C M Debell
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cmdebell.bsky.social
C M Debell
@cmdebell.bsky.social
890 followers 740 following 360 posts
She/her. Writer and reader of stories. Fantasy forever. Lymond ❤️. Freelancer by day. SPFBO9 semi-finalist.

Free book via my newsletter https://www.andeira.net/newsletter

linktr.ee/cmdebell
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cmdebell.bsky.social
C M Debell @cmdebell.bsky.social · May 29
If you like any of these things, you might like The Many Shades of Midnight

- Political fantasy
- Character-focused
- Multi POV
- Standalone, 350 pages
- No romance

(Also anti-capitalist rage and people taking action, if anyone needs that in their lives right now)

books2read.com/u/brev8w
💙📚🪐
Front cover of The Many Shades of Midnight by CM Debell Quotes from reviewers: 'Some of the best character arcs in fantasy' 'Dark, gritty and impossible to put down' 'I was absolutely consumed by this book'
Reposted by C M Debell
angelaboord.bsky.social
Easing back into #WIPSnips with this Rai Ascendant novella featuring Kolya, whose brother is the MC of To Dream a Darker Realm (book 1). Technically it's also a sequel to "Wishes", the novelette you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter 😁

(*Privyet means hi in Russian)

💙🪐📚
“Let me know if he pukes again,” the nurse told Tresa. “Otherwise, I’ll be back to check on him in about twenty minutes.” Fabric rustled, shoe soles squeaked on the tile. Then it was quiet again, except for the beeping. Just me and Tresa. Tresa looked like she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. I tried to smile for her. “Privyet?” I said hopefully. “You’re a real drama queen, you know that?” she said in exasperation. “You can’t just call or write like everybody else. You always have to make an entrance.”
February 5, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
sarahchorn.bsky.social
Hey! If you're a short story reader, please check out the Unavowed anthology. It was published by Grim Oak Press and features a whole bunch of incredible indie authors... and somehow I snuck in amongst them.

My story is called "My Soul Has Teeth". It's weird.

Check it out!

a.co/d/0a3LGmyX
Unavowed
Unavowed - Kindle edition by Speakman, Shawn, Andrews, J. A., Cahill, Ryan, Fletcher, Michael R., Galley, Ben, Hearne, Kevin, Miller, Michael R., Peloquin, Andy, Sullivan, Michael J., Wang, M. L. . Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Unavowed.
a.co
February 5, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
triempery.bsky.social
#WIPSnips The word for February 5th is EXCEPT

In this snip from THE RILL LORD Emyli talks with an old friend about Aubrey, who she has just met and about whom she's curious. She's surprised by what she learns.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery
Text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip shows a conversation between Emyli and an old friend about Aubrey, who Emyli has just met: “She has met him?” “More than that. He made a point of dancing with her.” Emyli’s mind raced. She knew such occasions well—the brilliance of Highborn courts and company, the intensity of being at the center of such attention. “Why would he do that? Was he cruel to her?” Kathanos gave her a look that asked her reasons for thinking it. “I don’t know. It could be. I cannot say that I thought so at the time. I don’t presume everything Dorilian does is intended to be cruel. I know only that it caused great consternation that he danced with her at all.” “I can imagine.” So that explained it. Aubrey Amundda had not decided to stay at Gustan because Hans had asked her to stay, or because the hospital needed more work, but because Dorilian was now at Thunes. Emyli could well imagine how the Hierarch had amused himself with her. Knowing how much Aubrey, like all Khelds, must hate him, he would have taken great pleasure in compelling her to perform in public or shame her people, his very splendor making her look inadequate and small. The eagle playing with a mouse. Kathanos regarded Emyli thoughtfully. “We forget sometimes he is also a man, with a man’s eye for beauty.” Emyli dismissed that notion. “Dorilian sees no beauty in Khelds. We are but animals to him. He ignores us completely except when it amuses him to remind us of how low he believes us to be—the way he always did with Stefan.”
February 5, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
stevewestenra.bsky.social
It was an incredibly close finish, but Team WIPs has its #SFINCS3 finalists!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-3-fin...

