Dale Ivan Smith
@daleivan.bsky.social
Retired librarian, now "full-time" writer/ reader of fantasy, SF and mystery. TKZ blogger. Author of The Empowered series, Meg Booker librarian mystery series, and various novellas and short stories. Avid stargazer, role-player, board gamer. Fez wearer.
Pinned
Dale Ivan Smith
@daleivan.bsky.social
· Dec 1
A Shush Before Dying is the first novel in my Meg Booker Librarian mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in the 1980s. Card catalogs, big hair, not so simple minds #cozymystery #mystery
books2read.com/u/bwNq8O
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
On August 12, 1971, 16-year-old me mailed the first story I ever wrote off on its first submission to my dream market, F&SF. My tale was quickly rejected. On July 17th, 2025, I finally sold a story to that magazine. Here's why I felt I had to withdraw that story. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
November 12, 2025 at 9:27 PM
On August 12, 1971, 16-year-old me mailed the first story I ever wrote off on its first submission to my dream market, F&SF. My tale was quickly rejected. On July 17th, 2025, I finally sold a story to that magazine. Here's why I felt I had to withdraw that story. www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/20...
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
Five Lessons I Learned From My Bad (Unpublished) Books killzoneblog.com/2025/11/five...
Five Lessons I Learned FromMy Bad (Unpublished) Books | Killzoneblog.com
killzoneblog.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Five Lessons I Learned From My Bad (Unpublished) Books killzoneblog.com/2025/11/five...
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
This is the nicest shot of the night, via two different cameras that captured the same meteor.
Crestone, Colorado USA November 12, 2025 at 2:36am MST
#astronomy #astrophotography #meteor #aurora
Crestone, Colorado USA November 12, 2025 at 2:36am MST
#astronomy #astrophotography #meteor #aurora
November 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
This is the nicest shot of the night, via two different cameras that captured the same meteor.
Crestone, Colorado USA November 12, 2025 at 2:36am MST
#astronomy #astrophotography #meteor #aurora
Crestone, Colorado USA November 12, 2025 at 2:36am MST
#astronomy #astrophotography #meteor #aurora
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
You think maybe this is a biggie as far as solar storms go? You'd be right. It is! One of the five biggest of the current solar cycle, SC25. In terms of rate of energy dissipation though it isn't up to the May 10-11 event of 2024. That was a G5-level storm. Stay tuned for tomorrow.
November 12, 2025 at 3:50 AM
You think maybe this is a biggie as far as solar storms go? You'd be right. It is! One of the five biggest of the current solar cycle, SC25. In terms of rate of energy dissipation though it isn't up to the May 10-11 event of 2024. That was a G5-level storm. Stay tuned for tomorrow.
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
Oregonians living in the Portland metro area now have access to a climate dashboard that looks at how the changing environment is impacting their health.
Portland metro counties release updated regional climate dashboard
Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties released an updated regional climate dashboard that includes five health areas impacted by climate change.
www.opb.org
November 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Oregonians living in the Portland metro area now have access to a climate dashboard that looks at how the changing environment is impacting their health.
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
Love both of these quotes.
To which I add this wonderful Bruce Sterling passage, which for many years I kept beside my keyboard.
November 9, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Love both of these quotes.
It was cloudy here when the massive solar flare erupted from the AR 4274 sunspot on the Sun this morning, but the skies cleared later. AR 4274 is in the upper right. The first is in white-light, with my Seestar, the second in hydrogen-alpha through a Lunt 40 Ha scope #astronomy #astrophotography
November 11, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It was cloudy here when the massive solar flare erupted from the AR 4274 sunspot on the Sun this morning, but the skies cleared later. AR 4274 is in the upper right. The first is in white-light, with my Seestar, the second in hydrogen-alpha through a Lunt 40 Ha scope #astronomy #astrophotography
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
The Daily Salem Dispatch is just 20 seconds of her purr box going.
She sits about two feet from me and starts purring even before I start petting.
Very good little motor.
She sits about two feet from me and starts purring even before I start petting.
Very good little motor.
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The Daily Salem Dispatch is just 20 seconds of her purr box going.
She sits about two feet from me and starts purring even before I start petting.
Very good little motor.
She sits about two feet from me and starts purring even before I start petting.
Very good little motor.
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(Here's the opening of "Empowered: Agent.")
(Here's the opening of "Empowered: Agent.")
