A.J. Ponder
LightNews LightNews
banner
ponderbooks.com
A.J. Ponder
@ponderbooks.com
2.2K followers 1.7K following 5.9K posts
Author at https://ponderbooks.com
Poet. Builder of worlds. Player of games.
He, she, they.
Posts Replies Media Videos
ponderbooks.com
Welcome all dragon riders and druids, elves and elementals as well! Explore the unknown with this month's selection of fantasy reads! More than 20 titles are free or discounted in this fantasy feast.🧙‍♂️⚔️

Check it out: iasfa.org/nov25/
There's a tree at night half obscuring a moody moon. "IASFA Fantasy Free and discounted books November 23-27" is written over the branches and door hidden in its trunk and roots is highlighted by a golden-heart lamp.
November 24, 2025 at 1:31 AM
ponderbooks.com
Te Pae Tawhiti Convenor

Hey, sorry there've been so few posts this year. One of the reasons is my involvement with the Te Pae Tawhiti Awards. (The other is I'm flat out finishing two interconnected series) But I just had to stop by and say I'm so…

https://ponderbooks.com/te-pae-tawhiti-convenor/
Post Image
November 21, 2025 at 12:11 AM
ponderbooks.com
Maisie out and about.
November 20, 2025 at 7:40 AM
ponderbooks.com
What that 500 million could have bought - instead of obscuring the fact that National has tanked the economy. But not only tanking the economy—causing long-term health problems that will be horrendously expensive in the long run.
What that 500 million would buy *4,941 new nurses *6.25m GP visits (around 6 months for all NZ) *2,000 Senior Medical officers *4 years, 2 months of free prescriptions
November 17, 2025 at 2:02 AM
ponderbooks.com
#nzpol

This is just one snip from a video which explains how National is killing our health system. Their hiring freeze has done this while they continue with their lies that they've spent more on health than ever before.

The devil is in the detail.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqdj...
"personnel expenses incurred by health New Zealand were $0.5 billion lower than forecast" Image from video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqdjXKSIMi4
November 17, 2025 at 1:42 AM
ponderbooks.com
Herbert had blood all down his chest, and we thought it was a nosebleed—but no, he's been in a fight and lost a bit of his tongue.
His fur still hasn't grown out after his enucleation surgery and he's already getting into trouble.
Herbert the tuxie cat is on the wooding railing of a balcony railing sniffing the plants in an orange hanging pot.
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM
ponderbooks.com
So am I
More interested in process, than the protection of women in politics
Thank you for writing. As Mayor it is my duty to work with all the councillors Wellingtonians have elected to make up the new Council. The policy I campaigned for the mayoralty on was that every elected councillor would have a meaningful role to contribute to, and that is what I have done. I have been clear throughout my campaign and since the election that I condemn misogynistic abuse. Under my mayoralty it will not be tolerated. You can find out about the appointments I have made to date here. Ngā mihi, nui Andrew Little Mayor
November 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
ponderbooks.com
And while the main drink is probably the most important one to boycott...I like to be a bit of a completionist (where reasonable)
A circle of Coca-cola subsidiaries including Fanta, Schweppes, Sprite, Fresca, Ades, Fairlife, Minute Maid, Ciel, smartwater, Dasani, Powerade, Costa...
October 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
ponderbooks.com
We’ve had so many compliments about the design of the Te Pae Tawhiti logo and banner, and so we thought we’d talk a little about our ideas and how Cerid’s gorgeous design was inspired-

So here's how the magic works...

tepaetawhitiawards.nz/a-vision-of-...
Concept design sketches of the tentacles and waka in the Te Pae Tawhiti Logo - with this text below: Cerid’s process consisted of a lot of concept sketches for us to talk about together. She does the vast majority of her work by hand, involving a lot of tracing to refine the composition, and only digitises in the final stages of the design process
October 21, 2025 at 4:38 AM
ponderbooks.com
#nzpol

Yes, strikes are political.

