Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley) - out today!

Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley) is out today! Huzzah! Order your copy, pour yourself a cuppa, grab a scone, and enjoy your reading!

You can get the ebook at Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble! Outside the US, search your ebook retailer for “Peavley Manor”! If it doesn't turn up right away, give it another day or so.

The paperback is currently available through Amazon. I've ordered some copies for myself, and should be getting them in 1-2 weeks; I'll be offering some for sale through the mail at that point.

Thank you for all your support! I worked hard on Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley), and I'm glad it's out for the world to see and read! I hope you enjoy it!

The Peavley Manor Novelettes: An Update

I thought I'd take a break from incessantly promoting my upcoming  novel Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley) (Coming August 27! Preorder today at Amazon and other sites!) to make this announcement:

The individual Peavley Manor novelettes (Book Fair Frenzy, The Thorn Harbour Road Rally, The Missing Mallard, and The Rebellious Rooster) will be removed from sale at all ebook sites this Sunday, August 18.

Tales Of Peavley Manor (Or, Macalley Gets It Together), which collects these four stories in one ebook (and in paperback), will still be available, and should be for years to come.

I'm doing this to avoid confusion among readers. Instead of having to figure out which of six titles they need to buy then giving up and going out for a cuppa, now they'll know that they have to just get two books, the novel and the collection of novelettes.

If you still want to buy the individual novelettes, you have until Saturday to do so. However, if you haven't bought any of those, I'd urge you to buy the Tales Of Peavley Manor (Or, Macalley Gets It Together) collection instead. Due to Amazon's pricing and royalty structure, it'll be cheaper for you, AND it makes me more money than buying the single volumes! Wins all around!

Do let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, as always, for your time and your support!

Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley) - coming August 27!

Hello. It's been a while, hasn't it? I owe everyone an explanation at some point for going quiet here, but I'm back with good news: After over a year and a half of work, the first Peavley Manor novel is finally on its way! Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley) is coming August 27, and you can preorder the ebook now on Amazon! It should be up soon on iTunes, Kobo and other stores, and there will be a paperback edition as well.

Read Chapters One and Two after the cut!

Skyblade's Gambit - new edition out today!

Time to take to the skies...again! The new edition of Skyblade’s Gambit is now available! Get it on Amazon! This version has been expanded and rewritten, and is the definitive edition. (Due to last-minute production issues, Skyblade’s Gambit will only be available immediately on Amazon. It should be up on other platforms, including Kobo and iTunes, by the end of the month.) (Also, Skyblade's Gambit is not suitable for most younger readers.)

Captain Annabel Skyblade commands the Peregrine, the most feared pirate airship to sail the skies of Aldarre, plundering the rich and powerful. The rulers of the great sky realms have had enough of her, and Victorie Brassfeld, Cerindel's top Navy intelligence agent, has a plan to capture the pirate, using a lure too strong to resist—a valuable, beautiful sapphire amulet. But the amulet hides a great secret, and when it is stolen by sinister forces, Annabel and Victorie must join together to retrieve it. And as they face danger and adventure, they also have to face their feelings for each other, feelings they have never had before, when they discover... Hearts can be stolen too.

You can read a sample of the new edition of Skyblade’s Gambit on Amazon, including an expanded scene with Annabel in action. After the cut, you can read an excerpt from a new scene, featuring Victorie on the job. Enjoy!

The Rebellious Rooster: Out Today!

It's here! The new Peavley Manor novelette, "The Rebellious Rooster (Or, Macalley Gets Cocky)" is now available at Amazon and other ebook retailers! (Search "Rebellious Rooster" or my name to find it!)

When heiress Alice Peavley runs into her old friend Maia, the last thing she expects is the string of chaotic events that follows. There’s the loud and cranky chicken to contend with. And Reg, the playful but well-meaning pooka. Not to mention the impending moa race, and the characters it’s attracting. Can Alice, with the help of her trusty gnome valet Macalley, keep her wits and come out on top? Grab a scone, some snarkleberry jam, and a cup of tea, and find out!

And there's an extended preview after the cut! Enjoy!

