Deb E. Howell
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deb.deberelene.com
Deb E. Howell
@deb.deberelene.com
1.5K followers 1.6K following 910 posts
Writer, mum, general dog's body at work & around home. 🇳🇿📚🐴🎶
https://linktr.ee/DebEHowell
Leftie. Hopeless idealist. Boring AF Middle-aged Cis-Het White Woman (BUFFER).
Also on: https://mastoart.social/@debehowell
Not looking for random DMs.
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deb.deberelene.com
Deb E. Howell @deb.deberelene.com · Feb 22
My #RomanticFantasy debut is available to read for just 99c on Campfire: www.campfirewriting.com/explore/heal.... If it happened to look interesting to you. I'm not very good at the Capitalism thing. You *can* buy it from the usual places, too. linktr.ee/DebEHowell
Campfire: Read, Write, and Publish Books & Bonus Content
Campfire is a reading and writing platform for genre fiction. Discover books & bonus content, write novels, and self-publish with best-in-class royalties.
www.campfirewriting.com
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips 14th January '26: Current
#BookSky #FantasyBooks #RoyalRoad
www.royalroad.com/fiction/4260...
“There’s more,” he said as she released it, allowing him to open up an internal page. “Your brother—” “Half-brother,” Llew and Jonas corrected in unison. Rowan paused. “Oh. Kay. Uhm.” He looked back down at the page, giving it a shake, as if that would make it fill in such omissions. “The Magician, Braph, seems to be developing a close bond with our current president. It says here, he’s handed over his nephew, a Syakaran child—” “Joelin.” Jonas’s voice sounded breathless.
January 14, 2026 at 9:12 PM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips 13th Jan: Reflex
I didn't have "tentacle", unless I'd gone for 'arm', I guess. So going full dramatic today.
#BookSky #PukaPuka #RoyalRoad #Fantasy
“Tell them to get the knife out of Llew,” Jonas said to Rowan, who relayed the message in a loud, clear voice. Gaemil had donned leather gloves and was trying to wrench Llew’s fingers from Anya. He shifted focus long enough to pull the knife free and toss it aside, then returned to his earlier task. “It’s the Aenuk reflex. You can’t break that hold. Only Karlani might.” Jonas looked to Karlani. Karlani screwed up her face. “I’m not touching a dead Aenuk.” Anya tried to peel Llew’s fingers back and let go an involuntary moan. “It stings. It’s burning,” she whimpered. “Do it!” Gaemil yelled at Karlani. “No.” Karlani folded her arms.
January 13, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
jennykaynz.bsky.social
NZ Govt to remove power for parents to get exemption from school attendance if kid is under 10YO + school is 3km, or kid older but school 5km or more away. Handy if no car + bus cancelled. #NZpol
S44
www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2...
Subs by 11.59pm 14 Jan
www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/mak...
Radware Page
Loader page.
www3.parliament.nz
January 13, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
alanbaxter.bsky.social
1 month today until THE RISE... rises. Have you got your pre-order in? Find the ebook and paperback wherever you buy books (or pre-order directly from me at alanbaxter.com.au ) Please help me spread the word. 🖤
#WelcomeToTheGulp #Booksky
The cover of The Rise with a bunch if effusive quotes.
January 12, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
edwardpatrickwrites.com
I have wanted to start editing for a bit but was nervous about putting myself out there. At the encouragement and prodding of some friends, I've decided to offer my editing services via ko-fi.

If you are wanting someone to take a look at your work who will NOT use AI, hit me up!

#writingcommunity
Support edwardpatrickwrites
Support edwardpatrickwrites
ko-fi.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
pepperraccoon.com
god i love it when people kinda slap
samperson.bsky.social Samperson @samperson.bsky.social · 3d
greatest steam update of all time, because of one unnecessary detail
January 12, 2026 at 10:10 PM
deb.deberelene.com
Playing #WIPSnips for 11th January 2026: Climb
Jonas having a bit of a crisis …
#PukaPuka #BookSky
For that, he did walk, with only a light weight on his crutch, to the steps up to the porch, then used the house wall to help steady his balance as he climbed. He leaned the crutch against the wall, untucked his singlet, pulled it over his head, and placed it beside a stack of small towels. He poured from the ewer freshly refilled at the end of the previous night, dug his hands into the water, and splashed it on his face, gasping at the cold. He rubbed his hands up and down his cheeks and peered at himself in the pockmarked mirror on the wall. “Who are you?” he asked.
January 12, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
tepaetawhitiawards.bsky.social
We're officially in the final countdown! 4 days left!

tepaetawhitiawards.nz/how-to-enter/

Authors of Aotearoa & the Pacific Islands, if your work is Fantasy, Scifi or Horror & was published in 2025, you need to hurry to enter Te Pae Tawhiti, New Zealand's premier judged speculative fiction awards
Speculative Fiction Authors of New Zealand 4 Days left to Enter Te Pae Tawhiti Submit your entry https://tepaetawhitiawards.nz/how-to-enter/ There is a QR code down the centre, bottom of the image with four books and lots of octopus tentacles and stars for the sea and starry sky distant horizons the award is named after. And a copyrightlicensingnz logo on the bottom right corner.
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
nikkythewriter.com
Phew, what a year! Quite possibly the biggest year I've done in terms of word counts—and it was all for one (still unfinished) project 🫠

#2025wrapped #YearInReview #EndofYearWrap #authorlife
December 31, 2025 at 12:00 AM
deb.deberelene.com
My gosh. My excitement at another AI generated email telling me how amazing the second book in my series is and how it deserves a bigger audience.