November 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Convincing you to read my novel by the first sentence. Share yours if you want.
(Here's the opening of "Empowered: Agent.")
(Here's the opening of "Empowered: Agent.")
Wonderful post this morning at Writer Unboxed by @yasminangoe.bsky.social about freeing yourself to trust in your own story #writingcommunity #writing
writerunboxed.com/2025/11/11/h...
writerunboxed.com/2025/11/11/h...
How I Learned to Stop Labeling My Process and Start Trusting My Story
Writers love a good label. We categorize everything: genres, tropes, voice, character arcs—and most of all, how we write. For the first couple of years since I’ve been a published writer, I t…
writerunboxed.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Wonderful post this morning at Writer Unboxed by @yasminangoe.bsky.social about freeing yourself to trust in your own story #writingcommunity #writing
writerunboxed.com/2025/11/11/h...
writerunboxed.com/2025/11/11/h...
Today's TKZ post is about helping create the inner peace needed for creativity by using breath #writingcommunity #writing
killzoneblog.com/2025/11/crea...
killzoneblog.com/2025/11/crea...
Creatives Need Inner Peace | Killzoneblog.com
killzoneblog.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Today's TKZ post is about helping create the inner peace needed for creativity by using breath #writingcommunity #writing
killzoneblog.com/2025/11/crea...
killzoneblog.com/2025/11/crea...
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
I mean… ask and ye shall receive.
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I mean… ask and ye shall receive.
Still adjusting to a new, albeit much more liberating writing and publishing mindset after much reading and contemplation. It’s both a relief and a release #writing #writingcommunity
November 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Still adjusting to a new, albeit much more liberating writing and publishing mindset after much reading and contemplation. It’s both a relief and a release #writing #writingcommunity
Waning gibbous Moon this morning, just after dawn, taken with an iPhone through a Celestron Zoom eyepiece mounted on a 72mm aperture “doublet” refractor telescope #astronomy #astrophotography
November 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Waning gibbous Moon this morning, just after dawn, taken with an iPhone through a Celestron Zoom eyepiece mounted on a 72mm aperture “doublet” refractor telescope #astronomy #astrophotography
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
When you are this cute, does anything else really matter?
#🪶
#birds
#nature
#wildlife
#birding
#photography
#birdsofbluesky
#mallardducks
#naturephotography #birdphotography #nikon #nikonZ8 #nikonphotographer
#🪶
#birds
#nature
#wildlife
#birding
#photography
#birdsofbluesky
#mallardducks
#naturephotography #birdphotography #nikon #nikonZ8 #nikonphotographer
November 7, 2025 at 12:44 AM
When you are this cute, does anything else really matter?
#🪶
#birds
#nature
#wildlife
#birding
#photography
#birdsofbluesky
#mallardducks
#naturephotography #birdphotography #nikon #nikonZ8 #nikonphotographer
#🪶
#birds
#nature
#wildlife
#birding
#photography
#birdsofbluesky
#mallardducks
#naturephotography #birdphotography #nikon #nikonZ8 #nikonphotographer
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
TODAY
HOUSTON!
TOMORROW I'm going to speaking at Space Center Houston! We'll be talking about science and story telling and I have a discount code!
Use code HANK25 at checkout to get $25 off your ticket. Doors open at 5:30PM | Event begins at 6:15 PM
spacecenter.org/event/though...
TOMORROW I'm going to speaking at Space Center Houston! We'll be talking about science and story telling and I have a discount code!
Use code HANK25 at checkout to get $25 off your ticket. Doors open at 5:30PM | Event begins at 6:15 PM
spacecenter.org/event/though...
'25-'26 Thought Leader Series at Space Center Houston
The series kicks off on Nov. 6 with Hank Green, science communicator and bestselling author!
spacecenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
TODAY
Captures the desperation in a nutshell.
I'm just gonna keep this and replay every once in a while to reaffirm that I'm not insane for wanting to take a 🔨to every AI server. #Luddite
@eleanormorton.bsky.social
youtu.be/8-lgJX3npiQ?...
@eleanormorton.bsky.social
youtu.be/8-lgJX3npiQ?...
We Have AI Now
YouTube video by Eleanor Morton
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Captures the desperation in a nutshell.
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
Good morning, Bluesky. Over on Whatever I have a wrap-up of my thoughts on last night's election results, mostly focused on Mamdani's win and Proposition 50 out in California, but touching on other stuff as well. It was a good night! We need more of them!
