David Jeddie Smith was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was educated at the University of Virginia (B.A. 1965), Southern Illinois University (M.A., 1969), and Ohio University (Ph.D., 1976). He married Deloras M. Weaver in 1966, and they have three children--Jeddie, Lael, and Mary. Besides a tour of active duty in the U.S. Air Force (1969-1972), he has taught English and French (and coached football) at Poquoson (Virginia) High School (1965-1967), and has taught English and creative writing at Western Michigan University (1973-1974), Cottey College (1974-1975), as well as at Southern Illinois University, Christopher Newport College, Thomas Nelson Community College, William and Mary, and Ohio University. From 1976 to 1980 he was director of the creative writing program at the University of Utah. In September 1980, he will be a visiting professor in the English department at the State University of New York at Binghamton. His numerous awards include the John Atherton...