Christopher Gronlund
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cgronlund.bsky.social
Christopher Gronlund
@cgronlund.bsky.social
460 followers 830 following 950 posts
He/Him. I do a narrated short fiction podcast called Not About Lumberjacks (http://nolumberjacks.com). When not doing that, I like juggling, canoeing, hiking, and playing Irish tunes on my mandolin - even though I'm not very good Ⓥ
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cgronlund.bsky.social
Christopher Gronlund @cgronlund.bsky.social · Jun 20
FINALLY...Time for a new Not About Lumberjacks story!

“Instead of Dreaming” is about a high school English teacher who comes to conclusions about life after recovering from a hit-and-run accident.

nolumberjacks.com/instead-of-d...
A dark path with a fence to the left. A yellowish, dim pathway light illuminates foliage. Text reads: Instead of Dreaming - Written and Narrated By Christopher Gronlund
cgronlund.bsky.social
Just recorded the 85th story for Not About Lumberjacks. This one is the 10th anniversary story on top of all that!

Thanks to everyone who's listened, narrated, and supported the show over the past decade.

I really like the way this one turned out...

www.patreon.com/posts/10-yea...
10 Years of Stories | Christopher Gronlund
Get more from Christopher Gronlund on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
A three-day weekend is over. Cynthia's birthday is on Halloween, so we began with a hike. Saturday was a chill day, and then Sunday morning was an 18-mile bike ride. Definitely a weekend I wish were even longer...
A stream meandering through trees and grass in the light of morning. Blue skies above. A hiking trail cutting through trees and grass illuminated by the early morning sun. Steam rising from a shallow stream full of rocks in the early morning sun. Along the banks on each side: rocks and trees. An anole on a human wrist. This is Terrence, the anole who's lived at the bottom of our stairs for a long time. (He might be the son of the original Terrence.) He hitched a ride on the car and was on the hood when we finished our hike. I tried catching him, but he leaped off and now likely lives in a posh backyard.
November 3, 2025 at 12:21 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
William is a snazzy person who writes and chronicles cool things.
November 2, 2025 at 6:12 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
While I don't like that a writer as great as Sarah Kendzior is needed, I'm glad she's doing what she does. Always spot-on, and this one even a bit more than her usual bullseye.
sarahkendzior.bsky.social Sarah Kendzior @sarahkendzior.bsky.social · 23d
New article! On the shutdown, a nation treated as prey, and the meaning of leverage: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/the-shutdown
October 29, 2025 at 1:05 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
Congratulations to the mighty @bradlisti.bsky.social on reaching 1000 episodes of the Otherppl podcast. If you want great discussions with [mostly] literary authors, you'll find no better!
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
1000. Susan Orlean
is the author of the memoir , available from Avid Reader Press, and she joins me for my 1,000th author interview. Orlean has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992. She is the New York Times...
directory.libsyn.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM
cgronlund.bsky.social
Spent a long weekend in East(ish) Texas writing, chatting by fires in the evening, and even messing with some sound gear. (In this short video, the Instruō Pocket Scíon.)

youtu.be/W-gnzb5y0ro?...
In a Meadow with the Instruo Pocket Scion
YouTube video by Christopher Gronlund
youtu.be
October 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
We have a couple originals by Jody, and they are even more lovely in person!
jodyvanb.bsky.social jodyvanb @jodyvanb.bsky.social · 28d
Painting blue jay feathers at the moment. If you would like one to add a touch of nature to your room, or as a subtle #GoJaysGo, let me know! $60 CAD
A blue jay feather, painted with a drop shadow. Three watercolour paint tubes sit on the top of the paper on the left and two paintbrushes lay on the right hand side.
October 24, 2025 at 2:36 AM
cgronlund.bsky.social
In November, in honor of the 10-year anniversary of my narrated short fiction podcast, Not About Lumberjacks, I'm actually writing a sequel to an earlier story. That story was in honor of making it one year. Here are the openings of each...
A page from a notebook with this written in black ink: My father’s body sits in zazen in the next room, but he’s not there. What remains is a shell, a vessel for a brain that sensed and experienced the world, a mass of fat and protein that allowed him to think and dream, to write novels and find a way to live a life true to himself. Muscles that pulled stones from the earth and hoisted his massive body to the tops of the highest trees just for fun. A heart that cared for all creatures and wrote stories and poetry that moved me to tears. My father’s body sits in zazen in the next room, but he’s not there. A page from a notebook with this written in black ink: I was four years old when my father put the bad end of a Mossburg 500 shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. My mother always told me I was better off without him, that he was a youthful mistake whose only purpose was contributing to my existence…not that my presence in her life ever seemed to bring her joy. Yes, my mother is a bitch—there’s no nice way of getting around it. She was made for her job as CEO of Barnthorne Holdings. I’m not sure she even likes me much as an adult, although my dedication to work has been brought up as a point of pride for her at family holiday gatherings she sometimes attends. I’m that director at the office you hate: in early and leaving late. My saving grace is that I’m not a complete asshole on top of somebody with a compulsion to turn work into life. While I don’t expect those below me to start as early and leave as late as I do, most of them are there when I come in and leave after I’m gone. It trickles down to the managers beneath me, and all the people beneath them. I’m not about to tell them to stop. Which brings me to the heart attack that wasn’t a heart attack…
October 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
cgronlund.bsky.social
Maiden voyage on the new bike. Just a short outing before the world woke up. It climbs so well!
A green/"lichen" colored Trek Domane leans against a light post off a trail. Its front light illuminates some vegetation in the background. Behind the bike are rocks and a creek. A bike headlight illuminates a paved path in the dark. In the distance are the lights of Texas Motor Speedway.
October 16, 2025 at 12:21 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
I name modes of transportation. I don't drive a 2013 Toyota Corolla...I drive "Durin." So, when it came time to buy by first bike since 1991, it needed a name. Trek calls the color "lichen," and that evoked Swamp Thing -- a story about transformatation.

