fantasy
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New Story Collection
I have a new book release, Rules Concerning Earthlight and Other Stories of Fantasy and Science Fiction. This story collection is a tribute to my dear friend, K.C. Ball, who passed away in 2018. I first met K.C. at the forum for an online writing school back in September 2009, when she was an editor guest there. I made my first story sale the next month to her magazine “10Flash Quarterly,” “Dead Wife Waiting.” I went on to sell her more stories. After she closed the magazine down in 2011, we began co-writing stories together. This collection has all three, including the title story, “Rules Concerning Earthlight,” the Pushcart Prize nominee…
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Gnome Alone
This little story takes place well before the events of the prequel story “Siloed,” back when Marquez had only been a sorcerer-agent for a year or so, and was working with her first partner, Tomlinson. Hope you enjoy it. As always, let me know what you think. The garden gnome stood frozen on the table in the R.U.N.E. interview room. The manifestation was a foot tall. Mud covered his face and head, dulling the red of his pointed cap, and a canal fern was still stuck to his side. His expression was frozen in a look of surprise. An Otterkin supernatural had found the manifestation in a forest of garden…
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Staying Invisible
I’m currently working on Empowered: Hero, the final novel in Mat’s story, and one thing that she is concerned about from the start is what happened to the sister she left behind, Ella’s twin, Ava. Ava, who was there for Ruth when no one else was. Well, I’ve written a flash fiction story set during the previous novel, Empowered: Rebel, when two visitors arrive at the apartment with unexpected help, and, moreover, an unanticipated insight about Ava. Staying Invisible (Copyright 2019) Dale Ivan Smith I wished so hard I was Empowered. If I were Empowered, I’d find a way to save my grandmother. Stupid, because chances are I wouldn’t have…
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Finishing the Empowered series
Last year when I published Empowered: Rebel, I’d posted here that the series was complete. Done. How wrong I was. I’d always known there was more to Mathilda’s story, and had considered writing another book after Rebel. Now I realize a fifth book is not only important to the series, it’s absolutely necessary. Rebel ended with so many things up in the air. The fate of Mat and her friends. What would happen to the world itself. I’d made a mistake moving on so quickly. Fortunately, Mat wouldn’t leave me alone. She kept coming up to me in my imagination, and insisting I tell the rest of her story. After…
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“Siloed” is now available
My latest story, “Siloed,” is one of seven in the brand-new Street Spells urban fantasy anthology. My story features the hero of my upcoming series, Elizabeth Marquez, a sorcerer working for a secret agency in the modern world. She is charged with enforcing supernatural laws and protecting both people and magical creatures. Magic stalks modern streets. Werewolves and witches. Demons and elves. Street Spells compiles seven new and exclusive short stories featuring mythical beings hidden in plain sight. Aimee Easterling: “Scapegoat” Tori Centanni: “Dead Goblins and Overdue Rent” Rachel Medhurst: “Magically Hidden” Dale Ivan Smith: “Siloed” Becca Andre: “Alchemy and Destiny” N. R. Hairston: “Dirty Magic” Kat Cotton: “Run Away”…
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Empowered: Rebel chapter 1
Empowered: Rebel, the final novel is The Empowered series will be released shortly! Here’s the first chapter, as an extended teaser. Spoiler alert! If you haven’t read the previous novels, you might want to hold off on reading this. Otherwise, enjoy! It’s taken longer than I’d planned, but the end is finally at hand for Mat’s story. Empowered: Rebel By Dale Ivan Smith Copyright 2018 Chapter 1 The lichen covering the ruins of the ancient Greek temple outside the barrow shivered in my mind but made no sound. I crouched beside Alex beneath an ancient arched doorway. The moonlight-washed Greek columns off to our right stood like…
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Dead Wife Waiting
My first story sale, “Dead Wife Waiting,” appeared in K.C. Ball’s 10Flash Quarterly on New Years Day, 2010. I met K.C. when she was the editor guest at the Long Ridge Writer’s online writing forums, a few months earlier. I learned she edited a magazine which had a theme for each issue, based around a different story prompt. She mentioned the upcoming issue’s theme was “an encounter at a lonely crossroads at twilight,” and BAM!, “Dead Wife Waiting,” popped into my head. A weary, determined hex-slinger pursuing a nasty sorcerer, encounters his supposedly dead wife guarding a crossroad, sword in hand. I’d already written a lot of unpublished short stories,…
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The opening of Empowered: Agent read aloud
You can now listen to the opening of Empowered: Agent! Benjamin Douglas reads it on his The Book Speaks Podcast, Episode 35. He also talks about me, my writing, and my take on urban fantasy. Benjamin did a great job reading, especially the exchanges between Mat and Gus. Episode 35: Dale Ivan Smith