Alton Telegraph: Edwardsville resident, former journalist shot twice pens book

By JILL MOON

EDWARDSVILLE — “Murder, Romance and Two Shootings” provides an eyewitness account of being on the frontlines of tragedy.

“In my book, ‘Murder, Romance and Two Shootings,’ I share the difficulties of covering the news after seeing someone murdered right before my eyes,” said Todd Allen Smith, who will have a book signing from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at Afterwords Books, 441 E. Vandalia St., in his hometown of Edwardsville.

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Questions Answered

BY NICKI J. MARCUS

1) Tell us 3 fun facts about your writing history
a. My first story that I wrote was a super hero team story when I was in eighth grade. I read a lot of comic books when I was a kid. The team consisted of a lady who had the powers of the sun, a half-human and half-android, and the twins, a young man with the power of laser beams and a girl who could read minds. I wrote out the dialogue, scenes put together simple illustrations and created back-stories for the characters along with character descriptions. I still have a few of their issues I hand wrote on notebook paper in a vanilla folder somewhere.
b. I’ve been shot in two separate incidents, once in 1997 during a robbery and again in 2009 during a mass shooting, which led to my memoir Murder, Romance and Two Shootings that is available now.
c. I was a journalist for about 15 years and even once was an editor for a newspaper that covered a Native-American reservation and learned about their culture, government and I even attended their powwows.

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Metro East Book Tour Extended

Collinsville Memorial Library Center
Saturday, July 28
I will be participating in the Collinsville Local Artist and Author Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.on Saturday, July 28, at Collinsville Memorial Library Center at 408 W. Main Street, Collinsville, IL 62234.

The event includes local artists, authors, crafts and more. Find unique treasures and support the local scene!

Afterwords Books
Friday, August 3
I will be doing a local book signing from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, at Afterwards Books, 441 E. Vandalia St., Edwardsville, IL 62025.

It will be awesome to see all our Edwardsville friends and fellow Dunlap Lake residents at this event!

Guest Interview at Scribbles

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. This week I’m pleased to welcome Todd Smith, fellow NineStar Press Writer, and author of the recently released novel Murder, Romance, and Two Shootings.  The novel is not your typical story it’s a memoir, which I’ll let Todd talk more about.

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Memoirists Who Inspired My Book

@gayauthors Memoirists who Inspired Murder, Romance and Two Shootings: http://www.valerieullmer.com/2018/06/murder-romance-and-two-shootings-by-todd-allen-smith/ … … @ToddSmithSTL #GAYMEMOIR @valerieullmer

Speaking Engagement at Oasis

Tomorrow at St. Louis Oasis I will be discussing the Kirkwood shooting and my new memoir “Murder, Romance and Two Shootings.” You can buy it now at: https://amzn.to/2KKyoPw

 

METRO EAST BOOK TOUR

Friday, July 20

I will be selling my books at Writers of the Riverbend from 6 p.m. to 8 pm at Maeva’s Coffee at 1320 Milton Road in Alton, IL, 62002 .Many area authors will be on hand to meet and greet and learn about there books.

 

Saturday, July 21 

I will be doing a book signing with my fellow Eville Writers from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Kool Beanz Cafe at 1316 Niedringhaus Ave., Granite City, IL 62040.

This will be a fun event and a chance to support other MetroEast writers!

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Guest Post on ‘Murder, Romance and Two Shootings’ at Kevinklehr.com

GUEST INTERVIEW AT KEVINKLEHR.COM

My guest post today is from author, Todd Allen Smith. In it he talks about a world so different to my own. I don’t fear random mass murder in my country, and I’ve been very lucky in not fearing others who may be homophobic. But that’s my world.

Todd’s story is one of strength and recovery. One where, like any good author, he has weaved his life into his latest book.

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Awesome Review by Ivy Noha

Murder, Romance and two shooting isn’t the typical book that I’m used to reading. It’s not a fiction, it’s not a romance novel, it’s not a mystery novel either. It’s real facts, it’s an autobiography, it’s a testimony…. And I loved it.

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Author Q&A

Mattdoylemedia.com Author Q&A

Todd, welcome to the site! For those not familiar with you, can you give a quick introduction?

Hi, I’m Todd Smith. I’m a former journalist now turned author. I decided to write my first book, “Murder, Romance, and Two Shootings” based on my experience of having been shot twice in two separate incidents, the second being a mass shooting that caused the death of six other people. I also wrote about the tragic death of a close friend in a gay bashing.

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