April Smith

April Smith is an accomplished American author, television writer, and producer, best known for her historical fiction thrillers, particularly the Ana Grey series. Born in the Bronx, New York, Smith attended the Bronx High School of Science and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in English from Boston University. Her academic pursuits continued at Stanford University, where she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing. Despite her early setbacks in publishing, Smith remained determined to establish a career in writing.

Smith’s journey to becoming a successful novelist was not without its challenges. After her first novel failed to find success, she ventured into the world of advertising and later found work in television writing and production. It wasn’t until the 1988 writer’s strike that she turned her attention back to novel writing, producing her first successful novel, North of Montana. Smith’s travels have greatly influenced her writing, and she has incorporated her experiences from visiting various locations across the globe into her novels. She currently resides in Santa Monica, California, with her husband and two children, finding joy in simple pleasures like cooking chocolate chip cookies and watching British TV series.

In addition to her Ana Grey series, April Smith has recently expanded her repertoire to include suspenseful historical fiction. Her latest novels, Home Sweet Home and A Star for Mrs. Blake, take place in 1950s South Dakota and 1930s Europe, respectively. These stories showcase her ability to craft compelling narratives set in diverse historical contexts. Growing up in the Bronx, Smith developed a deep love for libraries and books, which has remained a constant source of inspiration throughout her career. Her passion for storytelling and diverse literary interests make her a captivating author in the realms of historical fiction, crime fiction, and mystery.
Ana Grey Books
# Title Year
1 North of Montana 1994
2 Good Morning, Killer 2002
3 Judas Horse 2009
4 White Shotgun 2011
Canine Capers Books
# Title Year
1 The Case of the Smoking Supervisor 2003
2 The Case of the Posturing Principal 2003
3 The Case of the Mendacious Medicine Man 2006
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 James at 15 1977
2 Friends 1978
3 Be the One 2000
4 A Star for Mrs. Blake 2014
5 Home Sweet Home 2017
Books for Teachers Books
# Title Year
1 Introduction to Google Classroom 2016
2 Visible Learning Day by Day 2018
3 Take Me Out to the Math Game 2018
4 Project Based Learning Made Simple 2018
5 Design Thinking in the Classroom 2018
6 Anchor Charts for 1st to 5th Grade Teachers 2018
7 Classroom-Ready Number Talks for Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Teachers 2020
8 The Ultimate Teacher Appreciation Gift Book 2020
9 Thank You a Latte 2020
10 The Supportive Classroom 2020
11 Morning Meetings and Closing Circles 2020
12 Don't Just Survive, Thrive 2021
13 Getting Started with Teacher Clarity 2021