Media Featuring Author Don Keith

There is a very good article in the current issue of The New Yorker magazine about a most unusual bookstore, Alabama Booksmith in Birmingham, Alabama and bookseller, Jake Reiss. 

Award-winning and best-selling author Don Keith says, "I did my very first book signing there when THE FOREVER SEASON, my first novel, was published. Funny thing is, it was the first book signing I had ever been to. And even funnier, I later learned it was Jake's and Alabama Booksmith's first-ever signing, too. I've done plenty since, including quite a few there, and so have the folks at the Booksmith--with just about every literary giant from the past quarter century--but that remains my favorite event ever."

Read the New Yorker article HERE.

Severn River Press has released the January 2026 issue of the free monthly newsletter for fans and followers of bestselling authors George Wallace and Don Keith. Those who wish to subscribe may do so by visiting the author pages of Wallace or Keith. Subscriptions may be canceled at any time and do not cause subscribers to receive unwanted emails.

For those who do not subscribe, the January 26 edition of the Wallace-Keith newsletter is reproduced below:

Dear Reader:

Apparently, there is considerable discussion about how far into January it is still appropriate to wish people, “Happy New Year!” Well, since our sentiments remain the same even as we complete the latter third of the month, we will continue to wish you the best of 2026. That’s because we really mean it.

This also seems an appropriate time to recap what a stellar year it was for your favorite military thriller/historical fiction authors. But we couch that update with acknowledgement that much of it is thanks to you for your support, book purchases, recommendations to friends and family, and reviews or ratings on the various websites…especially Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. We know it can be difficult for you to keep up with our output (Hey, even we have to keep spreadsheets listing book titles, due dates, release dates, characters, and more!). Maybe this brief update will help you see what we’ve been up to. And help us keep up, too!

• Released May 6, 2025, The Gibraltar Affair quickly appeared (thanks to YOU!) at the top of several of Amazon’s top sales categories and was named an “Amazon Editors’ Choice.” It was the tenth book in The Hunter Killer Series of submarine/SEAL thrillers. But remember: You can read any of the releases in our various series in any order you wish, including starting with #10. The Gibraltar Affair remains high in sales rankings and currently has an average 4.7-out-of-5-star rating on Amazon (with more than a thousand ratings!) and 4.6 on Goodreads.
• George released a solo effort on July 1, the submarine thriller Cold is the Deep, which will now be the first book in a new series set at the height of the Cold War. This was largely due to your reader ratings, purchases, glowing reviews, and more. You should look at some of the reader reviews and note what actual or former submariners are saying about the book. Military thrillers can be entertaining, thrilling, believable, and authentic all at the same time. Watch this space for updates.
• Don was next to release the first book in a new series on September 9. Co-written with Elaine Hume Peake, The Kaboom Boys, a sweeping historical fiction work set in WWII, was given a highly-sought starred rating and a “highly recommended” tag by Library Journal. Then, in December, that prestigious publication named The Kaboom Boys one of the best books of 2025. The series is titled A Call to War and the highly anticipated second book, The Blacksmith of Dachau, releases on March 3 but is already available for pre-order here. 
• Speaking of a new book series, we (George and Don) released the first book in our Tides of War Series—set in submarines just before and during WWII—on November 11. We are proud to report Argentia Station (not Argentina Station, as some insist on calling it while searching for the book!) leapt to the top of Amazon’s sales rankings and is currently blessed with more than 1,200 reader ratings between Amazon and Goodreads, averaging 4.6 and 4.5 out of five respectively. Thank you! Book #2 in the Tides of War Series, Darkest Before Dawn, releases May 26. Of course, it is now available for pre-order here —and it appears many of you have already done so.
• Then, in a move obviously designed to confuse our regular readers (and your favorite book writers), but mostly to be sure everybody got a chance to enjoy the book that inspired The Hunter Killer Series, the good folks at Severn River Publishing re-issued Hunter Killer on December 9. The real reason was because our original publisher of that work inexplicably took it (the book on which the hit movie Hunter Killer, starring Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman, was based) out of print. We got our rights back and Severn River released it in a paperback format that made it much easier to read and to match the look of the other ten books in The Hunter Killer Series. It is also now available in a re-designed e-book edition. So, the series is now eleven books. And yes, there is plenty more in the book than they could fit into a two-hour film.

