Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 12/10/2026One opening line that has always stayed with me was from Ralph Peters' book "Call Each River Jordan." That opening was: "I will never forget the burning men." He was using the pen name Owen Parry at the time. It's a novel about the Civil War. 000
Reposted by Joe WillmoreThe Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 12/10/2026A novel’s first line carries enormous weight, Stephanie Bai writes in The Atlantic Daily. She asked The Atlantic’s writers and editors: What is one of the best first lines in modern literature?bit.lySix of the Best First Lines in Modern LiteratureIt is a truth universally acknowledged that every great book must be in want of a great first line. 12213
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Plus interwoven and overlapped with the whole "Lost Cause" mythology which rewrote the Civil War narrative. 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Terrific article. And congrats for making that list--well-deserved. 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 11/10/2026It's stunning that they're still operating--what with continual attacks from the air, manpower shortages, short on cash. Ukraine continually defies all predictions. 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 11/10/2026I'm in the process of reading John Le Carre's "Agent Running in the Field." 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Interesting points. I know this is an issue that Don Winslow wrestled with in his writing. 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 10/10/2026Exactly. When Biden was President, Trump criticized him because we were importing Russian oil before they launched their full-invasion of Ukraine. Biden cut it off. Trump claims this is a "trade deal." Actually, it's the US defying sanctions against Russia. Appalling! 020
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 09/10/2026I finished reading Alma Katsu's followup to the great "Red Widow"--her "Red London." What a great read. Multiple threads going on in this book and a great sense of the internal politics of the IC. I especially like the hint on the last page of what else might be coming. @almakatsu.bsky.social 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 08/10/2026I'm usually not into horror much. The genre I am writing about now is espionage/thriller. But the buzz on Incarnate has got me seduced. And "Between Two Fires" is excellent. 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Quite good. I won't reveal anything with the ending or plot except that it sure makes it look like this is part of a trilogy (ie: a "Red" series). 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 08/10/2026I like to read two books at the same time--alternating between each selection. It helps my creativity as a writer. I just finished "Between Two Fires" and I'm on the last two chapters of Alma Katsu's terrific followup to "Red Widow" with "Red London." @almakatsu.bsky.social 120
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 08/10/2026I do my writing using Apple's Pages. When I submit something to an Agent or Editor, I use Pages to convert it to Word. But that copy shows no edit history, no revisions--just a pristine manuscript that looks like it was created at one sitting. I think Pangram would label my work as AI. 200
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 07/10/2026@buehlmeister.bsky.social is his bluesky handle if you want to follow him (you should). And you should definitely read "Between Two Fires." 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 07/10/2026I just finished reading a terrific book: "Between Two Fires" by Christopher Buehlman. Set in France during the Black Plague. Horror, medieval period, knights, honor, scoundrels, monsters, and the most fundamental question: is the orphan girl a witch or a saint? 120
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Well thank heavens the Russians have issued reassuring reports of "nothing to see here"--I can we can all sleep easily now. 020
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 02/10/2026I greatly fear that while we've talked a good game, we haven't kept up with the revolution in UAV threats on the battlefield--tactically and strategically. What the Iranians have done in the Middle East against US bases is another good example. 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 02/10/2026In August, during war games in Germany (Combined Resolve), a Ukrainian regiment (approximately 1,000 personnel) wiped out a US armored Brigade (3rd Armored Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division) so quickly that the exercise officials had to regenerate US forces: www.kyivpost.com/post/82293kyivpost.comUkrainian Drones ‘Wiped Out’ US Armored Brigade in Germany’s War GamesThe American brigade was tasked with assaulting positions reinforced by Ukrainian troops. But its heavily armored personnel carriers quickly became easy targets. 100
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Yep. That's the perniciousness we face with AI. 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Yeah. It's an easy way to commit fraud--so many authors aren't aware of class actions suits/settlements that they're apart of. 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Are these two different jobs or one job with multiple skill sets? Inquiring minds want to know. 001
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 08/09/2026The Trump Administration has threatened to tear down the Kennedy Center if the court does not approve their planned changed. Absolutely appalling. Everything this man touches, he destroys or wrecks. 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 03/09/2026"A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE" by Anais Nin (and my autocorrect wanted to keep changing her last name to "Sin"!) 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 31/08/2026I love visiting LA, just came back from hitting the Getty Villa and the Broad among others. I've also started reading "Everybody Knows." Your craft and power with language has me cringing with the idea of visiting LA, all the cynicism, double-dealing, and distrust. Damn! 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 25/08/2026It's nonfiction...Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art." On the fiction side Georges Simeon's "Maigret and the Burglar's Wife." 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 21/08/2026You in an XL All Blacks shirt--that would definitely turn heads. Then you'd just need to learn how to do the HAKA. 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Silhouette of a statue framed by the gallery entrance at the Getty Villa #gettyvilla #silhouette, #statue 020
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Yep. So far I haven't come across something that works well for writers. 010
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 05/08/2026BTW, congratulations. The NYT just published an article on the 50 greatest thriller books of the 21st Century. Blacktop Wasteland, Razorblade Tears, and All the Sinner Bleed made the list. Based on votes by 291 novelists, critics, booksellers, and librarians. 000
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Appalling. I do a lot of photography and have just started looking in to "AI Poison" software. www.technologyreview.com/2023/10/23/1...technologyreview.comThis new data poisoning tool lets artists fight back against generative AIThe tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models. 110
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Yep. Especially when it's a character with depth that comes alive. I wonder that too about some of the people you've created. 110
Joe Willmore @joewillmore.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Diamond Beach, Iceland #iceland, #blacksand, #beach, #glacier, #Fellsfjara, #Jokulsarlon, 150