So are the basic things we've been taking for granted and are being stolen from us every day. So kudos to nz_psa and fleurfitzsimons for laying out some of the stakes—and how easily it could have been avoided.

www.instagram.com/p/DQAika7ErfI/
Image from instagram video: Woman saying: Judith Collins and the Prime Minster are claiming the strikes are political. If by that they mean cancer patients not getting support from dieticians, children not getting cleft palate surgery when they need it, and mental health workers turning up for work in unsafe conditions every day, then yes, it is political. But they’re politicians, they have the power to fix this. Pick up the phone, Judith. 📞 For more information about the PSA strikes on October 23 head to psa.org.nz to find out more!
October 20, 2025 at 3:36 AM
ponderbooks.com
Calling NZ fantasy, horror and science fiction authors

Give your 2025 speculative works the chance to be recognised in our Te Pae Tawhiti juried award looking to celebrate great NZ authors.

For more information please visit: tepaetawhitiawards.nz/how-to-enter/

#nzbooks #nzpublishing #nzfiction
Te Pae Tawhiti Entries now open - Speculative Authors of New Zealand Submit your entry today. Words are in green on a purple background over a book held by two styalised waka prows and and green and purple tentacles with pink suckers.
October 18, 2025 at 12:06 AM
ponderbooks.com
Cozy fantasy sale
142+ e-books
17 paperbacks
11 audiobooks
119 $1.00 or free

Check out the categories on the left hand side. They include sword and sorcery, action & adventure and fairy tale retellings. Escape into wonder, delight, good food, and new worlds.

cozyfantasysale.promisepress.org
🧙‍♂️⚔️
October 11, 2025 at 9:47 PM
ponderbooks.com
Cozy fantasy sale

142+ e-books
119 $1.00 or free

Check out the categories on the left hand side. They include sword and sorcery, action & adventure and fairy tale retellings.

Escape into wonder, delight, good food, and new worlds.
cozyfantasysale.promisepress.org
🧙‍♂️⚔️
October 11, 2025 at 9:41 PM
ponderbooks.com
In her search for her missing family, Mandy uncovers a plot to control the dragon she thought she despised.

An almost-cosy fantasy with Trolls and Dragons (and the occasional demon)

www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQP3MLJ8
🧙‍♂️⚔️
📚💙
Purple and gold "The Dragon Transport and Pacification" cover with a red wax seal Over a red, horned dragon on a blue background: 99c Sale ends 13 October "In her search for her missing family, Mandy uncovers a plot to control the dragon she thought she despised." Byline: An almost cosy Fantasy with Trolls and Dragons (and the occasional demon) Blue USA Today Bestselling Author badge lower left hand corner
October 11, 2025 at 9:35 AM
ponderbooks.com
Check out this interview with Deb Howell, the incomparable, tech savvy, author of "Deadly Touch" Deadwood meets The Vampire Diaries in this tale of brother versus brother and blood-magic set in a gaslamp fantasy world.

tepaetawhitiawards.nz/getting-to-k...
Te Pae Tawhiti - Meet the Team: The picture shows author and treasurer, Deb Howell, looking like she's holding the Te Pae Tawhiti book in green tentacle hands.
September 26, 2025 at 10:54 PM
ponderbooks.com
Calling All New Zealand Speculative Authors!

Have you published a speculative work in 2025?
Then this is your time to shine!

tepaetawhitiawards.nz/calling-all-...

🐉🚀🧌
Purple Banner with text: Entries now open over an open book cradled by two waka and two green and purple tentacles. In the top left is the Te Pae Tawhiti distant Horizon Awards book and tentacle logo.
September 18, 2025 at 8:18 AM
ponderbooks.com
Me too
"Epidemiologists nightmare" certificate - perfect 100% score for the "covid competency exam : https://seanmullen.com/covidcompetencyexam/
September 11, 2025 at 11:42 PM
ponderbooks.com
Frankie Stein wants to wish you all a happy Frankenstein Day!