Kindle Worlds and The Skyblade Saga [ANNOUNCEMENT]

Popping out of my mostly-unintentional blogging hiatus with some news...about Captain Annabel Skyblade, Victorie Brassfeld, and the future of the Skyblade Saga. More after the cut.

Sunday Catchup: January 28, 2018

"'Well, I'm back,' he said."

It's been a while, hasn't it? The holidays took a lot out of me, like they have been in recent years, and just when I was over that, the flu hit. If you've had it, my sympathies. If not, be careful; everything that's been said about it being a monster is true. It took me nearly two weeks to get over it.

That's when updating this blog ran headlong into my New Year's goal. Although it may not seem like it when you look at my output in 2017, I felt I slipped a bit in terms of how much writing I was actually getting done. I want to change that, so I set a goal of writing every day, even if it's just a few paragraphs. I've met that goal every day this year, but to do that, I had to allocate my time and energy, and this blog dropped by the wayside for a bit.

It's back, but there will be a few changes. I don't plan on updating on a schedule, but when there's something I want to share. That means that I won't commit to updating every Sunday (though I'll try to have something every week), and I'm dropping the format of the post titles (with thanks to David Bowie for the 2017 inspiration). This way, I'll post when I want to post, which I think will be better for the blog.

I appreciate your patience, and your support. Thank you.

And for reading this far, you get an announcement:

I showed up for work on that fateful Tuesday wearing my second-favorite outfit, a yellow ankle-length sundress with navy blue trim. Had I known it would be my last day of employment at the Thorn Harbour Book Shop, I might have chosen something different.

Coming later in 2018: Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley), the first Alice Peavley novel. Cheers!

The Missing Mallard (Or, “Duck, Macalley! Duck!”) - out now!

The time is here to unravel the mystery, as the feathers fly and the villains gather! "The Missing Mallard (Or, 'Duck, Macalley! Duck!')", the new Peavley Manor novelette, is now available at Amazon and other e-book stores! Check for links below the cut, or search your favorite store for "Missing Mallard"!

One would think that an auction of duck paraphernalia would not create that much excitement. Unfortunately for Alice Peavley and her valet Macalley, one of the items in the auction, a golden duck figurine, is attracting far too much attention...especially from a number of villains and scoundrels. Food fights, pixie sorceresses, mad scientists, adorable yet destructive automatons - can Alice and Macalley prevail, or has doom come to Darbyfield?

Read on after the cut for buying links and a sneak preview of "The Missing Mallard"!

spreading holiday cheer

Sunday catchup, and we're taking a break from the themed post titles. Why? Well, hold on to your Santa hats - "The Missing Mallard (Or 'Duck, Macalley! Duck!')" will be coming out this Tuesday, December 5!

(An important note: "The Missing Mallard" will only be available through Amazon and other e-book vendors, no free offers as with the other Peavley Manor novelettes. However, the price will be just 99 cents US.)

Check back on Tuesday for the official release announcement, with buying links, or keep notified by signing up for my mailing list, liking my Facebook page, or following me on Twitter! There'll also be a full sneak preview on Tuesday! Here's another little snippet to (hopefully) whet your appetite until then. In it, Alice has a few words for a sinister pixie countess...

“This auction was intended to be for duck enthusiasts, not villains and their sworn enemies!”

“‘Villain’ is such a harsh term,” Gylburnt said.

“What term should I use, then?”

“‘Destined future ruler of Tirnog, conqueror of the lands of the Crescent Sea, and subjugator of humanity.’”

I shook my head. “That might be a bit too long, Countess.”

“Spoilsport.”

After the cut...an annual tradition.

look at his blog, did you see his crazy blog

Sunday catchup ahoy! It'll be a short one today, but with some good news - the main draft of the next Peavley Manor novelette, "The Missing Mallard (Or, 'Duck, Macalley! Duck!')", has been completed! I'm not going to give a confirmed publication date today, but you might want to keep December 5th open just in case. Please enjoy this short excerpt from the midpoint of "The Missing Mallard"! Duck enthusiasts can be quite fanatical...

“Honored guests!” The quarrelers fell silent as Bludergard rose to his feet, clanging a spoon against his wine glass much as a best man at a rather trying wedding reception would, and punctuating his remark with a loud hiccup.

