History That Never Was

Home of Dawn Vogel: Writer, Historian, Geek

Are You a Subscriber?

| March 12, 2026

If you like reading about what I’m doing, subscribe to my newsletter! It comes out once a month, around the middle of the month (like this coming Monday), and it recaps what I’ve been writing and doing, along with things coming soon or recently out, bits of history research, and book recommendations! In addition to all […]

This Book Has Ghosts in It out today!

| March 10, 2026

My latest collection, This Book Has Ghosts in It, is out today! Ghosts of the modern era aren’t always those of the deceased. In this collection are ghosts of ideas, creatures of death, and creepy plants and places, in addition to the more traditional forms of ghosts. Short stories, tiny stories, and poetry keep you wondering […]

This Book Has Ghosts in It Cover Reveal

| February 12, 2026

My next collection, filled with spooky stories and poetry, will be called This Book Has Ghosts in It, and it’s available for pre-order in ebook now! Ghosts of the modern era aren’t always those of the deceased. In this collection are ghosts of ideas, creatures of death, and creepy plants and places, in addition to the […]

The Devil in A Tarot of Sorcery and Sages

| January 13, 2026

The Devil tarot card represents being trapped and negative attachments. In A Tarot of Sorcery and Sages, this is represented by a haiku and a microfiction piece. The haiku, “a strong appeal of” (after its first line), eschews the hoarding of wealth, a theme echoed in the microfiction piece, “Chrysopoeia.” The latter piece features a […]

Newsletter Out Yesterday!

| December 16, 2025

My monthly newsletter came out yesterday, so if you like reading about what I’m doing, subscribe to my newsletter! It comes out once a month, around the middle of the month, and it recaps what I’ve been writing and doing, along with things coming soon, bits of history research, and book recommendations! In addition to […]

October and November 2025 Recap and Publications

| December 4, 2025

By the numbers: Stories out at the beginning of the month: 43 Acceptances received: 4 Rejections received: 15 (+6) Stories withdrawn: 0 Resubmissions: 11 New Submissions: 1 Stories out at the end of the month: 30 October and November wound up being very chaotic for me, with a lot of traveling, K-pop events, a wedding, […]

A Brief Hiatus

| November 3, 2025

I’m posting today to announce a brief hiatus from daily blogging. I’ll still have posts every now and then, which will mostly be book reviews and other important announcements, at least until I can get back in to my regular swing of things. 2025 has been an incredibly hectic year for me, and I’m finally […]

Want More About What I’m Doing?

| October 9, 2025

If you like reading about what I’m doing, have you considered subscribing to my newsletter? It comes out once a month, around the middle of the month, and it recaps what I’ve been writing and doing, along with things coming soon, bits of history research, and book recommendations! In addition to all that, new subscribers […]

September 2025 Publications

| October 2, 2025

I had a couple of new drabbles out in September, both from Reach Your Apex! The first was “Aurora Dolofonos,” in which the appearance of the aurora comes with something a bit more sinister. The second was “Anti-Icarus,” in which a promising invention doesn’t account for a key factor!  

Chimerical Remembrance Out Today!

| September 23, 2025

My latest collection, Chimerical Remembrance: Tales of Contemporary Fantasy, is out today in ebook format! The world is a strange place, and the stories and poetry within Chimerical Remembrance amplify that strangeness. From selkies and werewolves to witches and ghosts, exploring unusual places, botany, candy making, and more, you’ll find both joy and sorrow in solemn […]