Meet "Alec," named after Swamp Thing's human.
A bike tech and Christopher Gronlund stand in a Trek shop in Southlake, Texas. The tech wears a backwards cap, a blue TREK t-shirt, and black pants. Christopher wears black shorts and a gray t-shirt with the Not About Lumberjacks logo on it. Behind them is the bike shop. Before them is a Trek Domane AL5 Gen4 in "Lichen" green. Both people smile.
October 16, 2025 at 12:59 AM
cgronlund.bsky.social
I always loved Magic 8-Balls. As a kid, I cracked mine open to see what was inside. Was surprised and then cracked into the liquid part. (And, being me, had to taste the liquid.) That inspired this old story:

nolumberjacks.com/mr-knowitall2/
Mr. Knowitall
A 40-something-year-old drifter returns to his hometown after his parents' death to discover the only thing left to him in the will is a plastic Magic 8 Ball.
nolumberjacks.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:57 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
I thought we might do 5-10 miles on the bikes this morning. Ended up doing 25.66...my longest ride ever! We saw a lovely sunrise and lots of Halloween decorations.
Christopher Gronlund in the foreground giving a thumbs up. He wears a green shirt and black gloves. A black bicycle helmet is strapped on his head. In the background, along a road cutting through grass and trees, is Cynthia Griffith giving a thumbs up. She wears a pink cycling jersey, black helmet, and sits on a black Trek Domane AL5 Gen4. She holds her white mid-90s GT Outpost Trail bike, which Christopher was riding today. Cynthia Griffith wearing a pink cycling jersey, black helmet, and sitting on a black Trek Domane AL5 Gen4. She holds her white mid-90s GT Outpost Trail bike, which Christopher was riding today. Sunrise photo through the trees along a trail heading toward Grapevine Lake. Christopher Gronlund posing in front a a Halloween yard decoration of a shark coming out of the grass and eating a skeletal pirate. It's a bloody mess. Other decorates (pirate themed) are scattered around the yard. Christopher is on the sidewalk pointing back at the shark with the thumbs on each hand. His mouth is agape, because that's how he do...
October 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
I've been tinkering with the Instruō Pocket SCÍON for some sound beds for the 10th anniversary Not About Lumberjacks story in November. An open Patreon entry about this snazzy little gadget...

www.patreon.com/posts/pocket...
Pocket SCION Sample | Christopher Gronlund
Get more from Christopher Gronlund on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
Up well before the sun for a really nice ride. Met a doggo named Arthur Dent on the way out of town and worked a coffee stop into the ride. (Our town needs more options.) After that, more miles and soooooo much fun!
An adorable corgi mix looks up at the photographer. Arthur Dent is a good doggo, and there's no better way to begin the longer ride in decades than with cuteness! I rode Cynthia's mid-90s GT Outpost Trail instead of my 1991 GT Timberline, which isn't in as good a shape. It made a difference...hit some new Garmin records. Anyway, the photo: an old white mountain bike leans against a silhouetted tree. In the background, the glow of the sun still well below the horizon. Cynthia on her new Trek AL5 Gen4 (black) in the parking lot of Trophy Club Golf Course. She wears a green top reading Team Vegan (the group she rides with), and black cycling shorts. A selfie of Christopher Gronlund and Cynthia Griffith. Both wear black cycling helmets. Chris's face is a bit red 'cause he's not in the same mighty shape as Cynthia. But...he's getting there!
October 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
Cynthia got a new bike earlier this week.
This morning, she encouraged me to take it for a spin.
Now *I* want a new bike... 😅
Cynthia (in her Team Vegan riding kit for sizing) and Lawrence (bike tech at Trek in Southlake, Texas) posing with Cynthia Trek AL5 Gen 4 (black) at the Trek shop. A black Trek AL5 Gen4 on a bike stand in a Trek shop. A black Trek AL5 Gen4 leaned against a garbage can on a dark, early morning ride. A red tail light/Garmin Vario glows behind the seat, while I headlight illuminates the front of the bike and pavement. A point of view shot of a paved trail in the dark. Steel sides of a bridge can be seen. In the distance, an overhead trail light.
October 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
If you put all the authors Brad's spoken to on Otherppl head to foot, they wouldn't reach the moon, but it's gotta be like a mile of authors...and that's impressive!

