mellotron_breakfast

Upcoming release The Last Gift-Knight needs reviewers

2026-03-15T00:20:38Z

If you are a NetGalley reviewer, you can find my latest HERE.

If you are a BookSirens reviewer, you can find my latest HERE.

If you are a Reedsy Discovery reviewer, you can find my latest HERE.

If you are a BookSprout reviewer, you can find my latest HERE.

Should you not use any of these platforms, you can also proceed to my Google Form and apply for an emailed copy.

Other Information

Frustrated with living in the shadow of a long-dead hero, Derek flees to infamous ruins and begs his ancestors for a sign. The next day, he is summoned to serve as the personal guard of his family's greatest enemy. The ensuing journey leads him through storied places, the depths of loneliness, and a growing dread over what awaits at his destination.

A reserved and bookish princess unexpectedly finds herself on the throne yet under suspicion. Chandra hardly has time to prepare or to grieve before facing her duties. Aided by a trustworthy few, she must identify and defeat the culprits before the next plot comes to fruition—one in which Derek is unwittingly key.

Trigger warnings: medieval combat, weaponless combat, marital argumentation, death and grieving, and a brief depiction of verbal abuse.

I can offer PDF or EPUB formats according to your preference.

Release date: April 1st, 2026.

comments

5 for $5 on Itch

2025-12-29T01:51:04Z

You can get the entire Dylan Madeley ebook collection on Itch for $5, until January 5th.

Not sure you want all five? Maybe you only want the three that give backstory for upcoming release The Last Gift-Knight. Fair enough; until January 5th, each title is available at a 75% discount.

Still, you might like the short, punchy, and timely Their Village, Their Fortress. At that point, you're picking up 4 out of 5, and may as well grab all 5 for $5.

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2025-11-14T18:39:00

2025-11-14T23:41:15Z

Are you also concerned about the rising prevalence of fascism worldwide? Want to read about people and communities who fight back against the big machine? I suggest the Burn It Down! anti-authoritarian bundle.

https://itch.io/b/3348/burn-it-down

17 books for US$16 - including my very own Their Village, Their Fortress.

When a calamitous new weapon fells a fortress once considered invincible, one soldier rides home to deliver the terrible news. This journey is against orders, but he insists no village is too small to be warned of what's coming, even if he's not sure what they can do. He delivers an impassioned call to action, daring them to try. Reconnecting with his community involves reconsidering why he left it, and what he might regret having left behind; but he soon faces scrutiny when they realize something about his appeal doesn't add up.

Join the struggle of eclectic villagers as each decides their answer. Each confronts what's happening however they must, journeying through their emotions and sometimes delving into their personal histories to reconcile themselves. Each resister's specialties enrich their efforts to scrape together a victory from what's on hand. The events to follow reveal not just how they will fight, but why.

Their truth, their skills, and their efforts enable them to resist—but even if they believe, can a hastily-prepared volunteer militia of farmers defeat a battalion of trained soldiers?

comments

Game 7

2025-11-02T04:20:51Z

Well, they were in last place last season. Won the American League pennant. Comeback story of the year.

Still admittedly F-bombs dropped tonight. I would rather just move on from that disappointment.

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2025-10-29T15:22:00

2025-10-29T19:29:54Z

In a young man's dream, he takes a garden rake to the powdery surface of the moon.

He toils for a long afternoon, bringing in bars and bricks of pure gold which has somehow been conveniently molded and assayed and stamped; rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious stones the size of his fist, already prepared and precision cut. He dumps these into his wagon. Towing his wagon back to the ready infrastructure required to bring these things home, tears form in his eyes, and he thinks: "Finally, I will no longer have to worry about money."

In 2025, a middle-aged man wearing dusty shoes and discount attire leaves his 1953-built apartment to take out the garbage. He pauses for a moment to look at the full moon, and he thinks: "Sorry, but like most others, you will always have to worry about money."

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2025-08-23T16:26:00

2025-08-23T20:29:55Z

Last day here, four and a half hours to go before I'm headed home.

Dogs get the last dinner before I go away in about thirty. One final vacuum of all 3 house levels done, but that happened this morning, so it might not be easy to tell by the evening that it used to be clean.

