Author Interview with Douglas Smith

Q: If you could have a fantasy pet, what would you have and why?
A: A transmogrifying terrier. Cute, affectionate, loyal. And if you get bored of them, they can change into something else. A tad pricey, though, as they ship only from Alpha Centauri.

Q: What type of music best describes your writing style?
A: That’s tough to answer. My writing crosses genres, in both short stories and novels, so I’m not sure I could pick just one musical genre. I’d probably go with indie rock, but my musical god is Bruce Springsteen. I’ve written a number of short stories which were inspired by some of his specific songs.

In my recent trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga, I used song titles as my chapter titles in all three books. A lot of Springsteen again, but also David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, The Doors, Alanis Morissette, and lots of Canadian artists like Housewife, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, The Tragically Hip, Metric, July Talk, The headstones, Amanda Marshall, Stars, The Beaches, and Arcade Fire.

Music also plays a role when I’m writing, too, but then I tend to prefer to listen to classical music (with headphones, since I’m often writing in a library, coffee shop, or public place). It drowns out the background noise, since conversations can be really distracting to a writer (we love to eavesdrop). Instrumental music, no vocals, and preferably baroque or early classical. Vivaldi, Corelli, Bach are all good. Their music is more cerebral than emotional, which makes it perfect for writing.

Q: Tell us about your writing office/space and why it’s special to you.
A: I sometimes will write at home office, but I find I’m most productive when I get away. My favourite spot is a local library, which is very modern with lots of wood and glass, with great views of the nearby green spaces. Or a local Starbucks. I find that if I make the effort to go somewhere to write, where there aren’t any distractions, my mind set becomes “Well, I’m here to write, I might as well do that.”

Q: What is the most challenging part of writing for you?
A: Starting a new project. That blank page at the beginning of anything, novel or short story. A lot of that is just a matter of inertia. Once I get started, the story and the characters pull me along. But starting something new is the toughest. My writing method (or temperament) has always been to write a bit, go back and reread it and edit it a bit. I’m slower in getting a first draft done, but it tends to be a pretty clean first draft.

At a more granular level, when writing, I dislike having to describe setting. Which is kind of funny, because I’m described quite often as a very “visual” writer, that readers can really “see” my scenes. If that’s true, it’s the result of having to work at the setting.

One of the best tips I’ve ever received was from Kristine Kathryn Rusch when she wrote this on the whiteboard in one of her writing workshops: Writing is Character. What she means is that when you describe the setting in any scene, you have to do it via your point-of-view character in the scene. What you describe has to be via their senses, obviously, but also their emotional reaction to the setting. If, for example, your character is on a beach and their sibling drowned years ago on a beach, you have a lot of emotional strings you can pull on while writing the scene. If I can tap into my characters, the writing becomes much easier.

Q: If you didn’t write full-time what would your day job be?
A: Movie reviewer. I’m a huge movie fan, so getting paid to watch movies and share my opinion on them seems an ideal occupation. Okay, that’s sort of a cheat, since it’s still writing, but I’ll go with that. I’d also enjoy teaching about writing, helping beginner to get off to a good start. I do a lot of workshops on both the business and craft side already.

Q: What is your writing schedule and how many projects do you juggle at once?
A: Ideally, I get started by 11am-noon, and usually write either at the local library or coffee shop. I write for 4-5 hours with periodic 5 min breaks every half hour or so. These days, I find I’m juggling more writing projects than in the past. Currently, those include writing a new post-apocalyptic SF novel, launching my third collection of short fiction, writing a writing guide on how to build a short story, and a major promotion push around the last trilogy and the new collection.

Q: How do you balance your outside life with your writing life?
A: The key is to understand what deadlines you have coming up for delivering manuscripts, signing contracts, delivering workshops, appearances, interviews, etc.. Then just develop a plan for what you need to do to deliver each, then work back to figure out what you need to have done by when.

Q: Write your eulogy in three sentences.
A: Wait…? That’s it? Seriously?

Or: He came. He saw. He wrote stuff.

Q: What project are you most proud of right now?
A: I’d have to say The Dream Rider Saga trilogy. I completed all three books (The Hollow Boys, The Crystal Key, The Lost Expedition) before I published the first one. I wanted readers to know that they would not have to wait years for the next book or worry that the series might never be completed. I also wanted to give myself the flexibility to go back and make changes to the earlier books as I was writing the final instalment.

