Hi! I’m D. A. Smith! I'm the founder and main creative force of Lions Quarter Publishing. I grew up in Hammond, Indiana with my mother and 15 siblings. My mother was my greatest influence growing up, with her wisest motto being, “It doesn’t matter how you treat me; it matters how I treat you.” My relationship with her and my childhood heroes—people like Dr. Martin Luther King, James Brown, Muhammad Ali, and even Michael Jackson—taught me to keep going long after others would have given up.In between “regular jobs,” I made a career as a musical and performing artist. I made two releases with my old band, Lucky Dogg.So how did I get into publishing? Funny enough, by helping friends and family through school! Over the years I picked up many time-tested techniques to help myself learn; with that and some helpful advice from my own experiences, I helped several of my nieces and nephews through school. That advice and wisdom became _That’s Smart! How to Improve Learning Habits,_ which I first released in 2010 to critical praise. To get the best publishing deal for myself—and for you—I founded Lions Quarter Publishing that same year to release _That’s Smart!_, now in its expanded second edition and my other titles, like _The 9/11 Project_, _Black on Black_, and my new novel, _How to Commit Suicide_.My latest work is inspired by and dedicated to three good friends I lost to suicide. Their loss left a painful wound in me—it took a long time to forgive them for leaving like they did. This “self-help book in the form of a novel” is my way to reach out to others contemplating taking their own lives, and the people that love them—there always are people that love them!—with concrete steps and an inspiring story to turn a life that seems hopeless into one that’s _great_!I’m working on bringing _The 9/11 Project_ to the stage as a dramatic play. Originally, it was meant to be a musical, and I still want to re-release it as one; several works based on music and lyrics I wrote for the _Project_ are in the works._Black on Black_ came from my feelings of anger and frustration with violent crime—but more with Americans’ blasé attitude towards it, like when a co-worker commented: “Man was meant to kill.” I strongly disagree, and _Black on Black_ is my counter-argument.I’ve got several more projects in the works. For more information, you can email me at dasmith@lionsquarter.com, or write me atDennis A. Smithc/o LIONS QUARTER PUBLISHING635–165th StreetHammond, IN 46324-1336