Smith, Vernon: - Vernon Smith printed his first book when he was in the first grade, and he hasnt stopped illustrating since. He received the Judges Award and the Faculty Award for drawing while at the University of New Orleans and went on to open his own studio, El MacFearsome Comic Squares. Smith is an active comic book illustrator and regularly attends comic conventions and book signings around the country. He lives with his daughter in Metairie, Louisiana.