Ron Smith (Canadian author)

Ron Smith (born 1943) is a Canadian poet, author, playwright, former academic and the founder and current co-publisher of Oolichan Books in Lantzville, British Columbia.

Smith was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He studied English literature at University of Leeds (M.A. in 1970), and returned to Vancouver Island in 1971 to teach in the English Department at Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo, British Columbia, [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/literaryarchives/027011-200.098-e.html] Web page titled "Literary Archives: Oolichan Books LMS-0113" at Library Archives Canada Web site, retrieved December 26, 2007.] where he taught English and creative writing for 28 years. [http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Elf-The-Eagle-Ron-Smith-Ruth-Campbell/9780889822412-item.html?pticket=dse4thbjgmpqnq4550usfl45KDi%2fJeJO0nQ2m6qyUV2olzRYPYc%3d] Web page titled "Elf the Eagle" at Indigo Web site, retrieved December 26, 2007.] Smith also holds a degrees from the University of British Columbia. He was the Fulbright Chair in Creative Writing at Arizona State University.

In 1974 he founded the publishing company Oolichan Books in 1974. He requested sponsorship from Malaspina College to set up a literary press and was granted temporary use of facilities at the college. A successful grant application to the Canada Council in 1975 enabled the press to become an independent publisher. The operation later moved to Smith's present hometown of Lantzville, a small seaside village on Vancouver Island. Smith lives there with his wife, Patricia Smith, also a writer.

From 1988 to 1991 he was the fiction editor for Douglas & McIntyre. He has been called "instrumental" in helping to start the first aboriginal publishing house, Theytus Books, in 1981. [http://www.asu.edu/pipercwcenter/conference/2006/faculty/index.htm#smithr] Web page titled "2006 Conference Faculty" at the Arizona State University Writers Conference Web site, retrieved December 26, 2007.]

He is the author of a suite of poems, "Seasonal" (1984), a long poem, "A Buddha Named Baudelaire" (1988), two collections of poetry and a collection of fiction, "What Men Know About Women" (1999).

Smith also reviews books, and he edited the anthology of Canadian West Coast short fiction: "Rainshadow Stories from Vancouver Island" (1982).

His poetry has been translated and published in Italy.

Bibliography

Anthologies

* "Rainshadow: Stories from Vancouver Island." Oolichan (co-editor, 1982)

Poetry

* "Seasonal." Sono Nis (1984)
* "A Buddha Named Baudelaire." Sono Nis (1988)
* "Enchantment & Other Demons." Oolichan (1995)
* "Arabesque e altre poesie", Schifanoia Editore, Italy (2002)

Fiction

* "What Men Know About Women." Oolichan (1999)

Children's literature

* "Elf the Eagle." Oolichan. ISBN 0889822417.

References

External links

* [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/speeches/smithspeech.html Address on receiving an honorary degree from the University of British Columbia]