About the Author

Daniel Verastiqui started writing stories when he was ten years old. He didn't know anything about marketing books then, and the situation has not improved since. At this point in his life, he would very much like to simply write books, publish them on Amazon, and reap the fame and fortune that is sure to follow without having to tik-tok this or Instagram that.

Daniel is a University of Texas at Austin (English / Computer Science) graduate. He has published seven books and several short stories. He lives with his wife, children, and canine writing partner in a suburb of Austin. That is literally everything you need to know about him.

You can reach him at daniel at verastiqui with a .com thrown on there are the end. As far as social media goes, you can find him on Instagram and Threads.

The Vinestead Anthology

Step into the Vinestead Universe, an alternate reality similar to ours, but with a twist. In this world, full-on immersive virtual reality was a reality in the 90s, not just a concept. Picture seemingly bulletproof hackers, synthetic humans indistinguishable from the real thing, and an evil corporation with world domination on its mind. The books set in this universe are a thrilling blend of familiar characters, places, and technology, offering a unique dystopian cyber-thriller reading experience.

You can read these books in any order, but I think Perion Synthetics is the best starting point. The most popular entry is Veneer, which takes augmented reality to its inevitable conclusion. If you like a little mind-bending in your science fiction, Vise Manor is pure dinner party murder mystery, while Por Vida has a twist so shocking I'll give you $20 if you guess it ahead of time. I will always have a special place in my heart for Xronixle, since it was my first book, but at the same time, it was my first book.

Chronologically Speaking

I jump back and forth in the universe a lot. If you'd rather read the books in chronological order for maximum no-spoilers, here's how:

  • 1997 - House of Nepenthe
    • The inventor of the Guardian Angel biochip runs his last program.
  •  1998 - Xronixle
    • A hacker copies his girlfriend into the Net; it doesn't go well.
  • 2004 - Guardian Angels
    • The Guardian Angel Bill is passed; Calle Cinco strikes back.
  • 2015 - Perion Synthetics
    • The Synthetic Revolution begins with the death of James Perion.
  • 2019 - Brigham Plaza
    • Someone murdered celebrity hacker Johnny San Vito; now they're going to pay.
  • 2021 - Vise Manor
    • The secrets of Brigham Plaza return for a night of dinner, drinks, and murder.
  • 2035 - Por Vida
    • At the end of the world, synthetic killing machines will be the least of our problems.
  • 2080 - Hybrid Mechanics
    • Your world is a simulation; the truth is much worse.
  • 2149 - Veneer
    • Seeing is believing when augmented reality covers every surface.

Heads Up

This is one of those websites that uses affiliate links and may one day put a penny or two in Daniel's pocket, but it hasn't in 18 years, so it's probably not a big deal.