Author Archives: Barbara Howe

Right Wing Fairy Tales

Posted on 7 May 2022 by Barbara Howe

Once upon a time… That’s the start of a fairy tale, right? Well… Once upon a time, a position espoused by the American right wing—the Republicans, the conservatives—was that the government should keep its nose out of personal life, that … Continue reading →

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Flashback

Posted on 23 April 2022 by Barbara Howe

Anna Pigeon is enjoying her temporary assignment as Acting Supervisory Ranger of the Dry Tortugas National Park. The Dry Tortugas, seventy miles further into the Gulf of Mexico than Key West, is one of the U.S. National Park System’s least … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Mysteries, Mysteries | Leave a comment

Death and Taxes

Posted on 1 April 2022 by Barbara Howe

Death and taxes: the only things certain in this world, and they’ve taken a toll on us over the last few weeks. Between a funeral (of a friend and former neighbour, not a family member) and some complications in our … Continue reading →

Posted in A Writer's Life, Historical Mysteries, Mysteries, On Reading | 2 Comments

A Few Short Disasters

Posted on 18 March 2022 by Barbara Howe

I’ve been reading more short fiction lately than I used to. Here are a few stories I’ve stumbled across and enjoyed enough to want to share. The only thread that they have in common is that the main event in … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories, Speculative fiction | Leave a comment

Isobar Precinct

Posted on 18 February 2022 by Barbara Howe

Lestari Cassidy and her two friends have witnessed a murder. Or have they? The video they captured on a cell phone agrees with what they reported to the police—a man’s throat is slit; blood sprays out, soaking the shrubbery—but the … Continue reading →

Posted in Kiwi author, Modern literary fiction, Speculative fiction | Leave a comment

Against the Grain

Posted on 4 February 2022 by Barbara Howe

Against the Grain, by Melanie Harding-Shaw, is a great little comfort read, best enjoyed with a cup of your favourite hot beverage (hot chocolate for me) and a plate of warm baked goods close at hand. Part of the Witchy … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Kiwi author | Leave a comment

Book Launch Reminder

Posted on 20 January 2022 by Barbara Howe

Reminder: the launch of The Forge, the fifth and final book in the Reforging series, will be held this weekend, on Sunday, 23 January, at 1:00pm New Zealand Daylight Time. If you haven’t been following the series, here’s on overview: … Continue reading →

Posted in A Writer's Life, Epic Fantasy, Noblebright Fantasy | Leave a comment

The Forge Book Launch

Posted on 10 January 2022 by Barbara Howe

The launch of The Forge, the fifth and final book in the Reforging series, will be an online event on Sunday, 23 January, at 1:00pm* New Zealand Daylight Time. Looking forward to seeing you then! Reminder: IFWG Publishing Australia is … Continue reading →

Posted in A Writer's Life, Epic Fantasy, Kiwi author | Leave a comment

2022 Preview

Posted on 1 January 2022 by Barbara Howe

My family are the best! They gave me books, chocolate, and a lovely large blank book for the next instalment in my reader’s journal. I’m all set. Between the books in the picture above, and several more on my e-reader, … Continue reading →

Posted in A Writer's Life, On Reading | Leave a comment

2021 Recap

Posted on 18 December 2021 by Barbara Howe

For this end-of-year review, I’ve come up with a baker’s dozen of books, or set of books—some old, some new—that were most memorable or most fun for me this year. There’s lots of engrossing fiction being published, so winnowing them … Continue reading →

Posted in A Writer's Life, On Reading | Leave a comment