Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tides of Magic, Tides of Change

Posted on 21 September 2023 by Barbara Howe

Tides of Magic and Tides of Change are the first two books in a series of fantasy novellas by New Zealand author Andi R. Christopher. Both are charming, feel good stories; a pleasant antidote when the tidal wave of bad … Continue reading →

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Reforging Complete

Posted on 4 December 2021 by Barbara Howe

With the release of the The Forge, book 5 in the Reforging series, the series is complete! It has been a long time coming (I started writing the first book, The Locksmith, in 2010), and it feels terrific to see … Continue reading →

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Exhalation: Stories

Posted on 3 April 2021 by Barbara Howe

Exhalation: Stories is a collection of award-winning stories (at least five Hugos and several Nebulas between them) by American speculative fiction writer Ted Chiang. These moderately-paced stories are entertaining, but they are also examinations of ideas, touching on such serious … Continue reading →

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NZ Writers Read

Posted on 28 April 2020 by Barbara Howe

Did you know that the New Zealand Society of Authors has its own youtube channel featuring New Zealand writers reading excerpts from their works? What a great way to sample a variety of styles and voices in a time when … Continue reading →

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2019 Recap

Posted on 20 December 2019 by Barbara Howe

The Icelandic custom of exchanging books on Christmas Eve, and spending the rest of the evening reading and eating chocolate, sounds to me like a great tradition. My family knows they’ll be getting books from me—I generally do at least … Continue reading →

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The Blacksmith Book Launch

Posted on 4 August 2019 by Barbara Howe

The Blacksmith, the third book in my YA high fantasy Reforging series, is now available in paperback for non-North American readers. We will be holding a book launch to celebrate. Join us, if you can. When: 5:30pm, 14 August 2019 Where: … Continue reading →

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Book Announcement: The Blacksmith

Posted on 29 May 2019 by Barbara Howe

How is the king like a blacksmith? He has a hammer as well as a sword. Duncan Archer has heard that riddle many times, but he doesn’t know what it means. No one does, not even the members of the … Continue reading →

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The Spirit Ring

Posted on 19 January 2019 by Barbara Howe

Lois McMaster Bujold’s noblebright fantasy The Spirit Ring, set in Renaissance Italy, opens with a young woman, Fiametta, assisting her father, Prospero Beneforte, master craftsman and mage, in putting the final touches on a magical poison-detecting salt cellar. Their richly … Continue reading →

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Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

Posted on 8 December 2018 by Barbara Howe

The match is entirely unsuitable. Everyone in the small British village of Edgecombe St Mary agrees on that. He, a retired career army officer, rubs shoulders with the titled and the wealthy; she’s the village shopkeeper. He’s a respected member … Continue reading →

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Why does fantasy have to be so long?

Posted on 24 November 2018 by Barbara Howe

Why is so much speculative fiction so long? In the past year I have read several stories that were more than 500 pages: Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (782 pages), Brandon Sanderson’s Well of Ascension (763 pages), Eric … Continue reading →

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