Blogs

I was interviewed in December by California writer Mike Consul on his podcast, The Novelist Spotlight. 

Mike's past guests have included Andre Dubus III, T.C. Boyle, Jay McInerney, Gay Talese, Dean Hargrove (TV writer/producer — Columbo, Matlock, Man from UNCLE, etc.), Ali Hazelwood, Melanie Benjamin, Jonathan Dee, Kate Manning, and Alyson Richman. 

You can listen to my interview here on any of the following platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

I hope you'll give it a listen.

After thirty-five years as a beloved Canadian institution, one of the best and longest running speculative fiction magazines in the world recently published its final issue.

Veteran managing editor (and friend) Diane Walton announced her retirement earlier in 2025. With no one with the necessary skills and experience available and willing to step into the work intensive role, the difficult decision was made to end the magazine's run of three and a half decades. 

I loved On Spec. As a writer, they were a wonderful group to work with. As a reader, their taste in speculative fiction was both stellar and eclectic. When asked over the years how I'd differentiate Canadian speculative fiction from what's written south of the border or in other parts of the world, I'd just point to On Spec.

My stories appeared in On Spec five times, first in 2001 and most recently in 2023. Those five appearances resulted in an Aurora Award win ("The Walker of the Shifting Borderland"), an Aurora Finalist selection ("The Red Bird"), and an Alberta Magazine Award Finalist selection ("Gypsy Biker's Coming Home").

Although the magazine is gone, its last issued published this past December, its name will live on for at least one more publication. Regina-based small press, Shadowpaw Press, run by Canadian writer and publisher, Ed Willett, will be crowd-funding an On Spec anthology of all new stories, expected to be released this fall.

I am honoured to be one of the "anchor authors" invited to contribute to that anthology. If it does well, it might become an annual publication, keeping the On Spec name alive. 

If you'd like to read more about this great magazine, check out this CBC article.

Since this is the start of a new year, I'm looking back at my writerly year of 2025 and also looking ahead to the projects planned for this year. 

Here are some of the highlights from my 2025 writing year:

• The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3 was a finalist for Canada's Aurora Award for Best YA Novel, bringing the award total for the series to two wins and four nominations.
• The Dream Rider Saga: The Complete Trilogy ebook boxset was released in September on all major retail platforms.
• I sold a brand new story, "The Stopover", to a new pro magazine, Merganser. The story will be included in my upcoming collection.
• My flash piece, "Nothing," was chosen as an Editor's Pick and published in the new online professional magazine, Gavagai. Read it here.
• I began drafting a new novel, a post-apocalyptic SF tale based on the characters in my novelette, "Memories of the Dead Man" and other stories in that universe. Working title: Taken in Passing.
• I was interviewed in December by writer Mike Consul on his podcast, The Novelist Spotlight. Details below on how to listen to the episode.

My major planned projects for 2026 include:

• Releasing my newest collection of short stories, Borderlanz. The release date will be March 15, but you can preorder it now on all major retail platforms. More on this below.
• Releasing an audio book edition for my first novel, the urban fantasy shapeshifter story, The Wolf at the End of the World. More info on this project below.
• Attending a Canadian convention on the west coast in the fall as the invited "Guest Author." Details and dates to come.
• Writing a new story for the upcoming On Spec anthology (more info below)
• And finishing the draft of Taken in Passing, the SF novel I started last year.

Thanks as always for being a fan. I wish you a happy, healthy, and rewarding 2026.

I'm thrilled to announce my third collection of short stories:

BORDERLANZ: Tales From the Edges

Check out the cool cover to the right, by award-winning Canadian artist, James Beveridge.

Borderlanz contains 15 short stories, including award winners, award finalists, "best of the year" selections, and features a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and more.

Plus an introduction by award-winning fantasy author, Charles de Lint!

The book will be released on March 15, 2026 in ebook, trade paperback, and hard cover editions, but the ebook is available NOW for pre-order at special pricing at all major retailers, including Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Google Play, and many more.

Pre-order pricing:  US$4.99  /  £4.49  /  €4.99  /  CA$6.99  /  AU$6.99

After release:  US$6.99  /  £5.99  /  €9.99  /  CA$9.99  /  AU$9.99

Pre-order Borderlanz now from your favourite retailer and save!

About the book:

Take a trip to the edges of imagination in this stunning collection of short stories from the five-time award-winning author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.”

