Steven Richard Smith, a former federal agent turned educator, left the Bureau of ATF in the early 90s to pursue his passion for teaching and writing. With a Master of Arts in English from the University of Akron, Smith draws on his own blue-collar upbringing in Ohio to craft stories that explore the grittier side of American boyhood. As a teen, he was inspired by the great lyricists, saving up for a subscription to Rolling Stone to hone his writing skills.

Smith’s journey led him to self-publish King of Methamphetamine Valley, a true-crime story rooted in his work as an investigator. He followed it with The Trial of Agent Whitehall, and two comic novels: The Accidental Girlfriend and The Honest Applicant. His diverse writing portfolio also includes poetry, satire, and educational publications, earning him the Ohioana Citation in the Field of Education.

Smith continues to teach and inspire young writers, blending his unique life experiences into lessons on language and life. He resides in Massillon, Ohio, where he designs educational tools like Sentence Smackdown, a game that makes learning grammar fun.