It was tough not having new titles coming out from me, beyond a writer’s guide and short stories, but the end result was worth it. This is the story I wanted to tell, and being able to tweak the earlier books while completing the conclusion made it a much more entertaining tale. The series won two awards and also was a finalist for two more awards.

The books are available from all major retailers and bookstores, in ebook, trade paperback, and hard cover editions.

Q: Do you have any new projects you would like to tell your fans about?
A: I have a new collection of short stories, my third, being released on March 15, 2026. It is called Borderlanz: Tales from the Edges, and contains 15 speculative fiction stories, including award winners, award finalists, and ‘best of’ selections. A reecent review from Blueink stated “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, 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.” It can be preordered here.

I am also working with a narrator / producer to create an audio book edition of my shapeshifter urban fantasy novel, The Wolf at the End of the World.

I’m in the middle of writing a new book on the craft of writing, working title Brick by Brick: How to Build a Story, which focuses on how to use scenes and scene transitions to create a compelling story structure.

And finally, I’m working on my next novel, tentatively titled Taken in Passing, which takes place in the world of my Merged Corporate Entity stories, including the award-winning “Scream Angel.”

Q: Where can people find you on social media?
A:

Website:

https://smithwriter.com

All retail bookstores: https://books2read.com/DouglasSmith

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/smithwriter.bsky.social

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Douglas-Smith/author/B0037JUXGM

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/douglas-smith

Bio: DOUGLAS SMITH

Douglas Smith is a five-time award-winning author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.”

His work includes the multi-award-winning urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga (The Hollow Boys, The Crystal Key, The Lost Expedition); the urban fantasy novel, The Wolf at the End of the World; the collections Chimerascope, Impossibilia, La Danse des Esprits (translated), and Borderlanz; and the writer’s guide, Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction.

His short fiction has appeared in the top markets in the field, including The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Amazing Stories, InterZone, Weird Tales, Baen’s Universe, Escape Pod, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, The Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy & SF, On Spec, and Cicada.

Published in 28 languages, Doug has won Canada’s Aurora Award four times, as well as the juried IAP Award. He’s been a finalist for the Astounding Award, CBC’s Bookies Award, Canada’s juried Sunburst Award, the juried Alberta Magazine Award for Fiction, and France’s juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane.

“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

“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

“Stories you can’t forget, even years later.” —Julie Czerneda, multi-award-winning author and editor

Website:

https://smithwriter.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/smithwriter.bsky.social

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Douglas-Smith/author/B0037JUXGM

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/douglas-smith

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The Dream Rider Saga, the complete multi-award-winning trilogy:

The Hollow Boys (Book 1)

The Crystal Key (Book 2)

The Lost Expedition (Book 3)

Bonus Material: deleted scenes, alternate plot lines, character notes, setting notes,

Series Description:

At seventeen, Will Dreycott is a superhero…in his dreams. And in yours.

Eight years ago, Will’s parents, shady dealers in ancient artifacts, disappeared on a jungle expedition. Will, the sole survivor, returned home with no memory of what happened, bringing a gift…and a curse.

The gift? Will can walk in our dreams. At night in Dream, Will hunts for criminals—and his parents. During the day, his Dream Rider comic, about a superhero no one knows is real, has made Will rich.

The curse? Severe agoraphobia. Will can’t go outside. So he makes his home a skyscraper with everything he needs in life—everything but the freedom to walk the streets of his city.

Case, an orphan Will’s age, survives on those streets with her young brother, Fader. Survives because she too has a gift. She hears voices warning her of danger. And Fader? Well, he fades.

The Hollow Boys throws Will and Case together, as well as into danger and an unlikely romance, as they join forces to defeat a centuries-old body swapper preying on street kids.

In The Crystal Key, a trail of dark secrets leads Will, Case, and Fader to a mysterious world, trapping them between warring cults willing to kill for a dangerous and powerful artifact from Will’s past.

In The Lost Expedition, Will’s search for his lost parents propels the three friends deep into the jungles of Peru, where they battle an ancient evil to save all of reality.

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Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction” (Library Journal).