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/11/05/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/11/05/t...
Thoughts From an Off-Off-Year Election, 2025
Well, that was an evening, wasn’t it. Zohran Mamdani won decisively in NYC, of course, and that was the headline event in terms of optics, but then there was everything else, that went the De…
whatever.scalzi.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Good morning, Bluesky. Over on Whatever I have a wrap-up of my thoughts on last night's election results, mostly focused on Mamdani's win and Proposition 50 out in California, but touching on other stuff as well. It was a good night! We need more of them!
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/11/05/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/11/05/t...
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
Tonight at 9pm on BBC Two we'll be looking at WINGS AND WHEELS in a brand new episode with Sandi, Alan, Aisling Bea, Desiree Burch and Hank Green.
October 28, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Tonight at 9pm on BBC Two we'll be looking at WINGS AND WHEELS in a brand new episode with Sandi, Alan, Aisling Bea, Desiree Burch and Hank Green.
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
I talked about my new book, A House Between Sea and Sky, over at My Favorite Bit:
My Favorite Bit: Beth Cato talks about A HOUSE BETWEEN SEA AND SKY
Beth Cato is joining us today to talk about her novel, A House Between Sea and Sky. Here’s the publisher’s description: In 1920s California, two people in need of healing find strange refuge in a h…
maryrobinettekowal.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I talked about my new book, A House Between Sea and Sky, over at My Favorite Bit:
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
Looking for Creative Community? Sandra Tayler is building one! 7 day free trial is available.
www.patreon.com/Sand...
www.patreon.com/Sand...
November 3, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Looking for Creative Community? Sandra Tayler is building one! 7 day free trial is available.
www.patreon.com/Sand...
www.patreon.com/Sand...
Self-doubt is a scourge for many creatives, including writers. This morning at Writers in the Storm, Ellen Buikema has a terrific post on dealing with it #writingcommunity #writing #selfdoubt #creativity
writersinthestormblog.com/2025/11/tips...
writersinthestormblog.com/2025/11/tips...
Tips for Overcoming Writerly Self-doubt
Self-doubt can stifle the creative process and block the ability to express oneself, causing real problems when writing a story. Read on for help.
writersinthestormblog.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Self-doubt is a scourge for many creatives, including writers. This morning at Writers in the Storm, Ellen Buikema has a terrific post on dealing with it #writingcommunity #writing #selfdoubt #creativity
writersinthestormblog.com/2025/11/tips...
writersinthestormblog.com/2025/11/tips...
Great price on a fun cozy mystery which I really enjoyed!
TODAY ONLY! Cheddar Luck Next Time, my cheesy cozy mystery w/ an autistic lead, is on sale for $.99/£.99!
Please, please spread the word!
US promo link: amzn.to/43ajEjr
Canada: www.amazon.ca/Cheddar-Luck...
UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Cheddar-Luck...
Also at B&N & Apple!
Please, please spread the word!
US promo link: amzn.to/43ajEjr
Canada: www.amazon.ca/Cheddar-Luck...
UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Cheddar-Luck...
Also at B&N & Apple!
November 2, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Great price on a fun cozy mystery which I really enjoyed!
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
This week on Planetside…
Miss NaNoWriMo? You’re not alone. Here’s a new way to reignite your writing momentum.
“Finding Your Writing Flow After NaNoWriMo” by @michaelsolisauthor.bsky.social (with the author’s narration): www.sfwa.org/2025/10/30/f...
Miss NaNoWriMo? You’re not alone. Here’s a new way to reignite your writing momentum.
“Finding Your Writing Flow After NaNoWriMo” by @michaelsolisauthor.bsky.social (with the author’s narration): www.sfwa.org/2025/10/30/f...
November 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
This week on Planetside…
Miss NaNoWriMo? You’re not alone. Here’s a new way to reignite your writing momentum.
“Finding Your Writing Flow After NaNoWriMo” by @michaelsolisauthor.bsky.social (with the author’s narration): www.sfwa.org/2025/10/30/f...
Miss NaNoWriMo? You’re not alone. Here’s a new way to reignite your writing momentum.
“Finding Your Writing Flow After NaNoWriMo” by @michaelsolisauthor.bsky.social (with the author’s narration): www.sfwa.org/2025/10/30/f...
Reposted by Dale Ivan Smith
Happy first #Caturday of November.
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Happy first #Caturday of November.