Born in Natchez, Miss., Vern E. Smith is a prize-winning journalist and author. His novel, The Jones Men, a New York Times Recommended Book, was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. It is considered one of the most influential crime novels ever written. A former Newsweek Atlanta Bureau Chief and national correspondent, his work has appeared in numerous publications, and he has contributed to or co-authored five non-fiction books.