#frankenstein #frankensteinday
The Frankie Files in AR whacky Herman font on a piece of notepaper with two cute tomato monsters and a black-spotted red ladybird with "E=MC squared" - all on a striped blue cover. Author: A.J. Ponder The original cover of "The Frankie Files " with lightning and bolts and gears flying everywhere from a central explosion on a purple/pink background/
August 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM
ponderbooks.com
It's a bit of a mess, because I'm that angry - but here's my submission (I forgot to get it off the website, so this is the word version)
I oppose this bill 1) Our doctors are not political "public servants" they work for us the people so this clause, "clarifying that requirements relating to political neutrality in the Public Service Act 2020 apply to Health New Zealand" is absolutely unacceptable. Health professionals would be betraying their oath were it to pass. "I will attend to my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard" How can someone provide self care or care of the highest standard if their work is being undermined and they cannot speak out about it. 2) Privatisation of public health care is unacceptable and expensive, except as very short term measures. Stop building it into our healthcare model. 3) The removal of culturally competent care and a focus on equity is shocking. I've seen far too much racism and sexism within our health system as it is. Instead of pulling away these requirements, we should be enforcing them. And enforcing standards of behaviour - which is near impossible when hospitals have been gutted to the point where I believe if my son presented with his condition in hospital now, he'd never have got the tests that let me know what was happening and saved his life. I can't imagine how hard that would have been with not only the problem of sexism, but an added layer of racism, too. In conclusion, none of this bill will help our medical system, it needs to be more equitable, and doctors need to have the ability to speak out about what is going on in their workplaces. A healthy public medical system is absolutely vital if we are to have a healthy country, and not one that is as sick as America and other countries that have gone down the privatisation route.
August 13, 2025 at 12:35 AM
ponderbooks.com
Mine was quite different

On this one I'm not the libertarian that I am on Political Compass. I think because I believe the state has a role in protecting people's freedoms against bad actors, and in creating important infrastructure.
My results from the quiz: https://votelyquiz.juleslemee.com/quiz Showing basically - economically very left and moderately progressive, with a slightly libertarian.
August 10, 2025 at 11:29 PM
ponderbooks.com
Yup, I did a sticker and want to get it printed to distribute around the local polytechs etc.

But I think what we need is a co-ordinated network through the country with a trove of poster resources for TPM & Greens using Mamdani's simple slogans as inspiration.

bsky.app/profile/pond...
Zohran Mamdani poster with many of his buttons - childcare for all - fast free buses etc
August 6, 2025 at 11:27 PM
ponderbooks.com
Here it is.
❤️👩‍🔬
The Frankie Files cover. The title is in red on a torn off piece of note paper in curly, spotty writing. There's an E=mc squared ladybug and two Marty the tomato monsters, one with smiles and one with fangs. It's all on a blue-stripy background like a paper-covered notebook. "Are you ready for Monsters and Mayhem?" is in silver writing on a blue-stripy background (like a paper-covered notebook). There's a slightly fanged Marty the tomato monster. (He looks like a tomato but has a face with tiny fangs. On a torn off piece of paper are the words "catch the science bug with Frankie"
July 29, 2025 at 2:27 AM
ponderbooks.com
Nice.
Enrol to vote sticker with a QR code to the nz voting enrolment & updating page: https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online/
July 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
ponderbooks.com
New voting sticker #nzpol
This one has a QR code for the NZ voting enrol & update page: vote.nz/enrolling/en...
Enrol to vote sticker with a QR code to the nz voting enrolment & updating page: https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online/
July 25, 2025 at 10:14 AM
ponderbooks.com
And now with New Zealand spelling, lol
Orange circular sticker "Enrol to Vote NOW - before the CoC blocks you! This sticker is designed for the New Zealand electorate who have just had voting rights rudely taken away from them, which will horribly effect busy people and young ones voting in their first election, as its now not possible to enrol during the whole early voting period.
July 24, 2025 at 4:14 AM