Most of my focus is here, on links like these, where my work is part of the sale from Aug. 23rd to 25th:

https://indiebook.sale

https://itch.io/b/3244/narratess-indie-sale-aug-2025-short-novels

https://itch.io/b/3239/narratess-indie-sale-aug-2025-fantasy-2

While work is on in the background, baseball on the big giant home theater TV and 4K speaker system, and dog walking should occur after their dinner. The rest of my evening well scheduled out...

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2025-06-22T19:44:00

2025-06-22T23:47:41Z

Tired of the constant, up-to-the-minute ongoing 'End of the World' coverage from CNN?

Distract yourself with a bundle of 16 Canadian SFF books, for the asking price of $20 US dollars.

Find it here on Itch!

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2024-12-27T18:42:00

2024-12-27T23:47:47Z

Picture it, the way that I can't.

From the other end of an interlocking brick driveway, a real estate agent beckons you to a home in the newest, rapidly built development.

Weird roof and wall angles that would probably give Lovecraft a nightmare about something something non-Euclidean geometry.

Ornamental pillars framing every front doorstep.

Stucco, as far as the eye can see.

You can predict how it will be years from now.

Weeds poking out from between the bricks of an uneven driveway. Yards and yards of hastily applied stucco peeling off in the blazing sun. Inside the home, one would observe stains in the popcorn-treatment ceilings where dubious fluids are seeping through from the upstairs bathroom, sometimes dripping directly on to the dining room table.

But that's not your problem, because all those years ago, you gestured dismissively at that real estate agent. Then you walked away.

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2024-10-08T01:16:00

2024-10-08T05:19:07Z

Find this book in the places listed HERE

comments

"Their Village, Their Fortress" - releasing November 19th, 2024

2024-08-31T18:06:31Z

Amazon preorders have now opened up for the latest one-shot novella in the extended series, "Their Village, Their Fortress".

Stay tuned for the big cover reveal at a later date.

Summary

When a calamitous new weapon fells a fortress once considered invincible, one soldier rides home to deliver the terrible news. This journey is against orders, but he insists no village is too small to be warned of what's coming, even if he's not sure what they can do. He delivers an impassioned call to action, daring them to try. Reconnecting with his community involves reconsidering why he left it, and what he might regret having left behind; but he soon faces scrutiny when they realize something about his appeal doesn't add up.

Join the struggle of eclectic villagers as each decides their answer. Each confronts what's happening however they must, journeying through their emotions and sometimes delving into their personal histories to reconcile themselves. Each resister's specialties enrich their efforts to scrape together a victory from what's on hand. The events to follow reveal not just how they will fight, but why.

Their truth, their skills, and their efforts enable them to resist—but even if they believe, can a hastily-prepared volunteer militia of farmers defeat a battalion of trained soldiers?

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2023-12-18T16:54:00

2023-12-18T21:55:11Z

Different Dylan. Same project (one of them) that I've contributed to for a few years now.

"Teen computer whiz saves researchers decades of processing time"

comments

New author interview just dropped.

2023-10-31T13:49:43Z

Four questions, open ended answers.

The next author interview.

The interview never answers the question it begins with, but that may be one of the least complicated parts of the text.

Jarek is given a sentence in his previous appearance which is restated at the beginning of this book to catch a new reader up. The ones he wronged most present to him in clearly understood language what they expect him to do, and a generous length of time to bring himself to agreement, though they don't elaborate what will follow.

Had nothing in the sequence of events become super complicated after that, the question would be easily answered by observing how the book ends (which I won't spoil here). Some might even say the new answer is not much different from the original one, but there are many things I would let the reader judge.

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2023-08-21T12:48:00

2023-08-21T16:51:03Z

Are you a retired F16 pilot who would like to contribute to the ultimate defeat of Vladimir Putin and his close associates? Do you know someone who is?

The invitation's been open since April, and with Netherlands and Denmark promising F16s (these will roll in over time), the planes shall be supplied.

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2023-06-23T10:35:00

2023-06-23T14:36:26Z

If you're still lurking on Twitter and have any engagement, sharing this thread of mine may help. Or it may not, but if it doesn't, that wouldn't be a function of you having shared it.

comments

Gofundme appeal for friend

2023-05-15T03:36:50Z

I can personally vouch for Dianna having known her for many years, visited her and Astrid and the cats roughly a year ago, and Dianna helped edit Prince Ewald the Brave and The Fate of Lenn. Without a stronger force working toward a hospitable society, we're left in a world of Gofundmes and individual efforts that make us like the child in the story who can toss one fish at a time back in the sea and say "I made a difference to that one." But that's where we're at, and if you can help my friend, please do so.