See how excited I am?

OK, I admit, I haven't read it. I just saw the Subject and made a guess.
December 30, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
meshedlight.bsky.social
Aotearoa Te Waipounamu & anyone with a connection to Ōtepoti: health equity/community solidarity

Please sign & share this petition

Sam set it up in memory of his wife, Sheralyn

Petition is advocating for 24/7 access to the catheterisation lab at Dunedin Hospital
Petitions are addressed to the House of Representatives and ask that the House do something about a policy or law, or put right a local or private concern.
petitions.parliament.nz
December 30, 2025 at 2:45 AM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips 21st December: Silver
Oh, go on, then, let's return to Guardians & Guides because we can, even if it barely exists as a WIP. Next year …
You can lock this one away as a character description, @vimesart.bsky.social 😜 Though he's minor (shh, don't let him hear me say that).
🇳🇿📚 #SpecFicNZ
“I haven't seen you in weeks.” Zane turned to face her full-on, filling her small dancing space with his hulking presence. “Of course not. I don't get invited to your fancy palace parties.” Anaïs rolled her shoulders as a shiver ran down her spine. Zane was a fine specimen, for certain, with defined muscles, a lavender kilt adorned with a broad, decorative belt playing host to a variety of purely ornamental weapons, including a silver stiletto that was meant to suggest he expected to win in a fight with a werewolf, and several strands of glass and carnelian around his neck, but she wasn't quite certain a spine tingle was in order. For one thing, werewolves either no longer existed or never existed at all. Besides, she was tired, and annoyed her solitary dance had been interrupted. “Oh, they're not— Well, yes, they are rather fancy. But I've been coming here. You haven't.”
December 22, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
alanbaxter.bsky.social
I wrote this back in 2020 and it's still true. If anything, it's more true because publishing as an industry is in the doldrums right now. If you're struggling with a writing career, I hope it helps.
No one is keeping secrets from you. - Alan Baxter
I get one or two emails or private messages a month on average asking some variation of this question, so I thought I might as well write a blog post about it. Then I can reply to those emails with a ...
alanbaxter.com.au
December 22, 2025 at 12:38 AM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips December 20th: Default.
I haven't used 'default', so I've gone it vibe in terms what what's 'normal'.
The viewing aperture at the barracks entrance slid open, revealing feminine eyes. Braph didn’t usually enter through the front, so he didn’t know if the haunted, fearful look was normal for a guard at that gate, neither did he much care. “Open the gate, or I will do it for you.” The slider began to shut as the guard yelled, “It’s him!”
December 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips for December 19th is: High

Been waiting for this one. And I'm going to stick with my Guardians & Guides WIP (Bk 1:The Wolf & The Source) for this one, because it is fun.

#BookSky #FantasySeries #IndieWriter 🇳🇿📚
“What is it?” A voice on the edge of Ekon's hearing intruded his dreams. Or maybe he was still dreaming. Highly likely, as a shiver ran through him, failing to dislodge a shimmering chill settled in his bones. “W— woo— Wulf. Ruff ruff. Wolf!” “You're making that up.” “N— Well, yes. Yes, I am. It just came to me.” “That's how it works, innit? Things just come out of your mouth. And mine. It just is.” “It is Magic.” “Blessed be the work of Magic.” Three voices. Very close. Ekon cracked an eyelid. Three tiny lizards with wings flitted about his nose. That was how big they were, too. About the same as the tip of his nose.
December 19, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
byroncclark.bsky.social
One year from today is the latest possible date the next election can be held #nzpol
December 18, 2025 at 10:39 PM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips 18th December: Request
I felt like switching things up be sharing a snippet from my next series, Guardians & Guides, of which I have only written 4.5 chapters & won't write more until I complete the Deadly Touch series.
#FantasyBooks 🇳🇿📚 #Fantasy #Booksky #GuardiansAndGuides
“Oh. That's a shame. Especially at our age. You know.” He hooked a shoulder up, about as awkward a move as one could expect from totally-self-assured-life-will-always-work-out Zane. “Did you see Aaryn and Jazmeetha have hooked up? And Brem and Edwald.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “You should dance with someone. Me, for instance. I mean, you don't have to, but I happen to be free at the moment, which, as you know, is not a condition likely to continue for long, and I would accept your request.” He lifted his chin, rested a hand on a hip and let the other hang almost casually in a I-can- easily-deny-it, showing-off-my-wares splay, then relaxed into an I-haven't-really-given-up sag. “If you happen to ask, that is.”
December 18, 2025 at 8:25 AM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips 17th December: I didn't have "Clay", so I just went with "Dirt".

