History That Never Was

Home of Dawn Vogel: Writer, Historian, Geek

Becoming a Merfolk

| January 7, 2021

Several of the poems and some of the stories in What If I’m a Merfolk? revolve around the idea of someone becoming a merfolk when they previously were not. In some cases, it’s a hereditary condition that emerges at a certain point in a character’s life. In other cases, it’s a blessing bestowed by another […]

My Steampunk Trilogy

| December 31, 2020

As I’m working toward the release of my first stand-alone novel, I don’t want folks to forget about my steampunk trilogy. Though the topics are different, I think people who enjoyed the Brass and Glass series will also like Promise Me Nothing, and if you come into my writing with my young adult urban fantasy, you might […]

Two New Stories Out!

| December 29, 2020

After I posted my list of 2020 short story publications, I had two more flash fiction pieces come out! Both of these were Drawlloween stories from 2018, which might have been my most successful monthly writing challenge to date–I’ve sold 13 of the 31 pieces I started that month! “Maija Spencer, Internet Witch” is a […]

A Series of Small Walls at Fantastic History!

| December 24, 2020

Catherine Schaff-Stump is hosting some of my articles about the real history behind my stories from Unfixed Timelines at her Fantastic History blog. The fifth post, and the last one of my guest posts for 2020, “A Series of Small Walls,” is up now! There’s an old Eddie Izzard bit about how archaeologists are always […]

My 2020 Poetry Publications

| December 22, 2020

In 2020, I had eight of my poems published, in addition to the ones I included in What If I’m a Merfolk? “Play with Us” is a cute little poem published in Eye to the Telescope in January, about aliens and humans interacting through a sport or game. “Motes and Morsels” was a poem that […]

Promise Me Nothing Cover Reveal!

| December 17, 2020

I’m super excited to show off the cover for my next novel, Promise Me Nothing, a young adult urban fantasy novel that will be out in mid-February! J. Kathleen Cheney, who also created the updated covers for my Brass & Glass trilogy, is responsible for the artistry you see here–she absolutely nailed what I wanted for […]

“Say a Little Spell” in Coast to Coast Stars

| December 15, 2020

A few of the stories in Coast to Coast Stars feature characters that I created for “Happily Never After” and wanted to explore further. “Say a Little Spell” takes magic-user Preethi back to her childhood, when she was still learning the limitations and requirements of the magic that she and her grandmother share. It’s a very […]

My 2020 Book Publications

| December 10, 2020

This year, I got back on my string of book releases, with five new books out this year. Three of them were collections, one was a children’s book, and one was a novella. This is a tie with 2017 for number of new books out, so I’m pretty pleased! In June, I released Coast to Coast […]

Sure Shot for the Holidays!

| December 1, 2020

If you’re still trying to find a present for someone on your holiday list, have you considered Sure Shot in Las Capas? Even though it’s speculative fiction, the speculative elements are fairly mild (superheroes and supervillains), so even someone who doesn’t enjoy reading spec fic might like this book. It’s also a mystery, with elements of […]

“For the Weird Girls Who Want to be Mermaids” in What If I’m a Merfolk?

| November 26, 2020

My story “For the Weird Girls Who Want to be Mermaids” was one of those stories that came from an imaginative mind and a bit of the real world. What if that dry patch of skin wasn’t actually dry skin, but was scales finally emerging from beneath your human skin? And what are the choices […]