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Doug Schlesser

@dougschlesser.bsky.social
167 followers 302 following 126 posts

30-something writer, teacher, and traveler from the South Suburbs of Chicago. Curtis Brown Creative and Shotgun Honey alumnus. Lots of tattoos. He/Him

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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
A great new thriller from Abir Mukherjee. If you enjoyed Hunted, this is on another level. Tense, humorous, full of well-placed social commentary. The cast of characters is excellent, and they really do jump off the page.
A blue and orange book sits upright on a table, photographed from below to give it a towering look. Book cover contains two skyscrapers.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
LOST walked so Widow’s Bay could run. Can you imagine this show if we still had a water-cooler culture?! What animal, Ruth?! What animal?!
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
30 min. 500 words. Let’s go.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
That feeling when you delete the extra spaces and marry the writing you’ve done to end the chapter with the writing you’ve done to start the chapter.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
The darlings. I am k*lling them.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Someone call Jack Reacher
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
There are too many books to read and too much of my book left to write and too many coffee shops to visit and…
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Big victory today. 1100 feet of gain over the 13.1 miles. Oof. Glad to still be upright (though I’m typing this lying down)
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The DC (damn cat) was very insistent this morning at 3:30. 700 words and a sunrise/raining run later, I’ll try not to be too mad at him. The cat in question:
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
This 5am writing thing is for the birds. The ones outside my window. Screaming at me to keep going.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Crime/Thriller folks: I’ve just finished The Shadow Carver by Nadine Matheson, which was absolutely brilliant. In need of a new audiobook. What do we have on deck?
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
But what if I want this modifier dangling?
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Here in the U.S. it’s a big day for kids who want to Space Camp (me).
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Cats, man. Also pictured, the first nine Ruth Galloway books I’m working through.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
They blow the black currant out of the water. Sadly had to get them from the Big A over here, but worth it.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
The Grether’s Gods are getting me through this weekend. And a little bit of reading from Carlsson.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
A stop sign fell down at school and off its pole 5 days ago. Not one enterprising youth has taken it home to decorate their bedroom wall. What is the world coming to?
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
I tell my students I don’t spend time making diabolical plans when writing a new seating chart. But really - I do.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
The thing about this one is that it most definitely existed just under the surface.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
The book I’m reading just had a rumination about what it feels like to actually relax on a holiday, and I might as well just never go back to work because Sally is absolutely right.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
367 words this morning in a quick 20 min sprint. 🌬️👟
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
This time next month, I’ll be in Vienna walking 10,000 steps before lunch, three coffees deep every day with my favorite travel partner (Amy), and staying up way too late. The countdown has begun. Until then, hoping to get lots of scribbles snuck in between work obligations.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Being a month away from Vienna and Prague is getting me through today. Not much else.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
1-Hour Write Sprint starting now.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Writing a whole new sequence for the opening of my novel is daunting, but also very exciting.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Absolutely ecstatic to be outside and getting in a quick little run and it feeling easy after years of doing absolutely nothing. This run brought to you by 4 months of 5am treadmill workouts. See also: Shorts in February!
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Gotta turn on the notifications for Blue Sky. I missed this one.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Much to my dismay, I may have to make a fiscally responsible decision about my flight to the UK this summer. Someone tell me premium economy is worth it. (I already know that it is)
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
Writing pals - is Bluesky still active? I have no idea where the bookish folks are these days. Thread? Instagram?
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Never being able to do the @radiomukhers.bsky.social cruise in India due to the American teaching schedule is something I’ll never get over. At least my wallet is happy.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
I’ve been in Chapel Hill for less than 12 hours and have already been in 2 indie bookshops.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
I’ve been in Chapel Hill for less than 12 hours and have already been in 2 indie bookshops.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
“You choose your family these days,” says Joyce. “I saw that on Instagram.” I love these characters so much. #ThursdayMurderClub
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Riot Fest
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
I’m tired of folders on my iPhone. Maybe this is a hot take. But everything feels cluttered. How have you cleaned up your phone home screens?
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
In a shocking moment of self restraint, I picked up a book I purchased this summer to read next instead of going to the bookshop. How long will this resolve last? Only time will tell.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Jackson Lamb knowing who the Thursday Murder Club are is reality breaking. Which novel do you think is his favorite? Or do you think he just knows the pop culture reference? #SlowHorses #ThursdayMurderClub
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Thanks, Howard. This means a lot.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Another school shooting today. A “big one,” not that any size is appropriate or any size is worse than another. Reach out to your teacher friends. Every time this happens, we are all impacted. And it continues. And continues. And continues.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
Well, hot damn.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Ok, so, I finished my book. And it is definitely in need of major work. So, I’m feeling accomplished and also deflated. Breathing for two weeks before diving back in.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
First round assignments for @nycmidnight.bsky.social’s #500WordChallenge2025 are out. And mine are…interesting. Here we go!
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Don’t mind me. I’ll just be brushing the no-linger-existent hair out of my eyes at random, unpredictable intervals.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Tomorrow. “The End.” Maybe?
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Join me in the @nycmidnight.bsky.social 500-word Fiction Challenge on August 15th! Learn more at nycmidnight.com/500
nycmidnight.com
500-word Fiction Challenge — nycmidnight
The 500-word Fiction Challenge is an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to create short stories based on genre, action, and object assignments in 48 hours.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
The juxtaposition of a Love Actually rewatch (hate watch?) and the rising tension at the end of The Last Word is just phenomenal work. @ellygriffiths.bsky.social does not disappoint.
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Did it plan on a 101.6 degree fever to come out of nowhere today.
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Reposted by Doug Schlesser
Lee Randall @leerandall.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Like being in the courtroom, I promise you!
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Ideally all the clothes go in the backpack and we have an entire suitcase for books. 😉
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Doug Schlesser @dougschlesser.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
We are attempting #TheakstonsCrime this year with one backpack and a carry on. Will I need to post books home…or can I restrain myself? Stay tuned. #Harrogate
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