History That Never Was

Home of Dawn Vogel: Writer, Historian, Geek

Very Short Fiction and Poetry in Wreathed in Steam

| April 18, 2024

I included one very short piece of fiction, “Paint Pots,” in Wreathed and Steam, which is a gaslamp fantasy style piece of microfiction about a magical painter. I also have a number of poems in this collection, which vary between steampunk and gaslamp fantasy. Some of my personal favorites are two involving ghosts: “My Josephine” and […]

“Good Fortune” in Wreathed in Steam

| March 21, 2024

“Good Fortune” is a gaslamp fantasy flash fiction piece I included in Wreathed in Steam. It involves fortune telling and things from the depths of the seas, two of my very favorite things. I classify this one as gaslamp fantasy because it’s set in a location that feels very much like it would fit into a […]

Newer Steampunk Stories!

| February 13, 2024

It’s been a while since I posted about my steampunk stories, so I’ve got a bit of catching up to do! Back in December 2022, Factor Four Magazine published “Don’t Count Your Sprite Shards Before They’re Caged,” a flash fiction piece involving an airship, a captain, and her crew pursuing a dangerous energy source. While some […]

“Trinkets or Treasures” in Wreathed in Steam

| January 23, 2024

“Trinkets or Treasures” falls more into the gaslamp fantasy area of steampunk–there’s no noted steampunk technology, and it’s more about magic than technology. But I included it in this collection because it fit well into the steampunk connection to people fighting against corrupt governmental systems. It’s a brief flash piece offering a bit on insight […]

“Don’t Count Your Sprite Shards Before They’re Caged” in Wreathed in Steam

| August 1, 2023

“Don’t Count Your Sprite Shards Before They’re Caged” was inspired by seeing images of sprite lightning, which is REALLY wild looking. I decided to write about an airship with cloud divers who went after sprite lightning as a power source, which turned into this story. It was written as a flash fiction piece, which meant […]

Have you checked out Wreathed in Steam?

| July 20, 2023

Have you checked out my steampunk collection, Wreathed in Steam? It’s a collection of steampunk and gaslamp fantasy short stories and poetry! Clockworks, airships, and more! Wreathed in Steam contains stories and poetry in the steampunk and gaslamp fantasy realms, with clever mechanisms and daring characters. Be astonished and amazed by heroics, fast thinking, and innovation! Wreathed […]

Wreathed in Steam Out Today!

| June 13, 2023

My latest collection, Wreathed in Steam, is out today! Clockworks, airships, and more! Wreathed in Steam contains stories and poetry in the steampunk and gaslamp fantasy realms, with clever mechanisms and daring characters. Be astonished and amazed by heroics, fast thinking, and innovation! You can get Wreathed in Steam as an ebook from your favorite online retailer!

Wreathed in Steam Cover Reveal!

| May 16, 2023

My next collection of short stories and poetry is a steampunk and gaslamp fantasy collection, containing a variety of tones and topics. It’s called Wreathed in Steam, it’s due out on June 18th, and it’s available for pre-order now! Clockworks, airships, and more! Wreathed in Steam contains stories and poetry in the steampunk and gaslamp fantasy realms, with […]