Charles W. Smith

Charles William Smith, usually published as C. W. Smith, was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1940 and grew up in Hobbs, New Mexico. Before becoming widely known for his fiction, he worked as a reporter and film critic, experiences that helped shape the sharp observation and grounded realism in his writing.

Smith went on to teach English and creative writing at Southern Methodist University from 1980 to 2012, where he was named the Dedman Family Distinguished Professor. His books include novels, short stories, essays, and memoir, and his work often returns to the cultural conflicts and everyday lives of the Southwest.

Over the years, he received major recognition from the Texas Institute of Letters, including Jesse Jones Awards and the Lon Tinkle Award for sustained excellence in a literary career. He also received two National Endowment for the Arts creative writing fellowships, reflecting the long reach of a career that connected journalism, teaching, and literary fiction.