Dogfighting article inspires local author

SANDPOINT — Authors are inspired by many things — love, beauty, sadness and even cruelty.

Greg Smith, an Australian native who moved to Sandpoint 17 years ago, came across an article a few years ago on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website. The article was about dogfighting and inspired Smith's first book titled "The Pits."

"I was astounded at the extent of (dogfighting) here in America," Smith said. "When I started doing some research, it's mind boggling just how widespread it really is."

He said countries like Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan are prevalent for dogfighting, as well as America.

"It's a disease that's everywhere," Smith said. "It's a sad story and I can't see any answers to ending it."

Smith's book is about a 20-year Marine Corps veteran who returns from Afghanistan and, along with his anatolian shepherd, Shadow, finds himself in a new battle on American soil as he attempts to rid the city of Oceanside, Calif., of gangs involved in the "bloody sport" of dogfighting.

Because of his strong opposition to dogfighting, Smith is donating a minimum of 50 percent of his book sales to shelters that look after dogs that were a part of the dogfighting scene.

Smith has a long background in art and graphic design, so moving into self-publishing was a natural transition, though he said there has been "many twists and turns along the way."

He met his wife, Patricia, online in 1997. She lived in Sandpoint and he in Sydney, and they married in Australia in 1999. Within a few short weeks they were settled in Sandpoint and looking toward the future. They purchased the Selkirk Gallery, an art gallery and framing business, and he started doing his own artwork — portrait work in particular. After a few years, they sold the gallery and Smith was hired by Airways International, a magazine focused on the commercial airline business. He was the art director for the magazine for nine years.

When the magazine company relocated to New Zealand, Smith said he could have continued to work for them, but with the time zone difference he would have to work in the middle of the night to coincide with the 9-to-5 hours in New Zealand. He said he stayed in the publishing business with a couple of different jobs before finding work at Hagadone Directories as a graphic designer until he retired.

He and his wife sold their Hayden home in April, and in June hit the road in their new home — a 37-foot fifth-wheel. They now travel around the country, but are back in town for a while to visit friends and family. He said the traveling was not part of the inspiration as a writer, but something he and his wife wanted to do before they reached an age where they could no longer enjoy it.

"It's interesting," Smith said. "You meet some really fantastic people at all the campgrounds."

Although being in close-quarters can be difficult at times, he said they are enjoying their travels and plan to stay in Oregon for a month after they leave Sandpoint in November. Then they will head south throughout the winter before heading north again toward Colorado.

Smith now has a second book out in the Cpt. Kramer and Sgt. Shadow series with a third on the way. For information, visit www.gregsmith-writer.weebly.com.