diff --git a/horsegen/main.go b/horsegen/main.go
index c2bf2b1..2bd004f 100644
--- a/horsegen/main.go
+++ b/horsegen/main.go
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"flag"
-	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -29,38 +29,44 @@ func main() {
 
 	t, err := LoadTemplates()
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "loading templates: %s\n", err)
+		slog.Error("loading templates", slog.Any("err", err))
 		os.Exit(2)
 	}
 
+	slog.Info("open", slog.String("mdb", mdb))
 	db, err := sqlitex.NewPool(mdb, sqlitex.PoolOptions{Flags: sqlite.OpenReadOnly})
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+		slog.Error("opening mdb", slog.String("mdb", mdb), slog.Any("err", err))
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+
+	slog.Info("get characters")
 	charas, err := Characters(ctx, db)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+		slog.Error("getting characters", slog.Any("err", err))
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+	slog.Info("get pairs")
 	pairs, err := CharacterPairs(ctx, db)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+		slog.Error("getting pairs", slog.Any("err", err))
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+	slog.Info("get trios")
 	trios, err := CharacterTrios(ctx, db)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+		slog.Error("getting trios", slog.Any("err", err))
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
 	cf, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(out, "character.kk"))
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+		slog.Error("creating character.kk", slog.Any("err", err))
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+	slog.Info("write characters")
 	if err := ExecCharacterKK(t, cf, charas, pairs, trios); err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+		slog.Error("writing character.kk", slog.Any("err", err))
 		// continue on
 	}
 }