Andre Norton Sherwood Smith

Sherwood Smith, born Christine Ione Smith on May 29, 1951, is an American writer specializing in fantasy and science fiction for both young adults and adults. She has been recognized as a Nebula Award finalist for her short story "Mom and Dad at the Home Front" and her books have frequently appeared on library "Best Books" lists. Smith's literary career began in childhood, creating stories and eventually publishing novels. She has a background in history, holding degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has also worked as an elementary school teacher. Smith has contributed to several literary universes, including Andre Norton's Solar Queen and Time Traders series. She has also written under pseudonyms such as Robyn Tallis, Jesse Maguire, and Nicholas Adams for various series.

Smith is known for her world-building, particularly the fictional planet Sartorias-deles, which serves as the setting for many of her works. This world is depicted as having a complex history involving human immigration from Earth and a significant past event known as the Fall of Sartor. Her bibliography includes standalone novels, series like the Wren books and the Inda quartet, and collaborations with other authors such as Andre Norton and Dave Trowbridge. Smith is also a participant in writing groups and has been involved with the Mythopoeic Society.

Sherwood Smith has authored a diverse body of fantasy and science fiction, with a notable focus on young adult literature. Her fictional world of Sartorias-deles is a recurring setting, described as one of four inhabited planets in the Erhal system. According to Smith's own commentaries, humans originally arrived on Sartorias-deles via world gates millennia ago, with much of their early history lost after an event called the Fall of Sartor approximately 4,000 years before the events of her books. These early human settlers are suggested to have brought Earthly domesticated animals and foods with them. Smith's works often explore complex narratives, as seen in her novels such as "Crown Duel," "Inda," and the Wren series. She has also contributed to established universes, co-writing books within Andre Norton's Solar Queen and Time Traders series.

Smith's writing career has spanned decades, beginning with childhood creations and progressing to professional publication. She has received critical acclaim, including a Nebula Award finalist nomination for her short story "Mom and Dad at the Home Front." Her children's books have been recognized on numerous library "Best Books" lists, and titles like "Wren's War" and "The Spy Princess" were finalists for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Smith has also engaged in collaborative writing projects, notably with Dave Trowbridge on the Exordium series and with Andre Norton. She has utilized various pseudonyms, including Robyn Tallis, Jesse Maguire, and Nicholas Adams, for different book series, demonstrating a prolific and versatile output across multiple genres and target audiences.

Born Christine Ione Smith on May 28, 1951, in Glendale, California, she adopted the name Sherwood for both personal and professional use. Smith's early creative endeavors included making books from paper towels at age five and developing fictional worlds like Sartorias-deles by age eight. Despite early attempts at publication in her teens, she refined her craft over time, pursuing higher education and gaining life experience. She holds a B.A. from the University of Southern California and an M.A. in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Before retiring, she also worked part-time as an elementary school teacher. Smith is married, has children, and describes her home as filled with books and rescue dogs. She became a member of Book View Cafe in 2010.