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PRAISE

Praise for The Hollow Boys (The Dream Rider Saga, #1)

Winner of the 2023 Aurora Award for Best Young Adult Novel

Winner of the 2023 Juried IAP Award for Best Young Adult Novel

“This arresting series kickoff grips from the start as it introduces its inventive milieu, its flawed but fantastically powered hero, its playful worldbuilding, and a host of tantalizing mysteries. … [A] vigorously imaginative scenario. ... Takeaway: Thrilling YA fantasy” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick)

“An assured, confident novel... A must-read story for YA fantasy fans.” —Blueink Review (Starred review)

“Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun.” —The Ottawa Review of Books

“A fun supernatural tale with well-developed characters and a touch of romance.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Mystery and action ... with a balanced dose of romance stylishly rounding off this lovely work of genius.” —Reader’s Favorite Book Reviews (5-star review)

Praise for The Crystal Key (The Dream Rider Saga, #2)

Finalist for the 2024 Aurora Award for Best Young Adult Novel

“The richly inventive Dream Rider adventure continues in this second appealing entry…of Smith’s epic YA series. … An exciting plot…always enlivened by the Smith hallmarks of crack dialogue, fun sleuthing and puzzle-solving, a strong through-line of emotion, a swift pace…and a principled refusal to settle for the familiar. … This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip.” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick)

“Smith continues to demonstrate an ability to expertly weave multiple complex fantasy elements into a cohesive whole. … This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion that readers won’t want to miss.” —Blueink Review (Starred review)

“Smith’s take on superheroes and serials is both modern and original, but it recreates the same energy, the same yearning for superpowers, the same subconscious fear of dark places and boogeymen as the best stories of our own remembered youth. High adventure leavened with romance and mystery. … The Crystal Key has everything that made The Hollow Boys work and turns it up a few notches. I can’t wait for the conclusion in The Lost Expedition.” —Ottawa Review of Books

“A fun and engrossing superhero sequel.” —Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Lost Expedition (The Dream Rider Saga, #3)

“Smith powers to an explosive conclusion in the finale of his Dream Rider series, a lavishly concocted ride brimming with magic, mystery, and mayhem. ... a novel for lovers of inventive fantasy-adventures to wallow in. [With] epic battles with rune-casting witches, supernatural beings that inhabit others’ bodies, and much more—Smith continually conjures surprises. ... dark magic, beastly protectors, and a slew of extraordinary fantasy characters—including a sinister presence whose roots can be traced back to Incan rule. Smith skillfully probes deeper messages behind all the fun, as the main players face the consequences of humankind’s disregard for the Earth—and each other. The series is best enjoyed when read in order. Takeaway: Explosive conclusion to this spectacular fantasy joyride.” — BookLife (Editor’s Pick)

“When thinking about Douglas Smith’s Dream Rider Saga and The Lost Expedition in particular, the word epic kept bouncing around in my mind. The scope of the entire story, especially the last book, is huge and best enjoyed from the beginning. … I loved The Lost Expedition. … As the conclusion to the Dream Rider Saga, it exceeded every expectation. I enjoyed every minute I spent with these characters, and I will miss them now that their story is done.” — Kelly Jensen, SF Crowsnest Reviews

“The Lost Expedition put me in mind of A Wrinkle in Time. Both books … have the same sweeping scope that engages one’s sense of wonder. … Looking back as an adult, though, I far prefer Smith’s world building and politics to Madeleine L’Engle’s. Smith has written a series that is far more inclusive and far less elitist than L’Engle’s. Smith’s characters represent different social classes, ethnicities, abilities and weaknesses. The Dream Rider series is targeted to today’s modern YA audience and so better suited to current sensibilities. Whoever reads this book will find at least one POV character with whom they can identify.

… The Lost Expedition is a solid ending to a great series. The various mysteries are finally revealed in all their intricate complexity; there are several twists I totally did not see coming; and there is a sweeping majesty to the world building we have not seen since—well, since A Wrinkle in Time. … If you haven’t done so already, you should package up all three volumes to gift to any young adults in your life—or any adult in your circle nostalgic for the Golden Age of science fiction fantasy.” — Robert Runté, The Ottawa Review of Books

“Smith’s world-building and scene-setting are excellent; his characters are all well-drawn and believable; the dialogue is sharp, and there are plenty of twists and turns to the storyline. … Readers will surely enjoy Smith’s imagination and creativity.” — Blueink Review

Praise for Douglas Smith

“One of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.” —Library Journal

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

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

“His stories are a treasure trove of riches that touch your heart while making you think.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo & Nebula Awards winner

“Stories you can’t forget, even years later.” —Julie Czerneda, multi-award-winning author and editor