BARBARA SMITH has always been a collector of folklore and in recent years has successfully combined it with her other passion, writing. She is the author of 19 ghost stories books to date, many of them best-sellers. A charismatic public speaker, Barbara is a frequent guest on radio and television. The Toronto-born author has lived for many years in Edmonton, where she received her B.A. English from the University of Alberta. She has taught creative writing courses at the university and college level. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Barbara and her husband Bob currently live in Edmonton, Alberta.