Daniel D. Shields

Daniel D. Shields is an author whose stories are inspired by a lifelong curiosity about history, science, exploration, and the possibilities hidden somewhere between fact and imagination.

Originally from New Jersey, Daniel spent his early career in Manhattan’s advertising industry before eventually heading west to New Mexico. The high desert, its extraordinary landscapes, and its connection to some of the most consequential moments in American history have become an enduring source of inspiration for his writing.

A fan of authors such as Michael Crichton and George R. R. Martin, Daniel is drawn to stories that combine imaginative worlds and memorable characters with science, technology, and history. Through careful research, he strives to make the extraordinary feel just plausible enough to leave the reader wondering, Could this really happen?

His novel Atomic Dragon took five years to complete and drew on extensive research into the Manhattan Project. It begins with the Trinity atomic test of 1945 and asks what might have happened if that first atomic explosion awakened something no one could have imagined. Both Atomic Dragon and its sequel, Atomic Dragon: Expedition Congo, are scheduled for release in 2027.

Daniel lives in New Mexico, where he continues to travel, hike remote trails, and explore historical sites. His curiosity ranges from archaeology and space exploration to unexplained phenomena, and he is always looking for the next story hiding behind the question, What if?