Christopher Smith

Christopher Smith was born in Andalusia, Ala., but was reared with Venezuelan values from his mother and grandmother. He is a 2013 graduate of Andalusia High School. Upon graduation, he played semi-professional soccer with the Panama City Pirates until he suffered an ankle injury costing him his soccer scholarship to Avila University in Kansas. With no back-up plan set in place, Smith decided to enroll at Auburn University in Montgomery to earn his bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine. After singing at his sister’s wedding and receiving compliments on his voice, he transferred to Troy University on several vocal scholarships. Smith then decided it was time to move to New York City to make it on Broadway, that did not last long and he was back at home in Andalusia where he earned a scholarship to sing in the LBW Community College Ensemble. With his grades back in good standing and his head on his shoulders, Smith transferred to the University of Hartford in Connecticut to study English and metaphysics. On Nov. 1, 2017, Smith decided to take a short cut home from a Halloween party and was mugged and stabbed six times. The doctors at the hospital were able to revive Smith four times, but the mental effects would last much longer. Now back in his hometown of Andalusia and with a sense of purpose, Smith knew that he wanted to still become a writer, but also make a difference. That is when he went to the Andalusia Star-News and started as a part time reporter. Going to therapy every week and having writing as a coping mechanism, Smith has worked his way up to be news editor at the Star-News, where he is responsible for the majority of the daily news load, special section and magazine writing. Standing On the Edge is his debut novel.