He's gathered over a couple hundred of writers to help you write your novel. Check it out!
deepdive.audio DeepDive @deepdive.audio · Sep 3
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www.deepdive.audio
September 3, 2025 at 1:05 AM
cgronlund.bsky.social
We closed up my mom's apartment on Friday and sold her car for a steal to one of the maintenance guys she really liked. The big things are behind us, now (except her service).

Getting out for a ride this morning was soooooo nice! It was humid, but cooler than usual.
A selfie of Cynthia Griffith and Christopher Gronlund with Grapevine Lake and a bunch of grass and trees in the background. Chris wears a gray t-shirt and a black bike helmet. Cynthia wears a pink cycling jersey and a black bike helmet. Cynthia Griffith on her bike and holding a water bottle. Trees and a bit of water from Grapevine Lake are behind her. She looks back over her right shoulder at the camera. She holds a white water bottle. Christopher's blue, 1991 GT Timberline bike leaning against a picnic table. Behind it: grass, trees, and Grapevine Lake. The sun rising above the north end of Grapevine Lake. The sun is obscured by clouds and mist and reflects on the water.
September 1, 2025 at 5:35 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
I often spend a good part of Labor Day in the U.S. writing. And will likely do so today, even though I have many other things to do. But first: heading out with my wife for a bike ride to begin the day.

If you have the day off, I hope you enjoy it...
September 1, 2025 at 11:08 AM
cgronlund.bsky.social
And on the subject of minis...the reflections John did with this are incredible! (But then...it's John...)
thatdarnsatan.bsky.social Local Artist John Sheffield @thatdarnsatan.bsky.social · Aug 27
I painted the garbage truck for #MarvelCrisisProtocol!

I sanded down the Damage Control logo, to make it into a DSNY vehicle. I think it came out a little dark with the stipple and grime, but I'm happy with the decals. Experiment successful! Mysterious little signs everywhere.

#miniaturepainting
August 31, 2025 at 4:35 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
I've not painted minis in forever, but I always love seeing what Holly's up to.
mxhollyclara.bsky.social Holly 🇺🇦🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸 @mxhollyclara.bsky.social · Aug 31
Foolishly, I bought an extra set of the Combat Patrol magazines with the Ork Deff Dredd parts. The first kit has so many left overs, that I’m going to make 2 more Deff Dredds from all the parts with some decent kitbashing. So incoming work in progress:
A rather rotund Deff Dredd starting to shape up. Current size comparison with the original. Another Deff Dredd. This one is going to have a giant mono wheel to get around.
August 31, 2025 at 4:34 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
A short (3 1/2 minutes) update about Not About Lumberjacks' release schedule the rest of the year...and a bit about my mom's passing and her influence on my creative endeavors...

nolumberjacks.com/a-schedule-u...
A Schedule Update
A short bit about the NAL schedule the rest of the year...
nolumberjacks.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
We’ve been going non stop since my mom’s sudden passing on the 8th. We took today all for ourselves, beginning before sunrise on some nice back roads.
Cynthia Griffish standing next to her white, mid-90s GT Outpost Trail bike. She wears green Team Vegan cycling kit. Behind her, a pasture and the sun rising above distant trees. Christopher Gronlund standing next to his blue and black 1991 GT Timberline bike. He wears black cycling pants and a gray Not About Lumberjacks t-shirt. Behind him, a pasture and the sun rising above distant trees. Cynthia Griffith passes Christopher Gronlund in an aero position on her bike on a back country road surrounded by trees and pastures.
August 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
cgronlund.bsky.social
The last week and a half has been a blur. On August 8th, my mom died unexpectedly. We still don't know what happened, but it appears to have been fast...which was her hope when the time came. 1/
August 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
Forty-one years ago (at 15), I got on a plane in Chicago and moved to Texas. While the plan is to move back north within a handful of years (my wife has NEVER experienced a proper change of seasons), despite the MANY hellish things about The Lone Star State, there IS much to love down here.
August 8, 2025 at 1:06 PM
cgronlund.bsky.social
Cleaver Cat is the best cat! 😂
jenniferlmeyer.bsky.social JLMeyer 🐰 @jenniferlmeyer.bsky.social · Aug 7
Felt like doodling some high energy void murder cats

-look into the abyss 🩷✨
August 7, 2025 at 3:42 PM