There’s something here for every reader. Award winners and finalists. “Best of” selections. Science fiction and fantasy. Mystery and horror. Darkness and humor. Love and revenge.

An immortal battles the Lords of Order and Chaos to save the woman he loves.

A woman plans a very special homecoming for the body of her soldier husband.

Strange radio broadcasts haunt a man trying to change the past.

A shapeshifter confronts his own dark past as a covert agency hunts him.

Bizarre deaths threaten a private eye’s favorite restaurant.

A woman makes an unexplained stopover on a transatlantic flight.

Disaster strikes a space freighter when an unlucky newcomer joins the crew.

The House promises wealth and fame...if it doesn’t kill you first.

A thief’s attempt to lift a curse goes less than perfectly.

A boy has a plan to find his missing brother—a deeply disturbing one.

A new father questions his ability to love his disabled son.

To win her freedom, a woman must simply prove she’s human.

A shapeshifter must overcome her hatred of humans to help a young girl.

Four warriors set out to slay the last dragon.

Two young lovers are hunted across dimensions and time.

Welcome to the Borderlanz!

~~~

“Doug Smith is quite simply, the finest short-story writer Canada has ever produced in the science fiction and fantasy genres. ... His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner

“The man is Sturgeon good. Zelazny good. I don’t give those up easy.” —Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner

“A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice.” —Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner

Pre-order Borderlanz now!

A little short notice, but if you're in the GTA or more specifically, York Region, this might be of interest to you. The Georgina Public Library is hosting a Local Authors Day this Saturday, November 29 from 10am-4pm at their Keswick branch at 90 Wexford Drive.

A bunch of local authors, including me, will be there, selling and signing their books, with many also doing readings. 

I will also be giving a workshop on "The Craft of Short Fiction" on how to craft a short story from initial idea to creating a structure for your tale, using scenes as your building blocks. Later in the day, I will be doing a short reading.

I hope to see you there!

The entire multi-award-winning Dream Rider Saga trilogy released today in one ebook volume that includes all three books in the trilogy, plus exciting bonus material:

The box set is available for the next two days only at the special release price of $4.99 USD, which will be going up significantly (at least DOUBLE) on Sept 17. Order it below from most major retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and many more.  

Order it from your favourite retailer now!

Note: The book will NOT be available on Amazon in Canada, Australia, and Mexico, because of Amazon's pricing policies on box sets. However, if you have a Kindle, you can buy the book from my Payhip store here. Bookfunnel will provide easy-to-follow instructions to load it directly onto your Kindle.

The Crystal Key, book 2 in my urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga, is a featured deal from BookBub from today until Sept 3.

The book, a finalist for the Aurora Award last year, will be available for just $0.99 during that time on all major retailers around the world, including Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and many more retailers.

Click on the link below, then select your preferred site. You'll be taken to that retailer's store in your home geography:

Feel free to share this post with your friends and fellow readers.

On September 15, the entire multi-award-winning Dream Rider Saga trilogy will be released in one ebook volume that will include all three books in the trilogy, plus exciting bonus material:

The box set is available for pre-order at a special price of $4.99 USD, which will be going up significantly (at least DOUBLE the pre-order price) on Sept 17, two days after release, so act NOW to save.

Pre-order it here on most major retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and many more.  

Note #1: This is a lower pre-order price than was originally available. If you had already pre-ordered, don't worry. Your selected retailer will charge you the new lower price on the release date.

Note #2: This is now available on AMAZON for the first time! 

Note #3: However, it will NOT be available on Amazon in Canada, Australia, and Mexico, because of Amazon's pricing policies on box sets. However, if you have a Kindle, you can buy the book from my store, and Bookfunnel will provide easy-to-follow instructions for how to directly load it directly onto your Kindle.

Pre-order it from your favourite retailer now!

Pssst! Want to avoid the wait? Get the box set NOW!

I'm also offering The Dream Rider box set in my own store, where you can get it NOW at the pre-order price and without waiting until September 15. 

Just click here to buy The Dream Rider box set NOW

Registration to vote in the Auroras closes this Saturday, July 12 at midnight. Voting closes July 19 at midnight, but first you have to be registered.

All the details about the Auroras, who can vote (hint: Canadians!), how to register, how to vote, and how to get your FREE voters package of ALL the nominated works can be found here in my earlier blog post here.