#FantasySeries #RoyalRoad

www.royalroad.com/fiction/42601
“But you would agree it had to be done.” “Probably. Maybe. I don’t know.” Jonas scowled. “But not like that. You should’ve done it yourself.” Braph smirked. “I couldn’t have done that in front of his mother. She‘d kill me.” He shifted his balance, looking far too comfortable in Llew’s opinion. “Truth be told, I thought Llew could drain his powers. You said she knew how.” Llew stood and brushed dirt from her trouser seat. “Yeah, I know. But I don’t know if I would survive it.” Jonas glared at her. “You never said—”
December 17, 2025 at 9:14 AM
deb.deberelene.com
Even though I know those book club/promo emails are a scam, for just the tiniest moment, I like to believe the glowing praise for my book is real … I guess this is a writerly confession.

And then it just saddens me that this is what "AI" is being used for. What a waste.
December 17, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
drranshaw.bsky.social
The wellspring of incredulity. Good and bad.
December 16, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
jazzpomegranate.com
the creative process teaches us that art cannot simply be willed into existence. art is what arises out of the tension between what we wish for and what is possible. of course executives don’t understand this!
December 16, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Deb E. Howell
lauriewinkless.bsky.social
If you're not in Aotearoa New Zealand, but would like some lil sprinkles of joy today, look at the posts tagged #secretsantaaonz. This is an entirely volunteer-run gift exchange, where hundreds of people buy / assemble / make gifts for someone they've been assigned. The gifts NEVER fail ❤️
lauriewinkless.bsky.social Laurie Winkless @lauriewinkless.bsky.social · Dec 16
It's not even 7 am and I've already been smiling for 10 mins, for it is #secretsantaaonz opening day! I am wandering home from the gym while stalking the feed. As usual, I am super impressed by everyone's gifts. I promise I'll open mine once I've showered and gotten dressed (in ~1hr) - EXCITED!
December 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips Dec 16th: Moist. I've used to twice in this WIP, so far.

It's not spoilery (for those who've read Warrior's Touch) to know that Jonas isn't at his best in the earliest chapters of Magician's Touch …

novelizing.com/f/healer-s-t...

#FantasyBooks #SpecFicNZ 🇳🇿📚 #FreeBookSky #BookSky
Having had little food or water over the previous days, Jonas was soon dry retching until his body seemed too tired to try anymore. He rolled back, his eyes gaunt and streaming, his skin pale and moist, and his hands trembling, his breath shallow and fast.
December 16, 2025 at 9:44 AM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips 15th December: Blanket.

It's a long snip, but it's a bit fun.
#FantasyBooks #FantasySeries #RomanticFantasy #IndieWriter 🇳🇿📚 #SpecFicNZ

novelizing.com/f/healer-s-t...
he’d been out of sorts since that day at the farm when he’d admitted his failing strength. Where was his head at right now? Squeak, thud. Tormented, was he? “I’m still a man, Llew.” “I know,” she scoffed. She’d never said any different. And why would she think otherwise? No matter what he thought, he was still Jonas, even without his Syakaran power, even without his leg. Oh … Now even that kiss made some sense. “Is that what this is about? You needing to prove you’re still a man? You don’t need to prove it to me. Do you need to make some sort of show of proof to yourself?” She continued to swing her legs, though no longer aggressive enough to hit the wall. And Jonas continued to look at her out the corner of his eye. “Go on, then.” Llew hitched the blanket, showing a little more leg, even as she pulled the edge across her body, ensuring she was covered. He half turned again, eyebrow raised. “Show me what a man you are.” Any hint of humor left his face though and he turned away.
December 15, 2025 at 9:44 AM
deb.deberelene.com
#WIPSnips: 14th December: Line
#FantasySeries 🇳🇿📚 #RomanticFantasy #FantasyBooks

www.royalroad.com/fiction/4260...
Truth be told, Jonas would prefer to never see his brother again, but … “Braph won’t permit me to live without provin’ himself against me. I don’t plan to seek him out, but I can’t guarantee he won’t come lookin’ for me.” Rowan glanced at his sister. “Kind of funny how your advantages seem to have driven a wedge through your family. No one has it all together, I guess.” Rowan closed his notebook and slipped it and the prosthetic leg into the tote bag. “I mean, here the world has the gifts of Karan strength and Aenuk healing and all we can do is line them up and tell them to kill each other. Sure, the Aenuk healing is dangerous, but I feel like if it was harnessed the right way … Never thought it was right, them being locked up, conscripted to the army before they’re even born. They are people after all.”
December 15, 2025 at 4:00 AM