Meet the Author

Roberta Smith is the author of six novels, one book of short stories, and a non-fiction book about her two-times great grandfather's experience in the United States Civil War. Her preferred genre is paranormal mystery and her young adult novel in that vein, Simone's Ghosts, won the top prize at the 2017 Hollywood Book Festival, beating all books in all genres. Her screenplay of the same name made it to the quarter finals in the 2018 Los Angeles Scriptwriting Competition. 

Smith will be presenting the story of her great-great grandfather's Civil War experience. She is the proud possessor of his 1864 diary. Thanks to her
decision to publish it, she did a lot of research. The result is her book, "A Year in the Life of a Civil War Soldier- The 1864 Diary of Frank Steinbaugh." Smith's grandfather, mustered into service as a private and became a corporal in the 124th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This regiment saw action at the Siege of Vicksburg and other important battles. Frank Steinbaugh was a man of few words, using succinct phrases in the diary such as "burnt the rail-road," "burnt the town," and "had a sharp skirmish." Researching his regiment brought these phrases into context and gave Smith a whole new
appreciation for what these phrases meant and what her grandfather went through.