Douglas Smith 🇨🇦 Writing the Fantastic

The Moody Blues, through several replacements. AC/DC. Foreigner.

I remember being totally hooked on his “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” when I was in public school. Before rock music came to rule my world.

Another Glowing Review for Borderlanz Another of the top book review sites in North America has selected my upcoming collection, Borderlanz, for their top honour. Founded by a respected literary agent and an award-winning former book review editor, Blueink Review call themselves "the gold standard in book reviews." Are they? I don't know, but their "Starred" reviews, meaning highly recommended books, are reprinted in top publishing journals, so someone thinks so. Blueink gave Borderlanz a starred review, their top rating. Here's an extract: “Starred review: Smith’s impeccable third collection of short stories … contains a diversity of compelling speculative fiction tales … a testament to Smith’s mastery at crafting short stories. The first lines are all solid hooks, … the writing is razor-focused, [and] each story ends with thematic impact … Aspiring short-form writers could well use this flawless collection as a primer. … sure to delight from the first story to the last. ” —Blueink Review Impeccable? Flawless? Sure to delight? Maybe you want to check it out. See below for how to pre-order it now. ~~~ 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! Full details on the contents of the collection are here. A reminder that the ebook is available NOW for pre-order at special pre-release pricing at all major retailers ahead of its March 15, 2026 release date. Pre-order pricing:  US$4.99  /  £4.49  /  €4.99  /  CA$6.99  /  AU$6.99 After March 15:  US$6.99  /  £5.99  /  €9.99  /  CA$9.99  /  AU$9.99 Click here to pre-order Borderlanz from your favourite retailer and save!

Another Glowing Review for Borderlanz

Borderlanz is an "Editor's Pick" Recently, one of the top book review sites in North America selected my upcoming collection, Borderlanz, for their top honour. BookLife (part of Publisher's Weekly) awarded Borderlanz their coveted "Editor's Pick," used to denote "a book of outstanding quality."  Read the full review here (page down to find the review below the book description).  Some highlights: “Editor’s Pick: A collection that refuses easy categorization. Spanning cosmic fantasy, noir mystery, and psychological horror, these 15 interconnected stories share a single preoccupation: what happens to people when systems demand everything from them …  "Smith excels in character work … protagonists whose internal struggles drive the narratives. … Even in fantastical settings, emotional stakes remain grounded and affecting … [presenting] love, resistance, and balance as ongoing acts rather than resolved outcomes. … Borderlanz is ambitious, exacting work for readers willing to sit with difficult questions about what we owe each other when the world demands too much.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ” —BookLife Reviews ~~~ 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! Full details on the contents of the collection are here. A reminder that the ebook is available NOW for pre-order at special pre-release pricing at all major retailers ahead of its release on March 15, 2026. Pre-order pricing:  US$4.99  /  £4.49  /  €4.99  /  CA$6.99  /  AU$6.99 After March 15:  US$6.99  /  £5.99  /  €9.99  /  CA$9.99  /  AU$9.99 Click here to pre-order Borderlanz from your favourite retailer and save!

Borderlanz is an "Editor's Pick"

The River

Love this. Canada being Canada

Also, writer friend Charles de Lint advised me to finish all 3 books first. Said he'd have loved to have been able to make changes to the earlier books in his Wildings trilogy when he was writing the final book. Altho if you ask me, I'm not sure how he could've improved such a great series.

Cover of BORDERLANZ showing two figures facing the oncoming Chaos Storm and the City of Order

My new collection of short stories, BORDERLANZ, is currently a TOP INDIE FAVORITE from Barnes & Noble. Pre-order it at a special price here:
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/borderlanz...
#BookSky

This is the main reason I wrote the full Dream Rider Saga trilogy before publishing the first book

Signed

FMac
Floyd
CCR
…and the Stones

How big of you to genuinely appreciate it anyway.

Maybe you’ll get real lucky and they’ll ban them

This needs to be shared widely. Bruce speaking truth to power as always. Proud to be a lifelong fan of his but angry the song had to be written. #Springsteen #StreetsofMinneapolis

Speaking truth to power, like always. So proud to be a lifelong fan and so angry that something like this had to be written. So powerful.

The flip side of this: female-fronted bands you want to see or wish you could’ve

The Organ
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Patti Smith
Ting Tings
Cranberries

…and Janis

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen, with women lead singers

Way more than 5:

Metric
Stevie Nicks
Joni
Dear Rouge
The Pretenders
Heart
Alanis Morissette
Joan Jett
July Talk
JJ Wilde
Housewife
Lorde

Conquistador, by Procul Harem

Days of Future Passed, album by Moody Blues

Borderlanz available for pre-orders I announced a while back that my newest collection of short stories, BORDERLANZ: Tales From the Edges, will be released on March 15, 2026 in ebook, trade paperback, and hard cover editions. My ARC (Advanced Review Copy) team has already posted some early reviews on Goodreads and Bookbub.  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! Full details on the contents of the collection are here. A reminder that 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. The price will be going up after the book's release on March 15: 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 Click here to pre-order Borderlanz from your favourite retailer and save!

Borderlanz available for pre-orders

Interview on The Novelist Spotlight 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.  

Interview on The Novelist Spotlight: 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…

On Spec: Saying Goodbye 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.

On Spec: Saying Goodbye: 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…

Looking Back / Looking Forward 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.

Looking Back / Looking Forward: 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…

I’d put MI 3 next, the one that introduced the ridiculous concept of the masks where they could look like anyone. More unbelievable than any stunt they ever did.

Worst MI film, imo

Blue Turk, Alice Cooper

Saved by the Music, Moody Blues

Just leaving this here…
#Canada

We watch it every year while decorating the tree.

CBS playing whack-a-mole on the #60Minutes #CECOT video. They keep taking it down, but they can’t keep up. This link was still good at time of posting.