My latest novel and the conclusion to my multi-award-winning trilogy, The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3, is on the ballot under BEST YA NOVEL. I would truly appreciate any consideration you would give to voting for it. You can read its reviews here.

Voting for the 2025 Aurora Awards is now open!

The Auroras are fan-voted awards recognizing the best of Canadian SF & Fantasy published the previous year. Any Canadian citizen or permanent resident may vote for the Auroras.

This year's final ballot has been announced, and I am thrilled that it includes my most recent novel: 

The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3

Nominated for Best YA Novel

I'm hoping you will consider voting for me.

Below, I explain how to vote as well as how to download the Voters' Package containing your complimentary copy of ALL the works on the ballot, including:

• 10 novels
• 6 graphic novels
• 5 novelettes
• 5 short stories
• ... and more!

Pretty sweet, eh? But first, let me tell you a bit about my nominated novel.

The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3

The conclusion to The Dream Rider trilogy, which includes The Hollow Boys (winner of the 2023 Aurora Award and juried IAP Award) and The Crystal Key (finalist for the 2024 Aurora Award) has received universal praise, with a 4.7⭐ rating on Amazon and 4.6⭐ on BookBub, plus garnering these raves from top book review sites:

"A lavishly concocted ride brimming with magic, mystery, and mayhem…  Takeaway: Explosive conclusion to this spectacular fantasy joyride.” — BookLife (Editor's Pick)

“There is a sweeping majesty to the world building we have not seen since A Wrinkle in Time.” — The Ottawa Review of Books

“I enjoyed every minute I spent with these characters, and I will miss them now that their story is done.” — SF Crowsnest Reviews

If you haven't read The Lost Expedition, see below to learn how to get it in your complimentary copy of the Voters' Package.

How to Register to Vote

To vote in the Auroras (and to access the Voters' Package of nominated works), you must be a 2025 member of the Canadian SF & Fantasy Association, the body that administers the Auroras.

(Note: If you nominated works earlier for this year's awards, you're already registered and can skip this step! Just jump down to "How to Vote.")

To register for 2025:

• Go here and click on "Not a Member Yet?"
• Enter your info, then select a username and password. (If the password box contains black dots, hold down "DELETE" to clear the box, then enter a password.)
• Registration costs $10 CAD, which not only lets you vote, but also download the Voters' Package of ALL the nominated works: 16 novels, 5 novelettes, 5 short stories, and more! That's a pretty amazing deal, imo.

Registration for voting (and access to the Voters' Package) closes at midnight on Saturday July 12, a week before voting closes.

How to Vote in the Auroras

Once you're registered,

• Log in to the Aurora Awards site, then go to the Member's Home page. 
• From there, click on "Voting" to access the 2025 Aurora voting ballot.
• The Auroras use a ranked voting method (more info here). To vote, sort your choices from 1 (your favourite) to 5 (your least favourite), by dragging your selections with your mouse (or finger for touch screens) above the voting line (the line that says, “No pick underneath this line will be counted”). 
• As you do this, your choice will display its ranking. If you make a mistake, just move your choice to a different position or back below the voting line.

You do not have to rank all works in a category, and you do not have to vote in all categories. But I would truly appreciate if you would consider voting for: 

The Lost Expedition under Best YA Novel

Thank you for any consideration you give my book.

Submitting Your Ballot

• When you've ranked all your choices for the categories you’re interested in, click the “Send Ballot” button at the bottom of the form. This will lock and submit your selections.
• Do NOT submit your ballot until all your selections are done. Unlike the nomination process, you will not be able to edit your ballot once submitted.
• Also, if you close your ballot before submitting it, your choices will be cleared and not saved, and you will have to start again.
• In other words, don't start to vote until you know everything you wish to vote for and can complete your voting in one session.

Remember, for your ballot to count you must click the “Send Ballot” button at the bottom of the form.

Voting closes at midnight on July 19.

Get Your Voters' Package!

The Voters' Package contains electronic versions of all nominated works, made available through the generosity of the nominees and publishers so voters may read the works and make informed decisions when voting.

Once you've registered to vote, you can download the Voters' Package from the Member's Home page (or directly here).

Access to the Voters' Package closes at midnight Saturday July 12, a week before voting closes.

~~~

I hope you'll take advantage of this great opportunity to read the best works of Canadian speculative fiction from 2024, and hopefully, vote for a work you enjoyed.

Until then, happy reading! And as always, thanks for being a fan and supporter of my writing.