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Vincent J. Gardner

@vincentwriter.bsky.social
531 followers 293 following 1.4K posts

Author. Recently published Flip, the second book in the gritty-cozy Kennedy-Meyer crime series. All books in the series are standalone. Read them in any order!

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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
After 1.5 months, the #EV experience is mostly negative. Range is better than we thought, but still pretty lousy. Charging times are brutal, even at fast chargers. The home charger is an ongoing disaster - so far. Little gotchas everywhere. Cost is ridiculous, even with gov't subsidies.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Brilliantly absorbing. All of the great 1950s-2000 #writers, on their current project, their philosophy, how they write (an awful lot of insistence on using pen and paper), their attitude toward editors (Don't touch a word!), etc. A bygone time, almost quaint. #BrianLamb #Booknotes #BookSky 💙📚
A photo of the book called Booknotes, by Brian Lamb.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Pizza? Or kebab? If you have kids in the car every day, with their cell patched into your system, you know. 'Hey-ey, on our way back to the offtice...'. #writing #AI
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Rinkmaster must keep clients for about ten years. Once the kids are sixteen or so, that's it for backyard rink-making. But I guess grandkids arrive fifteen years later, and the cycle renews.... 48x24 big enough? #ODR #backyardrink
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Draft 14 of my next bok. Last three draafts have been stricty proofing. Still findng errors! Unbelievabl! #Books #writing #BookSky 💙📚
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I don't want to make a #deal at all. I want us out there, decoupling. We've been whinging about it for decades now. Everyone knows it needs to happen. And drop the inter-provincial trade barriers already. I know it's not easy. It's easier to wait it out and hope for a return to "normal".
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I'm always amused (depressed) when someone #reads just one page of my #book and stops. But this time, they came back the next day for another page. And then stopped. Again. So I'm doubly amused (depressed). #BookSky 💙📚
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
As much as I don't like AMZ, Kindle Create's previewer is the best proofing tool I've seen. Bump the text to size 10 with a click, and view it in phone mode, or tablet. Take it completely out of a Word-like context. Stuff just jumps out at you - missing commas, quotation mark improperly placed, etc.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
From Mary Oppen's autobiography: "We look for understanding by immersing ourselves in works of art; nothing speaks across cultures and across time as does the human spirit expressed in its works of art." Those works of #art now to be generated by sloppy, spiritless plagarisation machines. #AI
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
'Hey-ey, on our way back to the oftice...' And if you have had to listen to this five hundred million times on the car radio, like I did, well, you have my sympathies.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The timid intern purposely avoided the brash CEO. The brave intern strode purposefully across the room to shake the brash CEO's hand. Purposely. Purposefully. Go ahead and use 'em, but correctly, hey? #words
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Man, seeing AI companies advertise the brilliance of their offerings by claiming they'll produce a KDP-ready novel in only an hour! Like, this product is so great it'll immeasurably cheapen life as we know it! Yeah! It'll make you money, right? And to hell with the value of humans #writing! #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
#Canadians are so hopeless, running around with our hair on fire, giving him exactly the reaction he craves. Act like you've been in a trade war before, for God's sake. Every article on every front page shouldn't be about him. Show a modicum of cool.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
No, they shouldn't do an entire #BusterScruggs film. Be happy with the fifteen minutes of brilliance we've got. Just like 'The Jesus' from Lebowski, you won't catch that magic twice.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Wrote the final word ('them') in draft one of #TheSage, the third book in my #KennedyMeyer #crime #mystery series. Feels good. Now I have to put that #book away for a couple months while I finalize a book of humorous short stories, #TheShortFunnyPieces.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
2009 Honda Fit 2015 Mazda 3 2026 Hyundai Kona electric Which one is the most reliable, stable, low-cost and versatile? They don't make 'em like that anymore.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Whatever side you're on, however you see the big issue, you still have to admit that 'Lulu Lenins' is an inspired insult. #writing
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
I have maybe four or five more paragraphs to #write in draft one of #TheSage, but I can't bear to pen them tonight. I don't know why. I feel like I'll get them wrong and jinx the entire book. Better to wait for morning. Jinxes are like vampires. #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I worked as a Technical and Marketing #writer for thirty years, and frequently re-wrote text produced by Corporate Poobahs. I was always amazed that they tried to give Important words more heft by Capitalizing them. Never a Good Sign. #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Whatever happened to NFTs? They were big, there, for a while. Did they suddenly become fungible? In any case, #fungible is a great word. Too bad we don't see it much anymore.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I am dragging #TheSage across the draft-one finish line kicking and screaming. I'm a quarter way through the final chapter. I can't wait to see that final period hit the page. #writing #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Why do companies bother with #customerservice surveys? The person who serves you weeps and moans that the company considers anything less than 10/10 as total, abject career-ending failure. You don't need this, so you say 'Gahh, whatever, 10/10, leave me alone'. What's the point?
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
When buying an #EV, remember the 30% rule: all bad things (like cost and fees) will be 30% higher than quoted. All good things (like fast charging times) will be 30% slower/worse than estimated. I'm glad we got an EV, but it's been an eye-opener.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
If you're buying an #EV, consider these important aspects: rustproofing; the state of your electrical panel at home; the Director of Finance, who will convince you every EV is a lemon and replacement parts start at $3K. WITS: whatever price you're quoted by sales, add on $10K.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Another 260 #words is a piddling amount, but if 1250 words per week is what it takes to drag draft one of #TheSage across the finish line, so be it. Almost there! #BookSky 💙📚 #writing