Congrats to the finalists, semi-finalists, & everyone who entered! And thank you to @helynalc.bsky.social , @jamreads.com , and @angelaboord.bsky.social for all your hard work!

#SFINCS
#SFINCS 3 Finalist Announcement – Team WIPs
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”) is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the t
beforewegoblog.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
triempery.bsky.social
#WIPSnips The word for February 3 is CONFIDENT

Dorilian may be the World's most "confident" person. He has reason to be: he's close to being the avatar of a god. In THE RILL LORD he has this snip of a conversation with Levyathan about the upcoming battle.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky
Text excerpt of THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip is of a telepathic conversation between Dorilian and Levyathan. Therefore all of the dialogue is in italics above but not shown as such below. Are you afraid? Of the battle tomorrow? Handurin had just asked Dorilian that question. The answer remained the same. No. The things I fear are beyond even the Wall and Rill. I have pushed myself to the very edge of what this bloodline of ours will allow. Are you still confident you will prevail? You and Handurin? Confident? No. But I’m going to risk my life on what we have created between us. Return to your sleep and if the Universe is merciful I will share your dreams. Through Levyathan’s joined senses Dorilian would let Sordan’s temperate night breeze caress his skin and he might inhale the delicate fragrance of winter-blooming ice flowers. I don’t like this talk of risk! If the battle turns against you, seek safety— If the battle turns against us, there will be no safety.
February 3, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
triempery.bsky.social
#WIPSnips The word for February 2 is PERISH

"Perish" is a spoilery word for THE RILL LORD; there's some serious perishing going on in that book. However here's a passage establishing how the magic-using bad guys get around.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Triempery
Text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip shows some of the series' magic-using bad guys going about their nefarious business: The villa outside Trulo was nothing exceptional, a weathered pile of buff stones and unassuming walls. Its brief occupation by Mormantaloran mages had gone almost unnoticed. No brooding mage-tower graced its square plain shape. Only the Sorcerer and his mages knew that the entire structure had been converted over to housing an array. If the entire house were destroyed by malfunction, what did Nammuor care? If there were occupants, it was their misfortune to be in his path, not his if they should perish in the energy field or be killed to conceal his movements. Fortunately, no inhabitants of the villa were near the dining hall when the lr array beneath the floors activated and five men in red robes appeared. The sun had risen an hour before and only a single frightened house servant noticed the flaring of light under doors or through windows. Before the household could be raised to alarm, the men had walked from the room and were gone. They did not need horses. They traveled now to a better vantage point using far-lookers to establish coordinates, employing lr devices they wore upon their brows like Diadems. So had the Aryati traveled in ages past, upon the very wind.
February 2, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
triempery.bsky.social
Here's a perfectly hideous but highly visible graphic announcing that the eARC for THE RILL LORD is available! This handy link is to the sign up page:

forms.gle/4UXHhRom6qZW...

Books (digital only) will be sent by the publisher. I tested it, so it should work. 🤞
January 29, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com
To celebrate leaving Kindle Unlimited (and also my birthday!), all of my Cruel Gods books are now on Itch.io, and for this weekend only, they're part of an Itch bundle! Get all four books with a 35% discount!

If you hate buying books on Amazon, this is for you:

itch.io/s/179524/the...
A promo image showing all four books from the Cruel Gods series including The Thirteenth Hour, The Children of Chaos, The End of Time, and Tales From Across the Domains, the short story collection. Text on the banner says: The Cruel Gods trilogy - Now on Itch.io! Fantasy of bad manners, tea, top hats and naughty words.
January 30, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by C M Debell
angelaboord.bsky.social
Well, um, I have a Bookbub deal going on this week, if you'd like to take a break with a short prequel novel to Fortune's Fool, in which Kyrra teams up with her mercenary friends to cause maximum chaos and take a little revenge in the process...

