Sherwood Smith facts for kids

Sherwood Smith (born May 29, 1951) is an American author who writes exciting fantasy and science fiction stories. She writes for both young adults (like you!) and grown-ups. Sherwood Smith is known for her creative stories and has even been a finalist for a special award called the Nebula Award. She also helps other writers by organizing writing groups.

Some of Smith's popular books include the young adult novel Crown Duel. She has also worked with other authors, like Dave Trowbridge on the Exordium series, and Andre Norton on two books in the Solar Queen universe.

In 2001, her short story "Mom and Dad at the Home Front" was considered for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story, which is a big honor in the world of science fiction and fantasy. Many of her children's books have been listed as "Best Books" by libraries. Her book Wren's War received an Anne Spencer Lindbergh Honor Book award. Both Wren's War and The Spy Princess were finalists for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award.

About Sherwood Smith

Sherwood Smith was born on May 28, 1951, in Glendale, California. She is now a retired teacher and has been married for over thirty years. Besides writing, she enjoys spending time with her two children, her rescue dogs, and her house full of books!

How She Started Writing

Sherwood Smith began making her own books when she was only five years old. She would use taped paper towels to create them! When she was eight, she started writing stories about a make-believe world she created called Sartorias-deles. She soon found it easier to turn her stories into comic books.

She first tried to get her novels published when she was 13, but none of them were sold at that time. However, some of the stories she wrote as a teenager, like Wren to the Rescue, were later published after she learned how to rewrite and improve them.

Her Journey to Becoming an Author

Before becoming a successful author, Sherwood Smith had many experiences. She went to college and even lived in Europe for a while. She then came back to the United States to earn her master's degree in History in 1977 from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also worked in Hollywood, got married, started her family, and became a teacher. She received her first degree from the University of Southern California in 1973. In 2010, she joined a group of authors called Book View Cafe.

Sherwood Smith lives in California today, continuing to write her imaginative stories.