James Lear is the pen name of Rupert Smith, a writer who was born in Washington, D.C. in 1960 but grew up in Surrey, England. In 1978, he moved to London, where he has lived ever since.
Smith pursued a career in academics but found it was not the right fit for him. He then turned to journalism, where he gained experience writing for a variety of weeklies, monthlies, and dailies in the UK and other countries. He remained in journalism for over two decades, honing his writing skills and developing a unique voice.
In the early 1990s, Smith decided to venture into fiction writing and adopted the pen name James Lear. Under this name, he has created a niche in the literary field through writing fiction and literary novels, particularly those with gay and lesbian themes. His expertise in this field has made him stand out from other writers and has earned him recognition as an authority in the genre.
Smith, under the pseudonym James Lear, has made a significant impact in the literary world with his distinctive writing style and focus on underrepresented communities. His work has been celebrated for its boldness and its ability to explore complex themes and issues related to sexuality and identity.