Category: Self-Publishing

Almost to our goal!


Wow! It’s the end of day 1 of my kickstarter and we’re barely $100 away from my goal of $750! This is so exciting! Thanks to all my supporters, and if you haven’t thought of joining the effort, $10 gets you the novel, plus any digital only rewards! Click to check out the kickstarter here.

Iron Tribute Option 2

And since every dollar raised goes to adding illustrations, you get the benefit of the ‘stretch’ goals regardless of pledge level. The cost of an illustration for the book is roughly $100-125 per illustration depending on various things, so the money will net me around 5-6 illustrations and maps with support for the formatting. Otherwise, it looks like we’ll reach our goal comfortably this go around!

In other news, they’ll be a new post for The Border on Monday for those interested 🙂 What do people think about the series so far? I’ve been tempted to turn it into a novella, but I’d love to hear some criteria on it beforehand. You can read part 1 here.

Kickstarter Launch Official!

The Kickstarter for Iron Tribune is now active! Go Go Go!


Salve! The launch of the Iron Tribune Kickstarter has begun! You can access the project here!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/danielottalini/iron-tribune-the-3rd-roman-steampunk-novel

$30 gets you a signed print edition of the novel, plus all three of my novels in digital form! That’s four books! I’m really looking forward to sharing this with you. Go on and check out the page with the brand new cover art! This is the concept I went with! I hope you enjoy it! Please share and pass the word to all your friends. This looks to be a great kickstarter event!Iron Tribute Option 2

Book 3 Approaches! Iron Tribune Kickstarter Launch this Friday

The official announcement of the Iron Tribune Kickstarter! Coming this Friday!


Salve! I bring glorious news in the name of the Emperor!

Iron Tribune’s Kickstarter stands prepared! The rewards have been created and our artificers are hard at work! You’ll see the first look at the cover for Iron Tribune. It’s my favorite one so far!

Now down for the nitty-gritty details. Our goal, fellow champions of the Empire, is $750 to allay the cost of illustrations and formatting. Any additional money shall go to adding yet more glorious illustrations and perhaps even an exciting poster! Reward levels shall be at $1, $10, $25, $30, $50, and $125. I’ve had to add on shipping for the books, but I believe it’s reasonable (Having learned that lesson the hard way last time.)

Current shipping charges are $15 for the rest of the world, and $3 for the US, which will increase a bit if you get all the print books (heavier!)

Are you ready!?

The Border, Part 5

Part 5 of the Border is now ready for your enjoyment! Also, read to the end to learn about the next step for Iron Tribune! Don’t miss this update!


Salve! Part 5 of the Border is here for your reading enjoyment. With the Quadi close to escaping, Perula leads his men on a series of desperate charges. But can they stall the barbarians long enough for their allies to reach them? Not sure where to start? Read Part 1 and Part 2 now to get the low-down.

Be sure to read to the end of this part, as I’ve some extra information on Iron Tribune You’ll be interested in hearing!

Continue reading “The Border, Part 5”

The Border: Part 2


Hi all,

Here’s a continuation of my story from last week – The Border. Let me know what you think of it!

Continue reading “The Border: Part 2”

Short Story Series: The Border, Part 1

Part One of the Border, the beginning of a short story set in the late Roman Empire.


So while I wait for the kickstarter, cover art, editing, and everything else to fall into place, I found myself inspired by some miniatures that I’ve been working on. This story doesn’t fall into the world of the Steam Empire Chronicles, but maybe I can blend it in later (depending on the response).

Let me know what you think below! All commentary is welcome.  Continue reading “Short Story Series: The Border, Part 1”

Iron Tribune Update – End of April

April’s update for Iron Tribune.


Hi everyone, just figured I’d send out a quick update on Iron Tribune.

1.) Cover art is under way! (Yay!)

2.) The manuscript is at the editor’s, and thus is under way as well.

3.) Kickstarter plans are in the works. Nothing will happen until I have cover art to show people.

4.) Outlining on Steel Praetorian is going well! I’m seven chapters in already (outlining).

That’s it! Enjoy the rest of your April!

March Update – Iron Tribune and Kickstarter

Kickstarter Preview/Ideas and an Update on Iron Tribune


Hi all,

As I sit here in my office relaxing as my beta readers dismantle Iron Tribune (Hopefully for the best!), I’m also planning Steel Praetorian. So far, I’ve planned out the first four chapters. Chapter one will be included in Iron Tribune, but I won’t even let my beta readers see that 🙂

Here’s my estimated timeline for Iron Tribune to be published.

  • End of March – Beta Readers return Iron Tribune
  • April 20th – Iron Tribune goes to the editor(!)
  • May 1st – Kickstarter campaign for additional illustrations begins. Kickstarter ends by mid-late May
  • (Sometime in May, based on how long editing takes, formatting should begin)
  • Sometime in June, send out all rewards, post Iron Tribune to Amazon, Etc

Here’s what I’m thinking for Kickstarter Funding Levels

  • $1 – Big Thank You + Name in Acknowledgements
  • $10 – Digital Copy of Iron Tribune and one of my two novellas
  • $20 – Digital Copy of all novels + novellas
  • $30 – Signed Print Copy of Iron Tribune (Plus all the above)
  • $50 – Signed Print Copies of all three novels
  • $100 – Create a Character (Create a character in Steel Praetorian, including how he/she dies)

I think the funding goal would be $500. What do you all think of this? I suppose I could bump it up a bit to include shipping, or I could have ‘rest of the world’ backers up their shipping as well. Totally would like some feedback please!

Iron Tribune Finished!

Iron Tribune is finally ready for the beta readers!


Just a heads up for everyone – Iron Tribune is finished! Well, I’m finished with it. I’m making a few last tweaks, then sending it out to the beta readers over the weekend. Yippie! Then it’s right to work on Steel Praetorian. No stopping for novellas this time around!

Looking for Some Good Beta Readers

Looking for beta readers! Apply today!


Hi all,

If you’re a fan of my books, you know then that every story is a labor of love, and that in the end it’s not all my work, but the work of various other people – my editor, cover artist, illustrators, etc. I’m looking for two or three people to join my team as beta readers. What does that mean? I’m looking for people willing to read my novel, Iron Tribune (and even later novels if you’d like!) and find mistakes, confusing points, problems, or even good things! This is your chance to provide input before anyone, even my editor, gets a crack at it.

One man cannot hold back the waves of ravening poorly worded sentences alone.
One man cannot hold back the waves of ravening poorly worded sentences alone.

Specifically, I’d need you to…

1.) Read the current transcript of Iron Tribune and identify flaws, errors, etc.

2.) Send me these errors by the end of February (for the 1st round) and March (for the 2nd round) so I can fix them!

3.) That’s it!

What do you get? Well, besides a signed copy of the final book plus a digital copy, if you don’t have either Brass Legionnaire or Copper Centurion, I’ll send you a copy of whatever you’re missing for free (Signed if it’s a paperback copy).

So a pretty good deal. Plus, you’ll get credit in the acknowledgements, a long range high five, even a super big thank you.

So how to apply? Send me a message through the contact me option in the menu above or leave me a message below. For a few nights work you get some fun freebies, and I’d be very glad to return the favor if you’re looking for a beta reader yourself!