I winced. “This cannot possibly go well.”

“Alice!” I could hear the reproach in Clarinda’s voice. “Let him have his say. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, you know.” I nodded and held my tongue as Bludergard resumed his speech.

“Look at us!” he said, swaying slightly. “Quarreling over such trivial things. Which breed is best. We all love these marvelous creatures, and no breed should be placed above another.” I could hear murmurs of “Hear! Hear!” from the crowd.

“Is this how we honor the memory of Trenton Fotheringay, the greatest of us all?” Bludergard continued. “We should respect each other’s opinions. We should focus on what brings us together.” I could see people nodding in agreement or dabbing at their eyes.

Next to him, Stibbins nodded and lifted his wine glass. “Well spoken, guv’nor!” he said.

Bludergard snatched the glass from his valet’s hand and held it high. As Stibbins glared at him, he said, “I propose a toast to that most marvelous of birds!” This was met with another, louder round of “Hear! Hear!”

“Honored guests…” Bludergard paused and smiled drunkenly. “To geese!”

Stibbins sighed deeply. “Not so well spoken, guv’nor.”

As Bludergard drank Stibbins’ wine, most of the other guests glanced at each other, then at him. They began to mutter threateningly. “Clarinda?” I said. “Your clock analogy failed to take into account that one that always runs several minutes slow is never right.”

scary bloggers and super creeps

It's Sunday, and here's a bit of overdue catchup: The first two Peavley Manor novelettes, "Book Fair Frenzy (Or, Macalley Turns The Page)" and “The Thorn Harbour Road Rally (Or, Macalley Takes The Wheel)” are now available on iTunes, Kobo and Barnes & Noble (for your Nook) as well as Amazon! Search your store of choice for e-books by "Robert Dahlen"! You can still read "Book Fair Frenzy" for free here, and you can get your e-book of "Thorn Harbour Road Rally" for free by subscribing to my mailing list, but you can also show your support for what I do by buying one of my e-books or gifting one to a friend! More after the cut.

closed his eyes and moved his lips - "It's time we should be blogging"

Sunday catchup! I'm back from Gaslight Expo 2017, rested and revved up for further writing and steampunk adventures! (Sorry about missing last week. The tea dueling started at a rather early hour on Sunday.) There'll be a quick wrap up, and other things, after the cut, but this announcement first for those who might have missed it on social media:

Coming later this fall - the new Peavley Manor novelette, "The Missing Mallard (Or Duck, Macalley! Duck!)" The feathers will fly when Alice and Macalley get mixed up in a crazy yet sinister scheme! Stay tuned for more!

Copper Cove: Coming September 26! Preorder now on Amazon!

My apologies for missing Sunday catchup this past weekend, but I think this should make up for it. Copper Cove is coming Tuesday, September 26...and preorders are now open at Amazon! Steampunk fantasy with romance, adventure and tea!

Copper Cove, city of marvels powered by magic and steam, is abuzz over the coming of the new rail line. Crafter Tabitha Miles would love to be on the first trip of the Velessan Express, but there’s work to be done. Staying awake past midnight to make ends meet, difficult clients, runaway automatons, guild enforcers...just another typical day for her.

Tabitha’s latest commission seems like another job at first...but then she meets newspaper reporter Sophie Haverford and falls into a web of conspiracy and murder. Can Tabitha unravel the mystery, prevent a disaster, and win Sophie’s heart in time for tea?

Copper Cove will also be available through Kobo, Barnes and Noble, iTunes and other places where ebooks are sold, and there will be a paperback edition! Keep checking back for updates, or follow me on Twitter or Facebook!

And after the cut, you can read an extended preview of Copper Cove! I hope you enjoy it!

wait until the crowd blogs

Sunday catchup, full steam ahead! Work is continuing on Copper Cove, and though we don't have First Draft Sign yet, that should only be a day or two away. I'll keep you posted. After the cut: Where you can find me (or, places to avoid in the near future).

Copper Cove!

Sunday catchup is taking a week off, as I realized that is post #550 on the Monkey Queen Books blog (as counted on its original home on Blogger). I enjoy doing special things for anniversary posts, so I'm using this one to formally announce my next book, a steampunk fantasy.

