Maurice Smelt was born in Borneo and 'came home' at seven. An Exhibitioner of Sherborne School and Major Scholar of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he seemed fated for academia but escaped into advertising and became creative director of his agency. Having helped to set up Writers in Business, a specialist company that scripted anything from political speeches to multimedia extravaganzas, he moved to Cornwall in 1984 to do the same sort of thing less frenetically. He was a partner in Write by the Sea, which offered very intensive courses in Penwith for writers of every kind. He was contributing editor of What Advertising Is (Pelham Books), and edited A Wealth of Talent in the 'In Pursuit of Excellence' series. He has been both Honorary Librarian and Chairman of Morrab Library, and now lives in Penzance with his wife and daughter.