Did we say “brief update” up there somewhere? Sorry, but we had a busy year…again thanks to you. Now, maybe we have space for a quick (we promise) reader question:

SPEAKING OF READER REVIEWS, DO YOU GUYS ACTUALLY READ THOSE?

Yes, we do! And for some very good reasons. First, we really do care about what you think of our work. Honest opinions and reactions are welcomed, pro or con. Neither of us is easily offended. (George: Don is actually very sensitive.  Insert winking emoji here.)  Such feedback helps us make the books better. We don’t necessarily appreciate comments like, “These guys couldn’t write their own names!” Be specific! And we can only shake our heads when someone says, “Clearly, these yahoos know nothing about submarines or the US Navy,” followed by some bogus bit of lore from the internet or a bad submarine movie. George had a long career in submarines in the Navy, including being the commanding officer of a boat. Don has written award-winning and best-selling non-fiction about submarines (See his website, www.donkeith.com, for details) and has been called “a primary chronicler of submarine history” by the critics. We’re also baffled when someone gives us a single-star rating because, “The book arrived two days late,” or, “Page 46 was bent and I had to straighten it out.” Ratings are generally considered for the content of the book itself, the writing, the style, the characters. And we DO appreciate your input.

Now, we probably have books to write. Thanks for subscribing to this newsletter and keeping up with our efforts. See you next month…with more news, more details on those upcoming books, and an answer to the reader question, “George and Don, do you guys use artificial intelligence at all while writing your books?”

George Wallace and Don Keith

Prolific and bestselling author Don Keith was recently interviewed by the British magazine Reader's House: London's Literary Gateway. Keith discussed his books about World War II, fiction and non-fiction, as well as his other books. Don Keith talked about his two new historical fiction series of books set in WWII. That includes The Kaboom Boys and the forthcoming The Blacksmith of Dachau in the A Call to War Series and Argentia Station and Darkest Before Dawn in the Tides of War Series. 

The Kaboom Boys and The Blacksmith of Dachau were co-written with former TV journalist Elaine Hume Peake. Argentia Station and Darkest Before Dawn were co-written with former US Navy submarine captain George Wallace.

To read the full interview, CLICK HERE.

The Library Journal has named the new historical novel The Kaboom Boys as one of its "Best Books of 2025." The highly respected publication for libraries and librarians included The Kaboom Boys by Elaine Hume Peake and Don Keith in its historical fiction category as one of the best books to be released in 2025.

Author Don Keith says, "We are honored that among the million or so books that are published each year, Library Journal chose The Kaboom Boys as one of the best. Elaine Peake and I believe our novel offers a unique look at real people caught up in World War II, a perspective that is different from about anything else readers may have encountered. Plus, there's plenty of drama, action, humor and romance in there, too."

Both authors say they especially appreciate the support and encouragement from the various groups representing current and veteran members of explosive ordnance disposal units, military and civilian. Those who are and have been on the front line in such dangerous service have been very helpful and encouraging to the authors.

For more about The Kaboom Boys and forthcoming books in the series (The Kaboom Boys is book #1 in the A CALL TO WAR SERIES of historical fiction books), click HERE.

The latest military historical thriller novel from writing team George Wallace and Don Keith has debuted at the top of several Amazon sales categories. ARGENTIA STATION was released on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025, and quickly went to the top in several of Amazon's more competitive, mostly based on pre-orders. As of this writing, reader reviews give the book 100% 5-star ratings. 

The novel is the first release in the authors' new series, THE TIDES OF WAR. The second release, coming in the spring of 2026, DARKEST BEFORE DAWN, is already available for pre-order on Amazon and via other book sources.

CLICK HERE to learn more about ARGENTIA STATION or to order your copy.

