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
Goodreads
Amazon
1
North of Montana
1994
2
Good Morning, Killer
2002
3
Judas Horse
2009
4
White Shotgun
2011
Canine Capers Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
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
Goodreads
Amazon
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
Goodreads
Amazon
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