History That Never Was

Home of Dawn Vogel: Writer, Historian, Geek

Female Protagonists in Volatile Figments

| July 28, 2020

The six stories in Volatile Figments all have female protagonists, but other than that, they have little in common. There are a couple of high school students, a couple of college students, an ageless child, and an adult. Some of the women have dealt with the supernatural before, though most of them are encountering it for […]

A Creepy Tale of a Ghoul

| November 21, 2019

One of the stories in Volatile Figments is “After School Special,” and it’s about a ghoul and her best friend. At the beginning of the story, the two girls have drifted apart, due to one of them moving away. When she gets back to her old school, things have changed a lot. She doesn’t realize just […]

“Safe Haven” Now Out!

| May 7, 2019

Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove released today, and I’ve got a flash fiction piece, “Safe Haven,” included in this anthology. The premise for the anthology was that your story had to take place during a specific five minutes in the history of this unusual hotel, which has been around for as long as anyone can […]

Review of The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus by Alanna McFall

| March 20, 2019

My latest review is now up at Mad Scientist Journal, for Alanna McFall’s The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus, a road trip story that combines the absurd and the everyday. Written with a deft hand, it’s a great story that will make you laugh but might also make you cry! If you’re interested in checking it out, the […]

Finished First Draft!

| March 12, 2019

On Sunday, I typed the final words in my first draft of the novel I’m tentatively calling Promise Me Nothing. It’s a young adult novel with paranormal elements, but I hesitate calling it urban fantasy (even though that’s probably what it falls under). It’s still going to need a lot of work before it’s publishable, […]

Shades of Academia in Cross and Circle

| February 28, 2019

A chunk of the story in Cross and Circle takes place in the halls of academia, at least tangentially. Of all the aspects of this book, that was the portion I felt most comfortable writing. Evie’s campus and office are definitely based off my own experiences of many years spent on college campuses. Additionally, the house […]

Review of Broken Metropolis edited by dave ring

| February 27, 2019

My latest book review is up at Mad Scientist Journal, for an anthology of stories with queer protagonists called Broken Metropolis. Within, you’ll find 10 short pieces ranging all over the urban fantasy landscape. A number of the stories feature some wonderful magical realism, while others involve clearly supernatural creatures. You can read my review here, or […]

Review of Magic or Die by J. P. Jackson

| January 23, 2019

My newest book review is up at Mad Scientist Journal for Magic or Die by J. P. Jackson. It’s a fast-paced urban fantasy book with evil corporations, power magic users, and queer romance. It’s the first in a series, and after reading this one, I’m chomping at the bit for the next one, in part because of the agonizing […]

Review of Bones and Bourbon by Dorian Graves

| October 24, 2018

I used to be a big fan of Supernatural, but over time, I got tired of the same old same old that the show revolves around. If you’re like me, you owe it to yourself to check out Bones and Bourbon by Dorian Graves, for a pair of supernaturally inclined brothers with family issues and more. I’ve […]

Review of Mirror Bound by Rhiannon Held

| August 1, 2018

My latest book review is up at Mad Scientist Journal today! If you like urban fantasy, but you’re tired of the usual tropes, check out Rhiannon Held’s Mirror Bound. And you can read my review here!