POETRY

Hope Anita Carson

 

On her journey to becoming an award-winning author, Hope Anita Smith has been a storyteller, teacher, photographer, artist and a singer. Her first book, THE WAY A DOOR CLOSES won several awards including, The Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award, the Judy Lopez award from the Women's National Book Association, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor, the Claudia Lewis Award from Bank Street College and it was chosen as one of the Best Books of the Year by School Library Journal 2004.

 

The sequel, entitled KEEPING THE NIGHT WATCH, is due to hit the shelves in the spring of 2008. She will follow that with another book that she wrote and illustrated INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO LOSE A MOTHER and Other Poems. Ms. Smith's first foray into illustration has opened yet another door to her, what appear to be, endless talents. The images, done in torn paper, are powerful and emotionally stimulating.

 

Her company, INKED WELL WORDS, has her teaching writing "wordshops" to writers of every age. She encourages her students to find their 'voice' using paint chips, random words, found objects, magazine pictures. And she sometimes teaches bookmaking workshops allowing her students to create personalized journals to house their creations.

 

Wanting to make sure her students get a feel for the 'behind the scenes' of being a published author, Hope conducts assemblies (mini musicals and or/ a Keynote presentation) that takes you from Idea to Hardbound book.

 

Hope Anita Smith was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and currently resides in Beverly Hills, California.

 

Smith, A. H. (2014). Biography. Retrieved from http://www.hopeanitasmith.com/