Year of Accountability – April 27 – May 3


Hello all! It’s time for another Year of Accountability post! This week saw the publication of my latest Novella – the Last Gladiator. So I’ve reached one of the two major goals I had for the year! How else did I do this week? Read on to find out more!

Continue reading “Year of Accountability – April 27 – May 3”

The Last Gladiator Winners & Publishing Day!


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!

Continue reading “The Last Gladiator Winners & Publishing Day!”

The Last Gladiator – A Preview of What’s to Come!


Here’s a sneak preview of the first page of The Last Gladiator! Remember you can get your copy by preordering today and getting it at midnight tonight! Be the first to read it and share what you think! I’ll announce the winner of our giveaway tomorrow morning and they’ll have both Roma Aeronautica and The Last Gladiator to enjoy!

Available on Kindle, Nook, and for all other e-readers through Smashwords!

Continue reading “The Last Gladiator – A Preview of What’s to Come!”

Record Month: Thanks for a Great April


Thanks to you, readers and fellow writers, for making this month one of my best ever. The blog’s viewership/readership is expanding massively, and I am so excited to share the Last Gladiator with all of you this Saturday!

Act now to preorder your copy of my latest novella – The Last Gladiator!

Available on Kindle, Nook, and for all other e-readers through Smashwords!

Continue reading “Record Month: Thanks for a Great April”

Last Few Days to Preorder The Last Gladiator and Enter the Giveaway!


Act now to preorder your copy of my latest novella – The Last Gladiator!

Available on Kindle, Nook, and for all other e-readers through Smashwords!

Continue reading “Last Few Days to Preorder The Last Gladiator and Enter the Giveaway!”

New D&D Maps – Town of Burle & Carnival Games


Town of Burle

Today’s post is a quick one – I’ve built my awesome map of Burle using the free Inkarnate tools (Honestly, it’s just the fortified town map with some textures and a few other pieces of writing added.

A few fun parts of this map – the Burle Pond is a saltwater pond. According to local legend, a captive ocean elemental was captured by a traveling wizard, who made his home within the town. When the wizard died, the ocean elemental was freed, but couldn’t find his way home. He took the small pond as his home, and it has been salty ever since.

The town holds an annual festival to celebrate the signing of the Wildflame Pact. My party just arrived in town after delivering some wagons to Olion’s stables (connected to Ingo the Drover in Saltmarsh), and spent today enjoying the many games and foods/drinks/sites and sounds of the town carnival.

Games included…

  • Climb the tree – Two Dexterity Checks (DC15) Followed by a DC 15 Strength Check to make your way up a tall pole while wearing two heavy metal bracers. Every failure drags them down, every success brings them up.
  • Slay the Dragon – Arm wrestling with a full-blooded Orc Gladiator with slithering dragon tatoos on his arms. (Direct Strength vs Strength Checks – Two wins in a row from starting to get an arm down – Nat 20 does ‘two positions’)
  • Catch the Queen – Shell Game with perception checks to follow it (three times in a row  – DC 15)
  • Lift the Stone – The stone that the Wildflame Pact was on is a heavy piece – pick it up and hold it over the red painted – Requires a DC 22 Strength Check to lift successfully.
  • Archery Competition – Archers may not use their own bows – must use one the town provides. Three bows – two are poor and cause disadvantage on shots. One is good and allows normal usage. A DC 12 perception check allows a player to check the bows for defects and find the right one. “Magic number” is 23 to hit.
  • Ring Toss – Get a heavy metal ring over the blue goblet and win a prize! Naturally it’s in the middle of a bunch of red goblets. First, players must make a perception check to spot the blue goblet (DC 14). If a nat 20, they get advantage on their throw. Nat 1 = disadvantage. DC 18 Dexterity check to get it in the right place.

Other Vendors include – A fortune teller, turkey leg seller, tapestry designer, flower braid makers, fruit and candy sellers, and a hardboiled egg chef.

All games require between 10 cp and 10 sp to enter. Prizes include half a ‘pot’ of money, medallions with the Wildflame token on them, small flags or pieces of pottery, or a ‘doubling’ of their money.

Other random events that may occur.

  • Pickpocketing
  • Speech by local bigwigs
  • Procession of Elves from Silverstrand to the Wildflame.
  • If nighttime, the lighting of the annual ‘Wildflame bonfire” and a brief magical fireworks display.

Hope these come in useful!


Like what you read? Get my first novel – Brass Legionnaire – and explore the world of the Steam Empire Chronicles! Only 99 cents at Amazon and Barnes and Noble! (Affiliate Links, FYI). BUT CURRENTLY FREE THROUGH SMASHWORDS FOR THE NEXT WEEK!

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Check out my Blog Tour! – Now on Deleyna Marr’s Blog!


Hi all,

I’m encouraging you to go and read my blog post over on Deleyna Marr’s Blog! It’s a great interview about The Last Gladiator, writing, and winning awards (and does that actually help you!?)

https://deleyna.com/daniel-ottalini-has-a-new-novella/

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From the last time I was able to go to a book event!

Year of Accountability 4/26-5/1 – A Milestone reached!


Howdy everyone! Here’s another episode of the Year of Accountability! Lots to share today, plus a highlight of what I’ve been doing this week and my goals for the week ahead.

Continue reading “Year of Accountability 4/26-5/1 – A Milestone reached!”

Saviors of Saltmarsh: Clearing the Mansion


When last we left off, our brave explorers had cleared the topside of the Alchemist’s mansion and were descending into the depths of the abandoned building.

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If I play the music louder, I can’t hear the bad guys creeping up behind me!

Continue reading “Saviors of Saltmarsh: Clearing the Mansion”

“How do you get inspired to write?” 3 Straightforward Ways to get Inspired


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Obligatory photo of my new wireless mouse!

Hi readers! Today I want to take a look at the toughest question of all – “How do you get inspired to write?”

Don’t forget to try and win a copy of both of my prequel novellas – The Last Gladiator and Roma Aeronautica!

Continue reading ““How do you get inspired to write?” 3 Straightforward Ways to get Inspired”