Coming this fall: Copper Cove!

In Copper Cove, city of marvels powered by magic and steam, being a renegade crafter is no easy task. Working past midnight to make ends meet, difficult clients, tough conditions, guild enforcers...all in all, just another day for the talented, plucky Tabitha Miles.

Her latest commission seems like just another job at first...but then Tabitha meets newspaper reporter Sophie Haverford and falls into a web of conspiracy and murder. Can Tabitha unravel the mystery, prevent a disaster, and win Sophie’s heart in time for tea?

I can't give an exact publication date, as writing is still in progress, but if all works out, it'll be out on a familiar date. It'll be available on all my usual platforms (not just Amazon), and there will be a paperback edition.

After the cut: Two brief excerpts!

The Thorn Harbour Road Rally - out today!

Start your engines! Today is the day that "The Thorn Harbour Road Rally (Or, Macalley Takes The Wheel)", the new Peavley Manor novelette, makes its official debut!

Well...technically, that happened Sunday if you were subscribed to my mailing list. That's when the newsletter went out with links to let you download "The Thorn Harbour Road Rally" in .mobi or PDF. If you're a subscriber and didn't see the newsletter on Sunday, check your spam or junk email folders.

If you're not a subscriber, it's not too late! Click here to sign up, and in your final confirmation email, you'll get a link to download the ebook!

And if you don't want to subscribe...or if you want to help support what I do...or if you want to give an ebook to a friend..."The Thorn Harbour Road Rally" is available on Amazon! Click here to buy your copy, or search your local Amazon store. It's just 99 cents US!

Whichever way you choose to go, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks, as always, for your support!

she turns me on, don't get me wrong, but I'm only blogging

Today's Sunday catchup will be brief, due to a badly-timed power outage. But I do have an announcement, for those who missed it during Friday's Tea Party: Work is underway on the second Peavley Manor story! It looks like it'll be another novelette, and the title is... "The Thorn Harbour Road Rally (Or, Macalley Takes The Wheel)"! Look for it sometime in May!

And If you missed Madame Askew's Tea Party last Friday, you can watch it on Facebook. The delightful, vivacious Madame discussed tea, dances, Scotland, a naughty cat, more tea...and "Book Fair Frenzy"! I cannot thank Madame Askew enough for her time and her kind words. Don't forget - the good Madame and/or other members of the Temporal Entourage host a Tea Party every Friday night, so do drop by!

More next Sunday as always, Assuming the lights stay on, that is.

Book Fair Frenzy: Cover reveal and blurb!

The story I've been mentioning for the last two weeks is done, except for the formatting. It may not be ready for a few more days...but I think at this point, I can tell you what's going on. This is a novelette, which I think is a fancy term for "longish short story". It's the debut of a new series - Peavley Manor - with a new cast of characters and a new setting. (And unlike the Skyblade Saga, this has no connection with the Monkey Queen series.) It's technically not the first story chronologically, just a taster for what's to come.

Here's a peek at..."Book Fair Frenzy (Or, Macalley Turns The Page)"!

Take To The Skies...Again! (Post #500)

I promised an announcement for post #500 on this blog, and I'll lead off with that. I've started writing the second book in the Skyblade Saga...Skyblade's Claim! If everything lines up right, it'll be coming out on June 1, along with other books in the next wave of Plundered Chronicles stories! If for some reason you missed the first book in this series, Skyblade's Gambit, head over to Amazon's US store to check it out.

More after the cut!

Skyblade's Gambit: Now Available! Take to the Skies!

Today is the day! ARRRR! Buckle your swash and prepare to set sail! Skyblade's Gambit, my new novella, is now available! Click here to get the first chapter of The Skyblade Saga! Can a pirate and a Navy officer rescue stolen treasure...while falling for each other? Find out now!

An important note: Due to restrictions of the Kindle Worlds program, Skyblade's Gambit is only available through the U.S. Amazon store. You should be able to buy the ebook at that link even if you're outside the U.S., but if you have any issues, contact me and I'll see what I can do.

And don't forget that Skyblade's Gambit is part of the Plundered Chronicles, featuring a great selection of pirate stories inspired by the books of Alex Westmore! Click here for more info!