Danielle Ackley-McPhail

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Danielle Ackley-McPhail

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Twitter

Genre

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 · 2,254 ratings · 633 reviews · 116 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 — 3 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…

EXCERPT – JESSICA LUCCI

Tick Tock! Time is running out. Still need some convincing? Here is a final excerpt to pique your interest, from “Blank Check” by Jessica Lucci! Jessica has been with the Forgotten Lore series since the beginning, and surely going forward as well.

A Curiosity of Cats is currently funding through Kickstarter with only three days left! We hope you’ll check it out.

“Ah, here’s th

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Published on January 25, 2026 20:12
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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4.12 avg rating — 295 ratings

The Halfling's Court The Redcaps’ Queen
(3 books)
by
4.10 avg rating — 103 ratings

Yesterday's Dreams Tomorrow's Memories Today's Promise Eternal Wanderings
(4 books)
by
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 World of Mystery
(5 books)
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4.45 avg rating — 31 ratings

More series by Danielle Ackley-McPhail…
Dreadful
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by Caitlin Rozakis (Goodreads Author)
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Danielle’s Recent Updates

" Tick Tock! Time is running out. Still need some convincing? Here is a final excerpt to pique your interest, from “Blank Check” by Jessica Lucci! Jessica has been with the Forgotten Lore series since the beginning, and surely going forward as we..." Read more of this blog post »
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The Red Jack Society by John L. French
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" It’s that time again! We are adding to the Forgotten Lore series, created in conjunction with the Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival. In the event’s fourth year the literary inspiration is Lewis Carroll so with a grin, A Curiosity of Cats blossomed i..." Read more of this blog post »
" Today we feature another sneak peek of A Curiosity of Cats with “Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say” by Keith R.A. DeCandido! Keith has been in two other Forgotten Lore volumes (A Cry of Hounds and An Assembly of Monsters), but this is the..." Read more of this blog post »
" It’s that time again! We are adding to the Forgotten Lore series, created in conjunction with the Tell-Tale Steampunk Festival. In the event’s fourth year the literary inspiration is Lewis Carroll so with a grin, A Curiosity of Cats blossomed i..." Read more of this blog post »
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Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
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❤️❤️❤️

Love this series and I can't wait to see where it goes next. You should all check it out.

Get out there and Read! Read! Read!
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The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman
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Holy HECK!

Who knows where all of this is going to go, but whatever way, Dinniman never disappoints! I don't know what I am going to do when I run out of books...
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StokerCon 2024 Souvenir Anthology by Cynthia Pelayo
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StokerCon 2023 Souvenir Anthology by Cynthia Pelayo
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More of Danielle's books…
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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