Commodore Dixie Kiefer, a US Navy aviation pioneer and hero of World War II, will receive recognition from Congress for his service to his country. A postal facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, is to be named in his honor. A bill introduced in the US Congress by Representative Mike Flood will name the location at 1201 Calvert Street as the "Commodore Dixie Kiefer Post Office Building."

Kiefer's action in WWII is detailed in the book THE INDESTRUCTIBLE MAN by Don Keith with considerable help on research by David Rocco. That book is available wherever books are sold.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Commodore Kiefer's heroic career and THE INDESTRUCTIBLE MAN book.

Author Don Keith's non-fiction WW2 book WAR BENEATH THE WAVES has been declared a number one bestseller in several of Amazon's most competitive categories. That includes "World War II History" and "Naval Military History." 

In November 1943, while on war patrol in the Makassar Strait, the USS Billfish submarine was spotted by the Japanese, who launched a vicious depth charge attack. Explosions wracked the sub for fifteen straight hours. With his senior officers incapacitated, diving officer Charlie Rush boldly assumed command and led key members of the crew in a heroic effort to keep their ship intact as they tried to escape.

Now, in War Beneath the Waves, this intense story is finally told in all its harrowing detail. It is an inspiring tale of one man's leadership and courage under fire, and of the remarkable efforts of a submarine crew to do their duty and save their ship.

Author Don Keith says, "I am proud of all my books but especially thrilled that doing this one allowed me to get to know Charlie Rush, the young submarine officer who is the hero of this story. One of the worst and best days of my writing life was the one when I saw Charlie's name on the telephone caller ID. I had just sent him a copy of WAR BENEATH THE WAVES a couple of days before but had no idea he had had time to read it yet. He was in his 90s! And I was afraid this meant he had found errors or did not like how I had told his story. However, when I answered the phone, there was no, 'Hello.' Charlie's first word was, 'Fantastic!'"

Keith goes on, "I know he would be proud that his story has become a #1 bestselling book, not for fame or glory but because people will know the sacrifice and bravery shown by the men of the Silent Service, our first and most vital stop-gap in World War II."

The latest historical novel by prolific best-selling and award-winning author Don Keith is currently being featured on a billboard in Times Square in New York City. The digital billboard located at 34th Street and 7th Avenue is adjacent to Penn Station. The book THE KABOOM BOYS, first release in the ambitious A CALL TO WAR SERIES, is among those being spotlighted on Amazon's huge sign located there through the week of October 13.

Author Don Keith, who has now published more than forty books, says, "You remember that scene from the movie THE JERK in which Steve Martin sees his name in the telephone book and is ecstatic? He starts dancing around, yelling, 'I'm famous! I'm famous!' Well, I guess I'm famous now!" So is co-author Elaine Hume Peake, Don notes. She is shown here giving the billboard a big thumbs-up. Elaine is a former TV news producer in New York City, where she received a Peabody Award and Emmys for her work in broadcast journalism.

For more on THE KABOOM BOYS and sequels in the A CALL TO WAR SERIES, click HERE.

For more on Don Keith and his other works, click HERE.

Prolific Alabama author Don Keith and his upcoming WWII historical novel is featured in a story on the website AL.com. Keith co-wrote the novel about World War II bomb demolition techs with Elaine Hume Peake, whose father was one of the first bomb disposal captains to go into Europe just after D-day.

To read the article, CLICK HERE

To learn more about The Kaboom Boys, authors Don Keith and Elaine Hume Peake, as well as more on Don Keith's Hunter Killer Series of Navy submarine/SEAL thrillers co-authored with former Navy submarine captain George Wallace,

According to The Williamson County Source, Franklin, Tennessee, author Elaine Hume Peake is set to release her gripping World War II novel The Kaboom Boys on September 9, 2025.  The historical fiction debut draws inspiration from Peake’s own family history and follows a daring U.S. Army bomb demolition squad through the harrowing landscapes of Nazi-occupied Europe. Co-written with best-selling author Don Keith, the book blends vivid action with emotional depth, capturing the high-stakes reality of unsung wartime heroes. The Kaboom Boys will be available in eBook, paperback, and audiobook formats through Severn River Publishing.

To read the article, CLICK HERE