C.G. Smith is a dedicated educator, devoted mother, and avid reader with a lifelong passion for storytelling that speaks to the Black experience. Born and raised in the heart of southern Virginia, she grew up surrounded by the rich culture and history of the South, which fueled her curiosity about people, places, and the hidden layers of history. Her career and personal journeys have taken her across diverse landscapes, including a transformative period spent in a remote Iñupiaq village in Alaska. There, she immersed herself in the culture and resilience of the community, gaining insights that forever shaped her worldview.