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
The more you #read, the smarter you are, and the more certain that you know very little indeed. It's an enriching and humbling and ultimately civilizing activity. #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
If you have a cheap, white translucent line bringing water to your fridge, change it today for a quality line. Ask me why as I mop the ceiling, walls and floor below our #kitchen.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I pick up after my #dog in the forest, and I'd appreciate it if the #deer could do the same while eating my hostas, day lilies, tulips and cedars. I mean, I provide a nutritious, night-time all-you-can-eat buffet; the least they can do is wipe up after themselves.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Tempted to install a #drywell for a #downspout to empty into? Good idea, until it sprouts roots that grow halfway up your drain pipe. We cleaned that out, but the well itself is completely clogged, no space between pieces of gravel to receive/disperse #water. A complete do-over.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
One of those magical writing days where you finally pen the scene you've been writing in your head for the past year. The words pour out, all sorts of neat phrases and so little effort! A thousand beautiful #words in a few hours! #TheSage #WeAllWish #Flip #BookSky 💙📚
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Lousy day #writing. About 120 words. A paragraph. And not even a very good one at that. Beware any paragraph that contains the word 'heuristics'. #Atwood says 'Make me want to turn the page'. The word 'heuristics' makes you want to barf.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I think that discount's going to have to rise quite a bit. Great player, but I can't see many people wanting to wear one in public. Maybe ship them to Florida, where they might be a novelty/collector item. #hockey
Photo of Brady Tkachuk's Ottawa sweater on sale (in Canada) for fifty percent off.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I'll admit it was difficult stirring peanut butter upside down in the fridge, but I'll be damned if I'll ignore a tek riter's instructions! #writing #stirring #storing #pb #BookSky 💙📚
Picture of a peanut butter jar that has an instruction to "Stir & store upside in refrigerator."
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I don't usually #write on weekends, but I bashed out 1028 words yesterday and 212 today. An almost-1500 weekend is exceptional. Now over fifty thousand words and it's getting close. Might hit sixty. Might not. Just the #firstdraft. #TheSage #BookSky 💙📚
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
"The first draft is you telling yourself the story." Excuse me, but that should be you *showing* yourself the first draft of the story. ;-) #writing #showdonttell #unlessyoutellwell #BookSky 💙📚
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
It's not just that we're entering the #post-literate age, it's that so many people are entering it proudly. "I don't read books. Why would I?" This is often said with a scowl and a sneer. Then you begin an awkward rebuttal and their eyes betray bored anguish. #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
658 words in #TheSage this morning. I've hit a logical stopping point: i.e., I'm tired. But I know what happens next, and I'm saving that running start for tomorrow's session. #BookSky💙📚 #writing
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Hit page 199 of #TheSage yesterday. Probably it'll come in at about 240 pages. #HomeStretch #Writing is a marathon with several dozen signposts along the way. Started on March 1. #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
If Canada, France or England can't win the #WorldCup, well, yeah, I guess Spain is approximately my next choice. Many thanks to the teams and the host countries.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
'What's it like raising #kids?' Wrong question. Correct question: What's it like having kids resist your every attempt at raising them?
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I don't usually #write on the weekends, but 278 words of #dialogue just filled a page in #TheSage. Love dialogue. It rips the story along, and it's generally easier to write. Generally. Not always. #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
637 words today, most of it snappy dialogue. Hit page 190 of #TheSage. Feels good to have almost 200 pages in the bank. #writing #BookSky 💙📚
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
All the sports writers who crapped on #MLS in 2023-2026 because tired, worn-out, old, semi-retired Messi dominated it should turn in their sports-writer badges. He's still the best on the planet. #soccer #football #WC #WC2026
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I don't know - when people who have 30K followers and 30K following but only 27 posts follow you, do you follow back? How do they get 30K followers when they barely post? They brought followers from somewhere else? And their posts...not inspiring.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
One of those weird #writing days where 400 words magically appear on the page in the space of thirty minutes. Huh? HTH? How'd that happen? #BookSky #TheSage
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
BREAKING NEWS: Amazon now has AI-powered advice to help with your AMS advertising campaigns! And the advice is....wait for it.....Increase your advertising budget! Wow! Who woulda thunk it? That AI - it's there when you need it, working hard for you! #writing #BookSky 💙📚
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I used the term 'furshlugginer' in a post recently, and I'm pretty sure lots of people understood it. Like me, they're guys (probably mostly guys) of a certain age and incorrigibly childish mentality. #WhatMeWorry #Yiddish #writing #BookSky
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
'View our pre-game presentation of the France-Morrocco match, with AI-based analysis!' Thanks, but I'll pass. Gimme an assortment of opinionated boys and girls with fab UK accents to do the analysis, and I'm good. #WC2026 #WorldCup
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Fascinating, in-depth discussion. A must-read: #reading #writing #literacy #BookSky #TheAtlantic www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
theatlantic.com
The End of Reading Is Here
Optimists once believed that universal literacy was inevitable. Now it seems that the age of reading might be a short anomaly in human history.
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Vincent J. Gardner @vincentwriter.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I'm not cool under #pressure. Under pressure I rage at the #gods. I could've snapped spines and bitten off heads this morning in #traffic shepherding recalcitrant participants to their furshluginer appointments. #writing #BookSky 💙📚
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