💙🪐📚 #BookSky

www.bookbub.com/books/smuggl...
A Bookbub graphic: Now Only $0.99, available for a limited time: featuring the painted cover of Smuggler's Fortune by Angela Boord, A Standalone Eterean Empire Story: A giant painted cabinet sits amid the wreckage of a cart backlit by flames with indistinct running figures, one in veil and robes, another with a metal arm
January 29, 2026 at 3:05 PM
cmdebell.bsky.social
This morning, I saw otters in our local river and it was such a happy start to the day. Then I read this article.
georgemonbiot.bsky.social George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 11d
Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem.
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot
It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by C M Debell
robjhayes.bsky.social
I am informed there is a Book Marketing "Expert" claiming they have helped me sell my books. This is a lie. If any of these "experts" claim me as a client, do not believe a word they say and run away from them before they steal your money.
January 28, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by C M Debell
wsbookclub.bsky.social
Who's looking for a wonderful, hopeful fantasy? Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter has you covered!

#booksky #AgnesAubertsMysticalCatShelter #bookblogger
Book Review: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montréal turns to a grouchy but charming magician to help save her shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling aut…
wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog
January 26, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
angelaboord.bsky.social
My last #SFINCS review for the semi-final round!

The Drowned Heir has a great premise and a lot of appeal for readers in search of moody, gothic vibes .

💙🪐📚 #BookSky #indiebooks

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs3...
SFINCS3 Review: The Drowned Heir by Jennifer Donohue
“The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”) is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. W...
www.angelaboord.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
angelaboord.bsky.social
My review for #SFINCS semi-finalist A Second Life Worth Living by Karen Lucia...

This one packs a powerful punch, especially for the moment we're living in.

💙🪐📚 #BookSky #indiebooks

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs3...
SFINCS3 Review: A Second Life Worth Living by Karen Lucia
“The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”) is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. W...
www.angelaboord.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
vazdimet.com
Halfway through book 3, despite my best efforts to pace myself. @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com writes awesome books.

The worldbuilding is well done, the characters feel real, and I am having all sorts of emotions. You should read it

#SFF #BookSky #IndieBookSky

www.goodreads.com/series/33443...
Book cover for The End of Time, Book 3 in The Cruel God's, by Trudie Skies. Two figures are on the cover, a gray woman in a gray dress with short black hair in front, a light skinned man in a dark suit with glasses standing behind. She has blue magic radiating from her hand, while he's holding a fancy pistol. A golden mechanical portal shines behind.
January 27, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Reposted by C M Debell
bookspotlight.bsky.social
✨ FANTASY SHORT STORY ✨

🎭 a magician’s last act
💖 a burgeoning romance
🗡️ brothers at odds
📓 21 pages

🔖 universal link: mybook.to/H6oGDdB
💌 itch.io link: rebecca-crunden.itch.io/the-final-ac...
📖 goodreads: www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...

[ #booksky ]
cover for the final act of jonas black by rebecca crunden; shows a faceless figure in a hat with glasses, black and white colour scheme
January 25, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
angelaboord.bsky.social
Another #SFINCS review: The Knight of the Moon by Gregory Kontaxis.

I had some problems with this one, but if you like fast-paced, plot-driven grimdark, it might work for you.

💙🪐📚 #BookSky #indiebooks

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs3...
SFINCS3 Review: The Knight of the Moon by Gregory Kontaxis
“The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”) is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. W...
www.angelaboord.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
angelaboord.bsky.social
Another #SFINCS review from me!

Selkie Moon by Kelly Jarvis is a quiet little emotional gem about mothers, daughters, and selkies. 🦭

💙🪐📚 #BookSky #indiebooks

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs3...
SFINCS3 Review: Selkie Moon by Kelly Jarvis
“The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. ...
www.angelaboord.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
susankayequinn.bsky.social
Readers... this AI shit in Amazon ebooks is something authors can't opt out of and it's frankly illegal, but when did that stop tech companies? The only thing they respond to (sometimes) is customer backlash — don't use this feature and tell Amazon you hate it.

kindlepreneur.com/amazon-ask-t...
What Amazon’s 'Ask This Book' Feature Means for Authors | Kindlepreneur
Amazon’s Ask This Book feature adds AI-generated explanations inside Kindle ebooks. Here’s what it does, how it works, and why authors are pushing back.
kindlepreneur.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
triempery.bsky.social
#WIPSnips The word for January 23 is TRANSFER

