Anne Smith
Anne Collins Smith, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Classical Studies at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Her favorite class in graduate school was Douglass Parker’s course on parageography (the geography of imaginary worlds), and she has taught philosophy courses about cyberspace, martial arts, and science fiction. She holds the rank of shodan (first degree black belt) in ninjutsu. She and her husband Owen have collaborated on two novels for Lerner and look forward to writing more in the future. They have been married for 27 years and have an adult son, Emrys.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
The Chronicles of Narnia.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”
(Through the Looking Glass)
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Dorothy Sayers, Patrick O’Brien, and Lewis Carroll.
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I can’t not write; it’s something I’ve always been driven to do.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Learn another language. It will help you understand English better and it will provide you with an entirely new way of looking at the world and expressing your ideas.