifacts are squirreled away, likely never to be seen again. Subscribe here (if you aren't already!):

For everyone already dreaming of next year's summer travel...

More hotels and vacation rental spots should really include air-circulating fans in the rooms. Low-cost, high-return perk (and probably reduces the air-conditioning toll, too)?

The days are already getting shorter and nooooooo.

Figs figs figs. It is fig season, and it is glorious. ALL THE FIGS.

Why yes, July did indeed include eating a slice of cake the size of my head.

Hrm. Well, the little preview card didn't come up for this, I guess. It's a fun dataviz project from @erindataviz.bsky.social that shows the oldest first names in the United States (and the dying out ones, too).

Come on now, let's bring back Myrtle. I like Myrtle. Am I the only one who likes Myrtle? erdavis.com/2026/05/...

I was one of those 80,000 and it was *wonderful!"* My heart was full the entire day. 🎆

Happy Swiss National Day!

A year or so ago, I asked the crew here for novella recommendations and got some FANTASTIC reads in return. I now need more novellas to read! Are there any you’ve recently read and loved?

You know what’s a really good time? Working on my agent-query package for autumn submissions. Oh yes. (I know my writerly folks understand.)

In the July 29th Letter, we're going to talk about fire alarms, medieval style. 🔥 We're also going to talk about what the heck that has to do with the cathedral in the photo below. (I promise, it really does all come together!) Subscribe here, if you haven't already:

Fun fact as the Tour de France enters its final stages for 2026: Did you know the race was originally conceived as a way to increase newspaper subscribers?

I once road trips where I hit the highway for hours at a stretch. Now I can barely make it a ninety minutes before I'm desperate for it to be over already or at least for an extended break involving some kind of adventure. (No, simply stopping for food doesn't count.) What changed, I wonder?

Now that we're shockingly more than halfway through 2026, does anyone have a best-book-read-so-far-this-year to name for me as a recommendation? (I'm always looking for recommendations!)