Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. In addition to my books written under the name Derek Smith, I have another profile on Goodreads as D.H. Smith for my crime fiction. I began writing in my 20s, first having a go at plays, and have had performances on TV, radio and in theatres. I helped set up a community bookshop in Stratford, London, in the late 70s, and began writing fiction. I had a couple of short stories on the BBC before my first book was published by Faber, 'Hard Cash', in 1991 and broadcast on the BBC. I then wrote predominately for children, both easy readers for younger children and novels for older children. 'Frances Fairweather Demon Striker!' (Faber) was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award, and The Good Wolf won the David Thomas prize in 2000. I have written a book of short stories entitled 'Strikers of Hanbury Street & other East End tales', which was my first published work for grown ups. A few years ago I had a go at fantasy publishing Hell's Chimney and The Prince's Shadow. I didn't catch the wave. I taught creative writing at the Mary Ward Centre in Bloomsbury London for over ten years. And am now turning to crime. Well, it pays more.