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Category Archives: Self-Publishing

Running a D&D NPC as a party member

22 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in Self-Publishing

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D&D, Dungeon Master Tools, NPC


Hello everyone! I wanted to talk briefly about how I’ve been running an NPC as a member of our party for our current 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons campaign. I know that the how and when parts have been extensively covered elsewhere, but I figured I’d give my own spin on it.

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Year of Accountability – June 28th-July 5th, 2020 – Camp NaNoWriMo Progress on the Novella!

05 Sunday Jul 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in History of Rome and the New Caesarian Colonies, Teasers/Trailers, World of Romanpunk, Year of Accountability

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A Brief History of New Caesaria, Smashwords, Year of Accountability


Greetings all!

This is a combination post for both my Year of Accountability Project and my Camp NaNoWriMo Progress! I’ve been working on the novella pretty heavily over the last few days, and reached the first major milestone! 10,000 words! I’m excited to share a brief except from the short story in the novella below, but first I wanted to also share the goal for next week.

Goal for this week: Reach 10,000 words in the ‘Colonia’ book – Goal Achieved!

Goal for next week: Reach 20,000 words!

Remember that my novels are on sale for 25% off for  Smashword’s Summer Sale, going on now! Stay at home and read my books! Subscribe to the blog for more news and updates!

Read on to discover more!

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NaNoWriMo – 7200 words!

03 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in History of Rome and the New Caesarian Colonies, NaNoWriMo, Teasers/Trailers, World of Romanpunk

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A Brief History of New Caesaria, Camp NaNoWriMo


Here’s another Camp NaNoWriMo Update! I missed yesterday’s, but that’s fine. I’ve already been getting some good feedback from my beta readers as they look at the (very imperfect) writing that is underway. Today’s writing looks at some of the first Roman explorers to reach Nix Insulam – Otherwise called Iceland – and their encounters with the Nortlanders who were already there.

  1. Total amount of words: 7,197
  2. Progress today: 1,607 words
  3. Goal: 50,000 Words

If you like what you see, remember that you can get my latest novella – The Last Gladiator, on Kindle, Nook, and for all other e-readers through Smashwords! Onto some of today’s writing. Remember, this is the roughest of rough drafts, but any critiques are always welcome! Click beyond to see today’s snippet!

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Happy Camp NaNoWriMo! Today’s progress!

01 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in History of Rome and the New Caesarian Colonies, NaNoWriMo, Teasers/Trailers, World of Romanpunk

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A Brief History of New Caesaria, Camp NaNoWriMo


Hi all,

Here’s today’s first writing progress from Camp NaNoWriMo. The goal is to post a snippet of each day’s work. That way, you can see progress!

  1. Total amount of words: 5590
  2. Progress today: 1,424 words
  3. Goal: 50,000 Words

If you like what you see, remember that you can get my latest novella – The Last Gladiator, on Kindle, Nook, and for all other e-readers through Smashwords! Onto some of today’s writing. Remember, this is the roughest of rough drafts, but any critiques are always welcome!


Foreword

Greetings reader, I hope you enjoy my trifling effort to summarize some of the most critical events in the history of the colonization of New Caesaria. I was commissioned by the Byzantium College of Warfare to compose this volume of primary resources on the development of New Caesaria. Exploring the time period from discovery to initial exploration and colonization efforts to the present day, it is my foremost desire that this volume sheds some light on the westernmost reaches of our Empire’s power. As always, all dates in this passage are in ‘After the Emperor’ – A.E. (although some sources use A.D. – Ad Dominum, especially those from Christian sources, and others use P.I. – Post Imperator, as in traditional Latin, rather than the more evolved version used today. But I digress…)

I make no promise of extensivity; rather I have pulled from the most original and noteworthy resources. Some may question my inclusion of so-called “barbarian” accounts of colonization. To them I say that Rome has always worked hard to integrate the people, including those ‘less civilized’, around our empire. We like to think of Rome as the most enlightened in the world, but as a nation we have much to learn from our neighbors.

Certainly, their ways, methods, and language are foreign to us. In some cases, such as the Aztlan Dominion, their methods are abhorrent and bloodthirsty. Others, such as the republican traditions of the Hausonadee Confederacy, leave much to be admired. I would be unable to tell the true story of our colonization efforts without their truth.

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Year of Accountability – Weeks of June 14th & 21st

27 Saturday Jun 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in History of Rome and the New Caesarian Colonies, NaNoWriMo, Year of Accountability

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A Brief History of New Caesaria, Camp NaNoWriMo, Year of Accountability


Good morning! Welcome back to another Year of Accountability post. Hopefully, with school done, I’ll be back on the right swing of things for this!

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A Map of the Nova Caesarian Colonies!

