Sherri L. Smith (1971-) Biography

Born 1971, in Chicago, IL. Education: New York University, B.F.A. (film and journalism), 1991; San Francisco State University, M.S.B.A. (marketing), 1993; California State University, Dominguez Hills, graduate work toward M.A. (literature).

Addresses

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Delacorte Press, Dell Publishing, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.

Career

Disney TV Animation, Los Angeles, CA, development assistant, 1996-97, development associate, 1997-99; worked for a Los Angeles construction company; Bongo Comics, Santa Monica, CA, currently office manager.

Member

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Honors Awards

American Library Association Best Book for Young People designation, 2003, for Lucy the Giant.

Writings

Lucy the Giant (young-adult novel), Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2002.

Sparrow (young-adult novel), Random House (New York, NY), in press.

Contributor to Ladybug magazine.

Sidelights

Focusing on a young-adult readership, Sherri L. Smith is the author of the novels Lucy the Giant and Sparrow. Smith's first published novel, Lucy the Giant focuses on fifteen-year-old Lucy Otsego, who lives in Alaska. Lucy is over six feet tall and because of her height is constantly the brunt of jokes at school. As if that is not bad enough, Lucy's father is an alcoholic and her mother skipped town years ago. Tired of her life, Lucy travels to Kodiak when she is mistaken for an older woman and offered a season-long job to work on a crabbing boat. While working in the numbing cold and isolation aboard the boat sailing the Bering Sea, Lucy learns a lot about what it means to be an adult. Reviewing Lucy the Giant for Booklist, Michael Cart dubbed the book an "absorbing first novel," while Francisca Goldsmith commented in her School Library Journal review that, "Fast paced and emotionally resonant," Smith's fiction debut "will be easy to book-talk and to get into appreciative hands."

Smith told Something about the Author: "I started seriously writing for young adults and children a few years ago, when I realized how much I loved the books I had read at that age. I hope that my writing touches people, and makes them feel more connected to one another. I try to write two to three pages a day, or at least work on my writing in some form every week day. It doesn't always go that way, and I'm a big procrastinator. But I'm happiest when I'm writing, so I always get back to it eventually.

"Some of my favorite writers are Virginia Woolf, E. B. White, Lewis Carroll, J. M. Barrie, Lloyd Alexander (especially his older work), China Mieville (fascinating), and Jasper Fforde. Oh, and Susan Cooper, especially the 'Dark Is Rising' series! Every single book I've read has influenced me, but these are some of the writers I go back to.

"There are so many rich, interesting stories being told today. I hope that my fellow writers continue to stretch the limits of their imaginations. The rewards are incredible and benefit us all.

"The best advice I can give anyone who wants to write is: don't say you want to be a writer, show that you ARE a writer. Write!"