Douglas Stuart McDaniel

Douglas Stuart McDaniel is an author, filmmaker, and narrative architect whose work spans history, philosophy, speculative fiction, and documentary film. He is the author of five historical works — Images of America: Asheville (2004), Images of America: Park City (2005), Historic Oakwood & Lincoln Park (2010), Historic North Knoxville (2011), and A Woman Named Defiance (2019)— and has since expanded into fiction, essays, and cross-genre projects through his forthcoming Wonderdog Books and Premium Pulp imprints. His writing explores themes of resilience, culture, humor, and the search for meaning, blending sharp observation with accessible storytelling.

He is also the host of the Citizen One podcast, an UrbanNext original series exploring the future of cities, culture, and human transformation. Through conversations with global innovators, McDaniel examines how urban life, technology, and creativity intersect in shaping tomorrow’s world.

As a filmmaker, McDaniel wrote, directed, and produced three documentary films: The Lovelies of John Alan Maxwell, Faith on Trial: The Gary Christian Story, and Legends of Appalachia: The Ace Miller Story, He also wrote, produced and directed the feature length Flirting with Azrael: A Psychedelic Rock Musical.

His award-winning films have received international accolades. He has also written and directed one-act plays for the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Tennessee Stage Company and the Mabry-Hazen House Museum, as well as music videos for a variety of Tennessee artists.

Today, McDaniel’s work continues to branch across mediums — from speculative fiction to cultural commentary to experimental nonfiction — united by a fascination with how stories shape our understanding of history, identity, and the future. He divides his time between the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Barcelona, Spain.