Donovan Street Press Inc.

09/01/2026

Today we are proud to publish the tenth book by Donovan Street Press!

The Druid and the Dragon by Paul Burns.

Paul is an author from Riverview, New Brunswick. The Druid and the Dragon is his third book:

Sixteen-year-old Fraser Campbell knows what it’s like to face bullies—high school has made sure of that. But standing up to a few teenagers is nothing compared to facing a dark wizard.
When Nightwind, a grouchy old dragon, whisks Fraser away to the magical realm of Terranaught, he’s thrust into a world he never knew existed and a destiny he never asked for: defeat the powerful wizard Lord Borath. The problem? No one, least of all Fraser, believes he can do it, except Nightwind.

To have any chance at all, Fraser must push past his fear and self-doubt to master the ways of both Guardian and Druid in only a few short months—not the years it usually takes to learn. But even if he manages that, how can a kid who’s never believed in himself and a dragon a hundred years past his prime stand against the greatest evil Terranaught has ever known?

08/27/2026

COMING SEPTEMBER 1ST FROM DONOVAN STREET PRESS

(Psst: It's actually already available some places if you know where to look!)

THE DRUID AND THE DRAGON by Paul Burns:

Fraser hugged the old dragon around the neck. “You be careful, you crazy old lizard. Not that I care, but you’re my ride home, and it’s a long walk.”

Nightwind grinned as only a dragon could, revealing incisors the size of scimitars. He shuffled slowly towards the nearest window, where he broke the glazing and shrank down sufficiently to fit through it. He regained his normal size as soon as he was outside.

Fraser heard him yell out a nasty insult for Nightshade to join him so he could administer another beating, the way he used to do when they’d been young.

“This time Mother isn’t here to save your sorry hide,” the old dragon taunted.

An angry roar from somewhere above suggested that Nightshade had taken the bait. Quick tempers must run in the family, Fraser thought.

08/17/2026

Fraser hugged the old dragon around the neck. “You be careful, you crazy old lizard. Not that I care, but you’re my ride home, and it’s a long walk.”

Nightwind grinned as only a dragon could, revealing incisors the size of scimitars. He shuffled slowly towards the nearest window, where he broke the glazing and shrank down sufficiently to fit through it. He regained his normal size as soon as he was outside.

Fraser heard him yell out a nasty insult for Nightshade to join him so he could administer another beating, the way he used to do when they’d been young.

“This time Mother isn’t here to save your sorry hide,” the old dragon taunted.

An angry roar from somewhere above suggested that Nightshade had taken the bait. Quick tempers must run in the family, Fraser thought.

THE DRUID AND THE DRAGON by Paul Burns
COMING SEPTEMBER 1ST FROM DONOVAN STREET PRESS

08/02/2026

Advance reviews are rolling in for our next Donovan Street Press release, The Druid and the Dragon, by local Riverview author Paul Burns. The book will be out this coming September 1st:

Here's a 5 star review from a Kindle Reader:

The Druid and the Dragon is a total delight for both teens and adults. The world-building is super vivid, and the story follows a great main character duo who genuinely try to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. I really appreciated the story's layered morality, especially how it handles the "villains" who are often acting under forces beyond their control rather than just being pure evil. Laced with a clever, dry humour that keeps you smiling, it’s a warm adventure that I highly recommend to anyone who favours a great magical tale.

07/29/2026

TSJ is Back on the Re-Creative Podcast to Discuss David Cronenberg’s The Fly (1986)! Back in March, I took part in my second conversation with the Mark and Joe from the Re-Creative Podcast, d…

07/28/2026

A few thoughts on "hierachy" and being "the boss" for Reality Skimming Press. An excerpt: Boss comes from the Dutch word baas meaning “master.” It first came into use around the 17th century as a way to avoid referring to people directly as master because of that word’s connotations to slavery.

I would not have wanted to be called master, but I didn’t mind being called boss. It didn’t strike me as hierarchical per se. It wasn’t suggesting I was better or superior in any way; it simply acknowledged in a friendly sort of way that at this time, in this place, I had the right to suggest certain courses of action with an expectation that people would do as I suggested. Most of the time I was simply organizing what my own bosses wanted done. Still, it did acknowledge that I occupied a certain place in an undeniable hierarchy. I had mixed feelings about occupying that place. (Click the link for the full article.)

https://www.realityskimming.com/post/the-boss

What is it like to be a boss? How do you balance authority with democracy? Joe Mahoney explored these issues when he was "The Boss" at CBC.

07/25/2026

New 5-star review for David Gerrold's Shadows & Reflections: Diving in the Sea of Time on Barnes & Noble:

"A completely enjoyable ride! This is David Gerrold at his finest. He has always been in good company with the likes of Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, and Rod Serling (to name a few), but he has a way of bearing his soul that I find unique. "All Of Them Were Empty--," "The Man Who Broke Time" (which finds David hanging out with some recognizable friends!), and "The Martian Child," are my favorites, though none of the stories disappointed me. This is a book I will read again -- and probably again. I highly recommend it." ~Michael G

07/23/2026

Episode 92 out now. This week I got to chat with Joe Mahoney about his book A Time and a Place, the audiobook-making process, and the press he founded

Check it out now!

07/23/2026

As seen in the Toronto Star today in a column by Arts critic Joshua Chong:

Nathan Cohen, the Star’s preeminent theatre critic in the 1960s, once gave this piece of advice to budding critics: “Remember that your opinions are worthless unless you provide supporting reasons. Every ignoramus has opinions and will say them gladly. Your opinions only mean something if you can explain them.”

This struck a chord with me because of all the ratings without explanations that I see on Amazon and Goodreads. Mind you, I freely admit my hypocrisy: if you want to give one of our books a five star rating without an explanation, hey, I'm okay with that. But a one star rating without an explanation? Damn you! 🙂

06/11/2026

From 1789 seating charts to Roman civil wars, a historical look at why the left-right political spectrum is an obsolete trap—and why it’s time for fusion. (A direct result of eleven hours in an emergency ward reading about Napoleon.)

Link in comments.