24 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in History of Rome and the New Caesarian Colonies, Maps, Self-Publishing, Story Ideas, World of Romanpunk

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A Brief History of New Caesaria, Maps


Some new maps for your pleasure. I’m excited to have these be part of my next project – a Brief History of the Colonies of New Caesaria! Which map do you like better?

Colonies of New Caesaria(1)Colonies of New Caesaria(2)

Colonies of New Caesaria(3)Colonies of New Caesaria(4)

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On Frustration in the time of Injustice and Covid

31 Sunday May 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in Self-Publishing, Thoughts

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Social Justice, thoughts, Year of Accountability


Hi there,

Normally, on a Sunday, I’d be doing a Year of Accountability post, but seeing as it’s been a rough week for a lot of people, it just didn’t sit right with me.

As a white male, I have privilege. Privilege I cannot always recognize and see. As a graduate of the McDaniel Equity in Excellence program, I expanded my ability to recognize my privilege and the spaces where it flexes its muscles – both literally and figuratively. I cannot sit here and simply say “I understand what my fellow black and brown citizens of the United States are going through”.

Because I can’t. I can witness it. I can empathize. I can feel frustration for them and anger at the system that willfully allows such actions to occur, time and time again. My own frustration comes from the feeling of being limited in how to respond. I am not in a place to go out and protest, and while talking and sharing facts and support online is something, it doesn’t always feel like something. It is hard to be an ally when you feel like you cannot do anything to help.

Normally, I would bring up these issues in my school’s social justice program – our Student Diversity Leadership Team – but with distance learning coming to a close, this limits my ability to work with my students in this regard. 2020 has been a solid 1-2-3 series of blows to our communities and families, to our sense of ‘normalcy.’

But if it is normal for African American men and women to be murdered in their own neighborhoods, their own cars, their own homes, by police, in situations where their white neighbors would not, is normalcy what we want?

We can either push forward, or fall back. I’m honest in saying that I don’t have answers, just some half formed ideas. I’m not an expert in community organizing or reforming the police department, but I have some thoughts that may, or may not, be useful. Starting with this one simple idea.

  • Stop letting police officers fired for misconduct get jobs in neighboring precincts.

As a teacher, if I get fired for misconduct, my teaching certificate gets yanked. No more teaching. I have to jump through hoops to get it again. I can’t roll into the county next door and get a job. Why can these officers? If places in our country continue to operate in a ‘three strikes you’re out’ – shouldn’t we hold police to a higher standard? One strike – you’re out, and obviously not fit to be a police officer.

I have other ideas. None of which will solve the problem – there’s no ‘solving’ this. There is mitigating and reducing and building community relationships.

  • Require officers to live in the jurisdiction they work in.
  • Require “walk alongs” with members of the community for all officers. Monthly.
  • Remove long-rifled and shotgun weapons from cruisers.
  • Promote foot patrols rather than armored cruisers.
  • Rotate officers through schools, neighborhoods, community centers, ERs.

Most importantly of all, I think the best idea is to listen to what others, with better ideas, have to say. Listen, follow through, listen again.

Stay safe out there, wear your mask.

 

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Character Interview now up on Assaph Mehr’s Blog!

22 Friday May 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in Author Guest Posts & Tours, Character Interviews, The Last Gladiator

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blog tour, Character Interview, The Last Gladiator


IronTributeIllo3_08_16_15

Want to learn more about Lucia Rhodanus Fortem’s background now that you’ve had a chance to sink your teeth into the Last Gladiator? Go check out her character interview over on Assaph Mehr’s Blog – The Protagonist Speaks.

Haven’t gotten your ebook copy yet? Rush over to Smashwords, (Kindle) Amazon, or (Nook) Barnes and Noble to get your copy! While you’re over at Smashwords, get a copy of my first novel – Brass Legionnaire – for free! That sale ends in a week, so you’re running out of time!

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World Building for the Steam Empire Chronicles – Blog Tour Posting!

07 Thursday May 2020

Posted by Daniel Ottalini in Author Guest Posts & Tours, Self-Publishing, The Last Gladiator

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blog tour, blogging


Hi all!

The Steam Empire Chronicles features a complex world where the Roman Empire never fell. Now in its second millennia, the culture, religions, and backgrounds of many of the characters directly connect to this extension of the empire. Check out more about this over at Phoebe Darqueling’s Blog today!

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The Last Gladiator Winners & Publishing Day!

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Posted by Daniel Ottalini in Giveaways, Publishing Day, The Last Gladiator

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Giveaway, Publishing Day, The Last Gladiator


Hi all! Congrats to the winner of my Last Gladiator and Roma Aeronautica giveaway! Today is the day you can get The Last Gladiator live on Kindle, Nook, and for all other e-readers through Smashwords!

The-Last-Gladiator_800 Cover Reveal and Promo
Roma-Aeronautica-2500x1563

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