John L. Smith, 2026 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Inductee — Native Nevadan John L. Smith has spent more than four decades writing about the characters and conundrums that make the state unique.
Among his writing honors are the Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer Award, Northwestern’s Foley-Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism, ethics awards from the University of Oregon and National Society of Professional Journalists, and honors from the Best of the West and Nevada Press Association. He is a member of the press association’s Hall of Fame, and has received the Silver Pen Award from the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.
John has more than four decades of experience covering Las Vegas, the West, organized crime, the gaming industry, and politics. He works in multiple genres, including investigative nonfiction, biography, history, fiction, and poetry. Married to the writer Sally Denton, he is the father of an adult daughter, Amelia, and the stepfather of three sons. He is based in Nevada and New Mexico.
NOW AVAILABLE — My Life in Nevada Politics — The Memoirs of Richard H. Bryan
by Richard H. Bryan and John L. Smith from University of Nevada Press
My Life in Nevada Politics tells the entertaining, informative, and at times poignant story of the rise of Richard Bryan from humble beginnings in Las Vegas to the pinnacle of Nevada politics during a time of great change across the state and nation. Through his memoir, Bryan provides keen insight into the mechanics of politics, and the book serves as a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Silver State.
STORIES OF REAL-LIFE HIGH ROLLERS, SHADY PLAYERS AND UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS
YOUNG ADULT — FIELDS OF SILVER AND GOLD SERIES
John L. Smith — Longtime Las Vegas newspaper columnist, Freelance Writer and Author
2026 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Inductee, 2010 Silver Pen Awardee
John's stories have appeared in a variety of publications and wire services, such as: Rolling Stone, New Lines magazine, The Daily Beast, Desert Companion, The Nevada Independent, The New York Daily News, Pasatiempo magazine, Readers Digest, Reuters, Ruralite, Searchlight New Mexico, and Time.