We Need to Talk About AI

I don't use AI to write. AI has in fact illegally used me to write. Sure, sometimes the entitity hosting my words have permission, but I haven't and they are my words. For me drafting is fun. I love the surprise when a few stray plot bits coalesce. I love when characters says things I didn't consciously know they were going to say. But if I wanted to read something someone else wrote, there are literally already more books out there than I could read in this lifetime. 

People keep saying things like well it's too late, the technology exists. And sure. And look, we've bundled just about all code together under that AI umbrella. But can I think of uses for AI? Sure? Are any of them have a computer report news for me or write stories for me instead of actual people with the ability to create context and nuance? No.

It's interesting because we've been using a version of what we are now calling AI to closed caption live TV. To caption videos on social media. And for a while it sucked. And then it got so good. And now it sucks again. It's almost like claiming the software needs no human intervention has made it worse. 

And of course it's proponents always want to toss to the side the water needed. As if we hadn't already learned that sucking up all the water from various places had terrible effects. 

But the other thing that's happening is, it's made me think harder about blogging. I love chatting with the internet. I love telling stories. But I am more and more aware that I am feeding the LLM machines every time I do. That no matter what copyright notices, or do not copy texts I put on my site, it's all feeding the machine. And while I like talking on the internet too much to stop, I may have to really think hard about where to dedicate my energy. 

7 Things About Staying Cool When It's Stupid Hot

I like heat. I even like humidity. (Dry air send my throat, eyes, nasal passages into a panic.) I also like watching tennis which around here happens in the dead heat of summer. My favorite social media comment ever was a guy yelling at the tournament account that they shouldn't hold tennis tournaments when it's going to rain. And well, we really need that rain when the heat index is triple digits. 

1. Be in the AC is the obvious option. But sure you might need to run errands, watch a sporting match of some sort, mow the lawn, or have an outdoor job. 

2. Hydrate. I know. Everyone says this. But all the extra things your body needs to do during extreme weather need liquid.

3. Be a shade seeker. Know where the shade is, whether it's the shadier side of the street to walk down, the shadiest spot to leave your car, the shadiest spot to wait for the bus, find the shade. You can also carry an umbrella or wear a large brim hat and create some of your own shade. If you do, be mindful of others. Being poked when it's stupid hot is harder to handle. 

4. Take breaks. You may have a great vantage that just happens to be in full sun right now. Plan out a break that takes you to a cool spot. Sip water, snack, watch from the concourse a bit. If you are out running errands and the stores you are hitting are not sufficiently cool, stop in at a cooling center or library (or combo cooling center library). Know where these things are along your route.

5. Natural fibers are really breathable. Athletic type clothes may also have sweat wicking capabilities. If you are somewhere you cannot alter your clothes, just keep this in mind and plan for breaks as much as you can. 

6. Know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/

Dizzy is bad and means you need to take steps now. Heart racing is bad and means you may need medical attention. Don't worry about being embarrassed, I promise if you pass out you will be more embarrassed. 

7. Think of heat like staying up all night. You can do it, but it takes effort. Small breaks help if you can't get longer breaks. And missing some of the fun is worth it to avoid missing the rest because you had to go to the ER instead. 

Bid on Me (and other things)!

It is the Romancing the Vote auction, raising funds for voting rights here in the US and I have two items I am going to get a little long winded about, even though they already have descriptions. 

First, I love quotes. I used to have a box of index cards, just with quotes from various books I loved on them. And last auction I felt bad about not being able to offer international shipping, so tried to think of a thing I could make that would be easily transportable. And so I came up with ten quotes, from various different books, and doodled a little something to go along with it and put it on a postcard. You can send them to your friends, mail them to yourself, hoard them for the hard days, or decorate your fridge. 

Also, I may roll out some incentives on Bluesky to pump up the bidding since this is all for such a good cause. Like maybe a winner's choice postcard added. 

The second option is a stack of three books - a bridesmaid book bundle. One is by me, it's Undercover Bridesmaid. One is by Susie Dumond who also happens to be a DC based author, and one is by Katy Birchall. I have read both and I love them. And these three books are all set in different cities with very different characters but they all feature a secret professional bridesmaid. I think it's such a cool example of how different authors can take the same thing and create three totally different stories. They are all romances, so I can promise each has a happy ending even if their are varying degrees of heartache in them. Also, I can obviously sign and/or personalized my book, if the winner chooses. That one I am sticking to US because sorry, shipping sucks. 

Ripped Bodice Bingo Suggestions

Note: I am, of course, going to include my books in this.  I skipped a few I don't have suggestions for. 

Character smells like fresh cut grass

Song Lyrics:  Oh hello, both I Belong to You and Presented with Love would work for this.  

I Hate Everyone But You: Zomromcom by Olivia Dade

National Park:  Hello again, I Belong to You fits here as well, with Rock Creek Park.  Of Kings and Queens also mentions the Mall. 

Heatwave: Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley

Dual Timeline: Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare

Canoe: Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar

TRB Summer 2026 Author: Shirlene Obuobi's Between Friends and Lovers would work this, or you could wait til July for the new one. 

Florist: Hello, both Aloha to You and Of Kings and Queens have brief appearances of the same florist.  

Middle child: 

Cover has an old house on it: Love in All the Haunted Places by Claire Kann, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeepig by Sangu Mandanna

Soccer/World Cup: I confess, I have not read a lot of recent soccer romance, but I did enjoy Rebecca Crowley's Crossing Hearts. 

Rodeo:  Huge fan of Kari Lynn Dell here, especially Tangled in Texas.  

Podcaster - Back After This by Linda Holmes is really more women's fiction, but does have a pro podcaster.  Same with Regina Black's August Lane. 

Wedding Party:  Hello again, we have Undercover Bridesmaid. 

Royal Title in the Title - Oh hello, we have Of Kings and Queens

Don't Fall in Love with Me - Andrea Tang's To The Death would work well here. 

End of summer deadline - Jodi McAlister's An Academic Affair has multiple deadlines, but as they are academics, end of summer, is definitely part of it.  Also, Get Over it April Avans by Ashley Herring Blake.  

Single Parent - One in a Million by Beverley Kendall

Happy reading!

Tara Kennedy

Note: If you are reading this outside of your work hours, feel free to hold off response until work hours.

"A Fine Madness" from Wooly Mammoth at the Hamiltonian

Content note: discussions of pandemics 

"A Fine Madness" in being staged in multiple locations across DC. I saw it at the Hamiltonian Gallery on U Street. 

"A Fine Madness" is technically a one person show, although it is interactive, so the audience is part of the show, to the extent they wish. 

The show is a few things. It's a little bit autobiographical. It's a little bit reflective. It's a little bit nerdy as it talks about space and ties that together with reflections on viruses and pandemics. It's basically an amazing night. They handed us a pencil to fill out some things. (Sidenote as a super reader, watching a bunch of adults be handed a paper that says fill this part out now, fill this part out later, and seeing who follows directions can be it's own fun.)

I ended up using my pencil to write down a few lines that spoke to me. 

The show I saw was in the Hamiltonion, a long narrow space. The lighting and sound were helpful. At one point I realized that Weaks had altered his outfit and I was amazed because I hadn't noticed when it had happened. 

I went alone and had a great time, but I think it's also a great show to see with a friend or two so you can talk about it later.