About V. E. Smith:

   Why only initials? I’m not trying to be coy or secretive. The middle name I go by is Elliott—and a nickname, of course, when you’re southern. It must be my aversion to all those modern book covers where the author’s full name is twice the size of the title. The author's name may be enough reason to read a book, but not necessarily to relish it. Even famous authors have written some duds. Who really cares as long as it’s a good story, written well, and you like it? Books are such an individual thing. Sometimes, there’s no explaining why one clicks with you or it doesn’t.

   After three novels, I’ve been thinking about what they have in common and any themes that connect them. For one, I like to portray ordinary people who come across some historical event of interest, maybe by accident. Their curiosity propels them unknowingly into dangerous situations they are unprepared for. To survive, they have to find in themselves some ability they didn’t know was there—maybe one learned from history. And maybe they find love they didn't expect either. No super heroism or magical powers in my characters. Just gumption, grit, persistence, patience. There’s also a shipwreck that figures into each story. I think that’s a reminder that disaster can stalk even the best-laid plans.

   I grew up mostly in, on, and under St. Andrews Bay in Panama City, Florida. Saltwater was in my veins, and that carried me to a Ph.D. in marine biology. After that, I did a couple of years in the Army, and spent most of a career doing Great Lakes research and writing scientifically. But Spanish New World history was always in the back of my mind. The Narváez expedition passed by near my parents' house five centuries ago. I know that Gulf Coast well and I understand what those Spaniards had to deal with.

   Finally: Why are there no social media connections on this website? Trying to befriend that whole world would only steal time from family affairs, hiking in the Rockies, and writing fiction. If you stumble across my stories, I hope you enjoy them, and pass them along. That's mainly why I do this.