Ryan Smith

Born and raised in Prince Edward County, Ryan has always had a mind for creativity. It wasn't until high school that his former English teacher encouraged Ryan to begin writing as an outlet for his thoughts and creativity. Ryan took that message and started writing, and in the years that followed, Ryan released his first book, which was released in 2013—followed by two more book releases. Ryan wasn't done there; in 2020, he created and started his podcast called Sacking Mental Illness, which discusses the importance of mental health and features guests to share their stories. Ryan began writing poetry while a student at Prince Edward County High School, and during those four years, he decided to make writing a future career path. Since high school, his major influences include musicians Aaliyah, Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill, Nas, Kanye West, Tupac Shakur, and Kurt Cobain. Poets and Authors such as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Gil-Scott Heron, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Edgar Allan Poe also became significant writing influences. At age 15, Ryan began entering poetry contests, placing in the top 20 in his writing entries. Ryan once stated, "Writing for me has become a huge part of my life to express myself through poetry and storytelling." Today, he continues to write poetry as well as being an activist and helping others when in need. Many call him an inspiration and a new leader for this generation, praising his abilities to create a powerful touch between lyrics, writing, and creativity.