Trivia

Spent two weeks in the Soviet Union in 1973 researching for his novel Gorky Park (1981), his most important book.

In 1977, Smith legally changed his middle name to Cruz, his maternal grandmother's first name.

Father John Calhoun Smith was a jazz musician, mother Louise Lopez was an American Indian of Pueblo descent, jazz singer, teacher, Amerindian rights militant and Miss New Mexico 1939.

Graduated from Germantown Academy, in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing in 1964.

Began writing fiction in the early 1970s. He wrote two novels in the Slocum adult action Western novels, published under the house name Jake Logan. Also wrote three novels in the Nick Carter series, published under the Nick Carter name.

Worked as a journalist from 1965 to 1969.

Published a science fiction novel, The Indians Won (1970), one of the earliest works of Native American speculative fiction to see wide publication.

His paperback originals included a series about a character named "The Inquisitor", a James Bond-type agent employed by the Vatican.