Howdy. I'm Daniel.

I'm a science fiction author from Austin, Texas, and I'm here to entertain you with stories of technology, violence, and the tangled complexities of human relationships in a vast, interconnected dystopian universe.

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About Me

I started writing stories when I was ten, right after my first read-through of Ken Grimwood’s Replay. This epic science fiction novel, about a man doomed to relive his life over and over, didn’t just move me—it hurt me. It was the first time I realized that stories could do more than make you feel; they could wound. That revelation showed me the true power of storytelling, and I vowed to wield it for my own purposes—to make you hurt.

I spent my early years scribbling little stories throughout elementary and junior high, but they never quite packed the emotional gut punch I was aiming for. High school saw me pivot to laughably bad poetry—an attempt to impress girls and convey deep emotions, neither of which went particularly well. Then came the golden age of blogs, where I found my groove writing short, stream-of-consciousness pieces about my dreams and the earth-shattering drama of everyday life (people who run stop lights, breaking up with girlfriends, what I saw on HBO, etc.).

In 2004, I self-published my first book of short stories, The Sum of Memory, followed by Destination Okinawa in 2006. Then, in 2007, I released Xronixle, my first full-length cyberpunk novel, which kicked off a two-decade-long obsession with writing tech-infused mind-benders. My original goal of making readers hurt never quite panned out (turns out that’s sociopathic), but along the way, I discovered something even better—entertaining people with fun stories full of gratuitous violence, insane technology, and questionable nudity. Of course, my true dream remains for Robert Rodriguez to read one of my books, option it for a movie, and make me his best friend. At that point, I will quit my job and spend my days brainstorming high-octane action sequences over breakfast tacos.

I’ve been self-publishing for over twenty years, and I don’t see myself stopping—whether a literary agent calls or Robert Rodriguez finally realizes my brilliance. Right now, I’m finishing the eighth book in my ongoing Vinestead Anthology and already sketching out the next. Because that’s what I do. I write a book, finish it, and start again. Over and over. Replaying the cycle, refining the process, and always chasing the perfect story.

Moreover

Beyond writing, I’m a full-fledged tech nerd with a deep love for networking, Linux, and the kind of obscure computing trivia that only a fellow enthusiast would appreciate. (Yes, I still think about token ring networks.) I earned my B.A. in English with a minor in Computer Science from The University of Texas at Austin, which means I’m equally passionate about the elegance of a well-structured sentence and the beauty of efficient code. When I’m not tinkering with servers or debating the necessity of the Oxford comma (it is necessary), you’ll find me gaming, watching movies, or trying to keep up with my two precocious children, who bring me boundless joy while also systematically eliminating my time to write.

My website is the best place to find news about upcoming books, short stories, deleted scenes, and the occasional bit of scratch writing that may or may not evolve into something bigger. I also use this space to share my thoughts on everything from the latest gadgets I’m obsessed with to the finer points of traffic laws (because some of you really need a refresher). And while I try to avoid wading too deep into political debate in public spaces, sometimes the urge to rant is too strong to resist. It’s a mix of storytelling, personal musings, and whatever else happens to be on my mind—so if you’re here, welcome to the chaos.

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Professionally Speaking

I am also an experienced technical services leader and love helping people solve problems. I have spent most of my career with Uplogix / Lantronix, leading a global team of technical support specialists providing both free and paid services.

Daniel Verastiqui, Technical Services Leader
Daniel Verastiqui is a Technical Services Director from Austin, TX. Skilled in Technical Support, Process Development, and Customer Satisfaction.
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This is one of those websites that uses affiliate links and may one day put a penny or two in my pocket, but it hasn't in 18 years, so it's probably not a big deal.