Dana Smith studied Theater Arts and English at Santa Clara University. In 1981 Smith finished the draft of his first novel, Highway Home on his trusty Smith-Corona manual typewriter. In 2005 he returned to the manuscript and over the next four years revised and completed this book. In 2009 he launched work on a second, Pleasure Craft and completed it in June of 2011. In January 2012 he embarked on the drafting for his third novel, Hot Spring Honeymoon. The novel, a comedy was finished in September 2013.