Doug Solter's Blog

I’m so happy to announce the release of my first OFFICIAL audiobook! My human narrator Kristin James has done such a wonderful job on this audiobook that I’m commissioning her to do the next two books in the Gems series, Tomorrow Always Lies and Thunderdog, over the winter. Please let me know what you think about the audiobook. If you enjoy it, please leave a review on Audible or Apple Books. It’s appreciated.

If you already have an Audible account, I do have a limited amount of promo codes (US and UK) that will give you a free audiobook. Just use the email on my website and ask for a code, you are under no obligation to leave a review of the audiobook. BUT it would be very nice if you did. 

In September, I had the privilege of going to my first writer’s retreat! This one was at the Irish Cottage Inn located in the beautiful small town of Galena, Illinois, home of Union civil war hero U.S. Grant. It was three fun days of writing sprints, networking, and dodgeball. Well, actually, we only kicked the ball around because none of us writers could hit the side of the hotel, let alone each other with one of those balls. Anyway, we also discussed online advertising, foreign translations, and other subjects pertaining to indie-publishing. Besides writing and meeting other writers, my highlight was the authentic Irish bar inside the hotel. (The bangers and mash was excellent) The choice of Irish spirits were given an A+ by Siobhan, our resident citizen who flew all the way from Ireland to be at this retreat. (Now that’s commitment to your craft!) I did go out the first night of the retreat and had two pints in the pub with Siobhan, Rosa, and a few other writers inside our very own snug.

What the flip is a snug you ask?

From Wikipedia: The “snug” was a small private room or area, typically with access to the bar and a frosted glass window above head height. Customers in the snug paid a higher price for beer and nobody could look in and see the drinkers. Not only did wealthy visitors use these rooms, but also patrons who preferred not to be seen in the public bar. Ladies often enjoyed a private drink in the snug in a time when many frowned on women visiting a pub. The local police officer might nip in for a quiet pint, the parish priest for his evening whisky, or lovers for a rendezvous.

We all had a marvelous time and I highly recommend visiting the Irish Cottage Inn in Galena for dinner and a pint.

Oh, yes, and I should mention that I wrote about 8K words on the new Gems novel in those three days. That would be a record for me.

Next week I’m releasing a new Gems spy novella featuring Miyuki called FAST AND FURIOUS SPIES. This special eBook will only be available to my email subscribers. So, you should go subscribe now and be ready for when it drops.

Google has a pilot program where authors can select AI narrators and do some limited editing on the audiobooks these narrators create. I can also distribute these audiobooks on different platforms.

Doug, does this mean you hate human audiobook narrators?

No. My ultimate goal is to have professional narrators produce all of my books. The reason I picked the Skid series for the program is that honestly–Skid is my lowest selling series—so I can’t justify the expense of creating human-narrated audiobooks for it. However, all proceeds from any AI-narrated audiobook will go into the production of a human-narrated one if I can raise enough money to cover the cost. Look for these new audiobooks to be available this coming fall.

Yesterday, some authors and I set up a pop-up tent bookstore at Ohio Township’s Community Day in Pennsylvania! Susan Helen Gottfried, Brian Colella, and I had fun meeting readers and eating snow cones. I even picked up some handmade Christmas ornaments from our crafty neighbor. We are planning to do more of these tent bookstores in the future, mostly in the western Pennsylvania area. This is part of my new commitment to do more live author events. Hopefully in the future, I can do more events outside of Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Where should I do a future author event? Let me know in the comments.

The Summer Smashwords sale in on! Get all of my eBooks for 50% off.

Here’s a list of my author events for this year so far. I plan on doing much more of these in-person events in the coming months. So, if I’m coming to a place near you, please don’t be shy. Come out and say hello!

Ohio Township Community Day (July 20th) 5pm-Dusk Ohio Township Community Park, 325 Nicholson Rd, Sewickley, PA Books Books Books Event (Sept 21st) 12-5pm Lancaster Resort “The Barn” at Wyndham, Lancaster, PAAuthors in the Steel City (Sept 28th) Comfort Inn & Suites 180 Gamma Drive Building A, Pittsburgh, PA

For the most up to date information on events, always check my website.

Never fall in love with your target. When a terrorist bomb wipes out his entire family, Salah becomes the new monarch of the United Kingdom of Hejaz. But the terrorists won’t stop until the sixteen-year-old boy is dead and his kingdom falls into anarchy.

Born in Saudi Arabia, Nadia is sent undercover to pose as the daughter of a sheikh. Her mission is to keep the king alive and his government stable. To do that, she’ll have to stay close to him, which causes problems for a spy who develops an affection for her target.

As Nadia struggles to maintain a line between her mission and her feelings, the other three Gems must dig deep to find out who is supporting the terrorists.

Is it an old threat with new leadership? Or a new threat from the Gems past?

The first bomb wiped out the royal family. The second bomb might plunge the Persian Gulf into war.

For Her Eyes Only is the seventh book in the Gems Young Adult spy series that features heart-pounding action, interesting villains, complicated relationships, and strong female characters with flaws. Think Totally Spies with a strong dose of James Bond.

If you enjoy spy thrillers with immersive plots, and a complex relationship with characters who make you laugh and cry, then the seventh book in Doug Solter’s continuing young adult spy series is for you.

For ages 13 through adult.

BUY NOW

The For Her Eyes Only Kickstarter Campaign is on! Consider becoming a backer get an exclusive hardcover edition of the new Gems novel coming out in March. You’ll get that + the eBook + Two pieces of Gems digital artwork + New digital artwork of everyone’s favorite mean girls Bridget and Sophia. Become a backer today!

The Be My Werewolf Valentine Sale is on! Grab the first eBook in the My Girlfriend Bites series for only a dollar in February before the regular price goes up to $4.99.

Buy it now on Apple, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, Smashwords, and Amazon.