“I’m looking forward to coming out from under my rock and meeting more writers!” —Daniel Verastiqui
A member of the Writers’ League since 2025, Daniel lives in the Austin, TX area.
Scribe: Welcome, writer! Tell us — what do you write?
Daniel Verastiqui: I write Cyberpunk Science Fiction about relationships, identity, and humanity.
Scribe: If you could choose one author to blurb your book, who would it be, and what would you want it to say?
RM: I would love to have Richard K. Morgan say, “This is such a great book! Verastiqui stole so much from my writing that it’s almost like it’s MY book! Such a wonderful continuation of classic science fiction themes!”
Scribe: You have one book you’re allowed to push onto all of your friends, and they’re forced to read it to remain your friend — which one would you choose?
RM: Replay by Ken Grimwood is an absolute must for top-tier friendship. The SF element of time travel and replaying your life takes a backseat to the spiritual and emotional toll the constant cycle of death and rebirth takes on the main character Jeff. I read this book almost every year, and Jeff’s torment still hits as hard as it did the first time.
Scribe: Tell us your WLT story.
RM: A literary agent encouraged me to join the WLT, saying it was the gold standard of author networking, so here I am! I’m looking forward to coming out from under my rock and meeting more writers!
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
RM: I’ll continue to write in my ongoing anthology series until that alternative universe no longer feels like home. Hackers, virtual reality, and synthetic humans are fertile gardens that should last a long time.
Scribe: Here at the WLT, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one book that has come out within the past few years that you couldn’t put down? (Bonus points if the book is Texas related!)
RM: I’m a sucker for anything by Robert J. Sawyer, and recently enjoyed The Downloaded. There’s a certain confidence some writers have with their tech that just draws you in, and Sawyer is one of them. The Downloaded continues a long line of engrossing stories that you can lose yourself in.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
RM: I’ve been writing and self-publishing for over twenty years, which covers 7 full-length novels, a novella, and dozens of short stories. My novels are all interconnected but not sequels. They share characters, evil organizations, and awesome tech. I try to write for readers who grew up with Gibson, Asimov, PKD, and Stephenson… not to mention ’80s action movies.
Scribe: Let us know any social media handles you have!