M.B. Smith was born in Kingston, New York, the oldest of eight children. He was raised in the Catskill Mountains region. He went to schools in upstate New York, the Midwest and on the West Coast, lived in Los Angeles for many years, and now calls Ashburn, Virginia his home. He has been married for over 30 years and has four daughters. His stories are not based on specific individuals or events, but represent a conglomeration of his experiences, here and abroad. Having grown up in an area where many of his neighbors and friends struggled to get by, he has always been inspired by people who refuse to be defined by what others think of them or expect them to be.