Follow this link to GoFundMe

If you prefer other methods such as Ko-fi, or even getting a writer's workbook in exchange for money, follow this link to a Twitter thread which lists some options.

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2023-03-26T19:56:00

2023-03-26T23:57:12Z

The owner of the very sword appearing on the Redemption of Jarek book cover is holding vigil for a worthy cause. Please consider donating.

https://boarstooth.net/new-events/2018/3/29/a-knight-of-vigil-2018-eswpt-w4t5r

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2023-02-07T20:56:00

2023-02-08T01:59:23Z

I'm still on Twitter to get war news about Ukraine quicker than I would get it on other social media, and from sources I habitually check.

Since I'm still on there, I saw Sodom and Gomorrah as a trending topic. Was it people saying we're sliding toward God's wrath because we have plenty of bread and untroubled tranquility, yet we do not support the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49-50)? No, apparently it's some other odd interpretation.

Because if you wanted to tell me that was indeed the case, that we're all in peril because wealthy societies are habitually leaving people behind, you're more likely to get me to agree. Divine wrath would put in fast forward a longer process of societal collapse.

But no, I saw MAGAts having a hissy fit over Sam Smith or something.

comments

Press Release: The Redemption of Jarek debuts

2022-12-15T16:14:27Z

[Image description: On a rich black background, a longsword stands on its point in front of a cluster of wheat. Title text at the top reads The Redemption of Jarek. Author name at the bottom reads Dylan Madeley.]

THE REDEMPTION OF JAREK, the seventh and standalone book in its extended series, debuted on December 14, 2022. The book will be available for Kobo, Nook, and Kindle, with paperback editions on Barnes and Noble and Amazon online distribution.

As different vendor links become live, they will be added to the following universal link:

https://books2read.com/the-redemption-of-jarek

The story is told in a three part structure, beginning and ending with the personal journey of the titular character.

Much of Jarek’s youth revolved around making him fit for the throne, but one terrible day in adulthood finds him defeated, humiliated, and banned from the capital. He may only return upon complete surrender. Once home, he faces a trial by his commanders, though they are also fugitives by decree. Their land is a former province cut off from royal support, only kept free by the number of soldiers loyal to Jarek; but he swore to uphold the terms of his defeat, never to attack the capital.

As every illusion Jarek lived under is falling apart, he receives a visitor who tells him how the people of his land have suffered under his oblivious and unsustainable decision making. He faces a choice: drink himself to death while everything falls apart or change his land for the better. The latter might be impossible.

Just as he makes his choice, strangers arrive from a part of the world unknown to him, seeking a free and peaceful life, warning of a tyrant who pursues them. The story of their homeland is told in the second part. One man’s insecurity combined with his greed sees him betray people who believed they were his allies. He desires a great empire that he wishes his father had pursued, but this drives his transformation into something else–or, the persistent appearance of something he can never truly be.

But his former allies have no time to consider why he did this to them, not that they are to blame. Those who survive will each lead their people in a form of resistance suitable to their ways. Some will take to the battlefield, seeking justice, or vengeance. Some will search for a new home, challenged to leave no one behind, but they may flee into the waiting arms of a different danger. And some will do another thing altogether.

And the third part brings everything together. What is Jarek willing to do? Will anything ever be enough?

(The book functions standalone, or as a tangential sequel to The Fate of Lenn.)

I am happy to have been able to release this before the end of the year. If you have the ability to buy a book and have considered supporting what I do, but have put it off until now, this series-ending book is where I could really use your support, especially as I am still struggling to be hired and I have exhausted my savings from having sold a new laptop to pay the cover artist and the formatter properly. Any sharing also helps; not every form of support comes out of a wallet.

comments

RIP - Court Jarrell

2022-10-19T14:59:41Z

comments

mellotron_breakfast @ 2022-03-16T23:14:00

2022-03-17T03:14:49Z

It's the first day after my job's end. The first day of the rest of my life, one might say.

You can help me between one job and the next by supporting my newest books, both released within the past year. I will link them in this thread.

