Danielle Ackley-McPhail

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Danielle Ackley-McPhail

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Twitter

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Member Since
January 2008


Award-winning author, editor, and publisher Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. In 2014 she joined forces with husband Mike McPhail and friend Greg Schauer to form her own publishing house, eSpec Books (www.especbooks.com).

Her published works include eight novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, Daire’s Devils, The Play of Light, and Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections Eternal Wanderings, A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, Transcendence, Between Darkness and Light, The Fox’s Fire, The Kindly One, and the
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Popular Answered Questions

Danielle Ackley-McPhail For me, creating something from nothing at all. Books are the magic we make every day. Complete worlds and people take shape on the page and become re…moreFor me, creating something from nothing at all. Books are the magic we make every day. Complete worlds and people take shape on the page and become real in the mind of the reader. We bring pleasure and joy to readers.(less)
Danielle Ackley-McPhail I proof and polish what I've already writing, immersing myself in the universe, and usually when I am done I am inspired to write new copy. And if not…moreI proof and polish what I've already writing, immersing myself in the universe, and usually when I am done I am inspired to write new copy. And if not, when I am done I at least have tightened what's already there.(less)
Average rating: 4.12 · 2,278 ratings · 643 reviews · 119 distinct worksSimilar authors
Baba Ali and the Clockwork ...

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4.18 avg rating — 121 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions
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Bad-Ass Faeries

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3.93 avg rating — 89 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions
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The Halfling's Court (A Bad...

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4.07 avg rating — 68 ratings — published 2010 — 6 editions
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Just Plain Bad

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4.24 avg rating — 50 ratings — published 2008 — 4 editions
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Gaslight & Grimm: Steampunk...

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4.14 avg rating — 49 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions
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Yesterday's Dreams (The Ete...

3.82 avg rating — 50 ratings — published 2001 — 10 editions
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The Chaos Clock

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4.55 avg rating — 38 ratings — published 2024 — 2 editions
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Dragon's Lure (Legends of a...

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4.17 avg rating — 41 ratings — published 2010 — 3 editions
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Daire's Devils

4.30 avg rating — 33 ratings5 editions
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Build-A-Book Workshop

4.22 avg rating — 32 ratings2 editions
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More books by Danielle Ackley-McPhail…

COVER REVEAL – A PERIL OF PIRATES

Now that Tell-Tale Steampunk has launched their opening salvo… 

We are thrilled to announce that next year’s Forgotten Lore Volume Five is inspired by Robert Lewis Stevenson and our theme is Pirates! This is going to be so much fun!

Oh, and for those who weren’t able to attend this year, the convention has adapted in spectacular fashion to its new home at the Wyndam in York, PA. We hope t

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Published on May 15, 2026 21:40
Bad-Ass Faeries Just Plain Bad In All Their Glory Bad-Ass Faeries: It's Eleme... The Best of Bad-Ass Faeries
(5 books)
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4.11 avg rating — 297 ratings

The Halfling's Court The Redcaps’ Queen
(3 books)
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4.10 avg rating — 105 ratings

Yesterday's Dreams Tomorrow's Memories Today's Promise Eternal Wanderings
(4 books)
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4.06 avg rating — 101 ratings

The Literary Handyman: Tips... More Tips from the Handyman Build-A-Book Workshop The Literary Handyman Library
(4 books)
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4.31 avg rating — 67 ratings

A Cast of Crows A Cry of Hounds An Assembly of Monsters A Curiosity of Cats A Peril of Pirates
(5 books)
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4.39 avg rating — 33 ratings

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Danielle’s Recent Updates

Danielle Ackley-McPhail wrote a new blog post

COVER REVEAL – THE RITUAL OF NAMES


A few weeks back I promised you more by this dark and twisted creative mind. Today I present to you the second of four collections. This one is, as y Read more of this blog post »
" A Heart for Hounds edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail Life is Tough on the Streets… Whether born there, abandoned, or on the run, dogs—feral or otherwise—living on the fringes don’t have it easy. Predators, territorial battles, and lack of..." Read more of this blog post »
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A Heart for Hounds by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
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The Ritual of Names by Bernie Mojzes
The Ritual of Names
by Bernie Mojzes (Goodreads Author)
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" Do you have a LibraryThing account? If so, great! If no, it is free to sign up for, and once you have one, you can request all kinds of books to review, some of them before they’ve even been released! From large publishing houses and small. Her..." Read more of this blog post »
" While we have known today’s author for many, many years, this is her debut title with eSpec Books. We are delighted to share with you volume thirty in the Systema Paradoxa Series, The Mists of Cairn Gorm by Jennifer Povey, featuring the Am Fear..." Read more of this blog post »
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The Mists of Cairn Gorm by Jennifer Povey
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The Power of Her Position by Bernie Mojzes
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StokerCon 2026 Souvenir Anthology by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
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Bad Ass Moms by Mary Fan
" Thanks for the thorough and awesome review! If you would like to see more of my Wild Hunt MC universe you can check out The Halfling's Court and the R ...more "
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Quotes by Danielle Ackley-McPhail  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Because dreams are the difference between living...and existing...”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

“I hate it when realism intrudes on my dreams.”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
tags: humor

“Words are the closest any of us can come to making something from nothing at all.”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

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“Because dreams are the difference between living...and existing...”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

“Bury your differences, or bury your dead." Kara O'Keefe, Eternal Wanderings”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

“Good enough'isn't enough.”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

“Words are the closest any of us can come to making something from nothing at all.”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

“No time spent on hopes and dreams is ever wasted.”
Danielle Ackley-McPhail

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Richard Dominguez thank you for the friend


Danielle Deanna wrote: ":) Your books look awesome, but Yesterday's Dreams looks the best. I enjoy urban Celtic fantasy (Urban Shaman is a great series) and this looks like a good addition to my collection."

Hi Deanna,

Thank you. Yesterday's Dreams I can provide, what format works for you? Send me an email at greenfirephoenix @ aol . com and I can send you the file.

Best,

Danielle


Deanna Stanley :) Your books look awesome, but Yesterday's Dreams looks the best. I enjoy urban Celtic fantasy (Urban Shaman is a great series) and this looks like a good addition to my collection.


Danielle Thank you :)


Danielle Hey Roger,

Likewise! Hope you find something in common among the book lists. I'm a little behind in adding!

Danielle


message 1: by Roger

Roger Cottrell Hi Danielle,
Pleased to make your acquaintance
ROGER


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