THE RILL LORD is about creation and destruction, endings and beginnings. But "transfer" plays a part in that. Here's a conversation between Hans and Tiflan, explaining... quite a lot.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #epicfantasy
Text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip is part of a conversation between Hans and Tiflan about Dorilian and the role of hope: “Gustan,” Hans said to Tiflan, identifying the pivotal point. “It was never about Bellan Toregh. Not really. It was always about Marc Frederick. His vision. After Permephedon, Dorilian remembered the promise, but he rejected the price.” “Wouldn’t you? Look at his teacher.” Tiflan paused, golden head turned, eyes softened. “Marc Frederick was more Dorilian’s father than the man who sired him. Deben never gave his son anything but life and the cold gift of hate. It fell to your grandfather to teach hard lessons about love and beauty and pain, the meaning of a human life. Dor’s human life—that he was not just other than godborn. That he was more. That he was deeper and truer and had an entire Creation from which to give. People only wanted the Rill. Marc Frederick wanted everything. Dorilian responded to Marc Frederick’s belief in him, his complete faith that Dor would do what was right. If any man should be thanked for what Dorilian has become, it’s Marc Frederick. Dorilian never took a greater leap than the one he took for your grandfather, nor took greater wounds than as a result. What happened at Permephedon branded him with terrible lies. That is why I tell you this: do not overlook your part in his healing. He was able to transfer his hope to you. Without hope, people cease to strive against their fates.”
January 23, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
servantand.bsky.social
My short story, The Fairy Soldier's Last Request is in the Tales Untold anthology.

It's the story of a sellsword, excuse me freelancer, who gets pulled into a debt of honor with a Fairy soldier. He's also Bi. 😁

www.amazon.com/Tales-Untold...
Tales Untold: Mythos Around the World
Tales Untold: Mythos Around the World - Kindle edition by P. Menon, Rashmi, Authors, Multiple, Caruso, Kimberlee. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Tales Untold: Mythos Around the World.
www.amazon.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
angelaboord.bsky.social
We're now in the #SFINCS semi-finals! I've finished reading all 5 books we were allotted in Team WIPS and here's my first review!

Sisters of Mercy by Yuval Kordov was 🔥
For fans of giant mech battles, postapocalyptic SF, and deeply emotional stories...

💙🪐📚

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs-...
SFINCS Review: Sisters of Mercy by Yuval Kordov
“The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. ...
www.angelaboord.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by C M Debell
triempery.bsky.social
#WIPSnips The word for January 21 is ACTIVITY

Lots of "activity" in THE RILL LORD. Here's one that doesn't spoil much. Dorilian doesn't like Chyralane. Never has. And she's an evil schemer. So their scenes together are... hostile.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky
Text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip is of a confrontation between Dorilian and Chyralane, a villainess: With a curse, Dorilian sheathed his sword. He reached down and Chyralane cried out as his hard hands grasped her by the upper arms. She felt her body lifted and swung around, blinding pain shooting through her brittle bones as he dropped her into her tall chair before the fire. Taking the chair by its frame, he wrenched it about so that she faced her chamber’s open window and, beyond it, a night sky filled with lights—and the Rill. “See that?” He pointed to the soaring arches and rings of the Rill crown, its Mount lit up with the bustle and activity of war-driven trade. Alarmed voices sounded outside her chamber door, the sounds of footsteps and others. A moment later it crashed in. Several men, led by her nephew Iphithus, rushed inside, only to stop abruptly at what they saw. “Wise move,” Dorilian noted, touching his hand to his sword, before returning his steely glare and hard voice to Chyralane. He stabbed, finger pointed again, toward the window. “There beats your heart as well as mine. The god in all its glory! But it is I who am tied to the Entity in body, and you who are but the parasite that feeds upon us.”
January 21, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by C M Debell
beneatha1kskies.bsky.social
Happy book birthday to @jnevair.bsky.social as The Curse of Dragon Tail is out in the wild today! 🏴‍☠️
3D puzzle ship lit up green from within, next to a map case, with a kindle on a map showing the cover of The Curse of Dragon Tail by Jonathan Nevair
January 20, 2026 at 9:32 AM