"Prince Ewald the Brave" (May 2021)
A petty and abusive ruler gradually pushing out wise counsel would no doubt wreck the world with foolish decisions approved by an echo chamber of yes-men. His diligent son learns what leadership is supposed to be, yet this alone would not be enough. Prince Ewald needs allies, but it's still uncertain what they can do against the world's most powerful man.

https://squareonecomics.com/dylanmadeley/prince-ewald-the-brave/

"The Fate of Lenn" (September 2021)
A well-regarded, melancholy leader struggles with a deteriorating situation in his homeland while his neighbors yearn for freedom from a powerful rival. Can he save someone else's world let alone his own? He feels morally obligated to try. This is the story of Lenn walking the path of his fate and encountering many others along the way.

https://squareonecomics.com/dylanmadeley/the-fate-of-lenn/

comments

Tangent from 7th book/brainstorm

2021-11-26T18:27:12Z

I have been trying to figure out what the idea or values behind my seventh book are as-is, before even doing anything super creative to transform the material I already have to work with. There are still no plans to ever release it, but it's nice to have something in my back pocket.

While I was doing that, I realized the initial idea isn't even what happens in the book, nor is it what this specific book could be about. So I still have a document for the book, but I've branched off a separate one where I consider shifting in personal values, shifting or budging the values of an entire social class if they've gone in a toxic direction, and my probably very middle class and non-confrontational views around that. As a spoiler alert, I go for the wealthiest class first but in fairness understand the first things that might need to change about the class that raised me, as it looks today. It's an unpolished brainstorm and I can't think it has most of the real answers that need filling in.
( Tangent from Seventh Book Thoughts, mostly copy-pasted )

comments

Prince Ewald the Brave

2021-04-24T14:59:14Z

Available for Kindle as a preorder (out May 1): https://books2read.com/u/3R8YQp

Available immediately as a print-on-demand paperback: https://books2read.com/prince-ewald-paperback-edition

A standalone prequel to the Gift-Knight trilogy.

comments

"Chance" and "Ceremony"

2021-04-11T15:49:36Z

Subculture text: "Chance" and "Ceremony"

If you are struggling with thoughts or feelings of suicide, consider:

Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 686868
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860
The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/

SONG INFORMATION
"Chance"
https://dangerousminds.net/comments/chance_joy_divisions_early_version_atmosphere_1979

"Ceremony"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremony_(New_Order_song)

comments

Auxiliary Magazine Spring 2021 issue out now

2021-04-03T20:16:38Z

The Spring 2021 Issue of Auxiliary Magazine is out now! It is available in a Print Edition and a Digital Edition. A Preview Edition is available online, to get a small peek. Information on purchasing the Print and Digital Edition can be found at www.auxiliarymagazine.com.

The Spring 2021 Issue is the fifty ninth issue of Auxiliary, a magazine dedicated to alternative fashion, music, and lifestyle. This issue features Gaiapatra on the cover and a Profile feature interview. It features an interview with makeup artist Roshar, an interview with Black Angel, an interview with 6XT7, an interview with Vesmedinia, a Beauty Spotlight on Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, a Designer Spotlight with It Is Known, an Artist Spotlight on Marion Green, and Emerging interviews with Alice Gift, Bedless Bones, and The Secret French Postcards. It also includes a Unique Homes feature with Lauren Franz-Maurer, a Unique Ingredient feature, a lunar fae Style feature illustrated by Ulorin Vex, a Must fashion feature with Open the Cellar Door, spring beauty picks, our spring Auxiliary List of of all things new and noteworthy, fashion editorials featuring Lip Service and Crisiswear, music reviews, and book and movie reviews. Plus it features photography by Bryce Hall, Jennifer Link Kieffer, Saryn Christina, Wil Foster, Laura Dark Photography, Infinite Imagery by Natasha Sachi, Dani McGraw, and more. And fashions and beauty by Bluebella, Disturbia, Dr. Martens, Fluevog, I Do Declare, Jane Doe Latex, Killstar, LunatiCK Cosmetic Labs, Martha Rotten, Michelle Überreste, Noctex Cosmetics, The Night of the Witch, Rock ‘n Doll, Rogue + Wolf, Sisters Of The Black Moon, Thistle and Spire, T.U.K., Urban Decay, Valley Eyewear, WonderlandMC, and more.

For this issue, I interviewed Marion Green and Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab.

comments

Spring 2020 Issue Out Now

2020-05-09T15:02:47Z

comments