Sarah Smiley
Encyclopedia
Sarah Smiley is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the author of I'm Just Saying... A Collection of Essays and Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife.
F-14 pilot. Sarah's husband, Lt. Dustin Smiley (USN), whom she met when her mother and Dustin's were in the same military
"wives club" together the year Smiley was born, is a navy flight instructor and SH-60 helicopter pilot. Unlike many military brats, Smiley spent most of her upbringing in one place (Hampton Roads Virginia) where she grew used to being on and near aircraft carriers and Navy bases.
In 2003, Smiley began writing a column titled "On the Homefront" for the local military newspaper at NAS Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida. When her husband was transferred to Pensacola, Florida later that same year, Smiley asked the The Pensacola News Journal to consider her writing for a weekly column. "Shore Duty" first appeared in the paper on September 16, 2003, and within a month, Smiley self-syndicated the column to other newspapers, and eventually reaching more than 11 publications and 2 million readers weekly.
In late 2003, Smiley was criticized for posing for a picture wearing her husband's Navy
cover (hat). The infamous "Hat Photo" bothered some people who believe no one besides a service member should ever wear the uniform. Other people deemed the photo "nostalgic." Comparisons were drawn between Smileys photograph and old World War II
photos featuring wives and girlfriends in their sailor's hat and/or uniform. The debate over Smiley's "Hat Photo" caused heated arguments on message boards across the country.
In January 2004, Rick Broadhead, a Canadian literary agent
, approached Smiley about writing a book. In September, reportedly while Smiley and her family were displaced by Hurricane Ivan, Broadhead sold Smiley's memoir, Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife, to New American Library, a division of Penguin.
Going Overboard was released in hardback on November 1, 2005.
On November 6, 2005, The New York Times Magazine
ran a six-page feature on Smiley ("Confessions of a Military Wife," by Alex Witchel). Smiley was eventually featured in Newsweek
and on ABC's Nightline, CNN
Sunday Morning, CBS
The Early Show, Fox News and MSNBC
.
Prior to the release of Going Overboard, Smiley's life rights were optioned by Kelsey Grammer
's company, Grammnet Productions
and Paramount Television
. A half-hour sitcom based on her columns and book is now in development for CBS
.
Smiley's husband and father have never publicly agreed or disagreed with Shore Duty. Both, however, claim to support Smiley's First Amendment
right to express herself. Smiley's husband once said, "It's [Sarah's] column, so it's her opinions. I fully support her right to express them. But they don't always reflect mine. And that's OK."
Her second book, I'm Just Saying... A Collection of Essays was released on August 15, 2008, and is a collection of her syndicated columns.
Sarah Smiley has a B.S. in Education from Samford University
in Birmingham, Alabama
.
Biography
Born in San Diego, California, but raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Smiley has been a military dependent for 30 years. She is the daughter of Rear Admiral Lindell "Yank" Rutherford (USN, Ret.), a career NavyNavy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
F-14 pilot. Sarah's husband, Lt. Dustin Smiley (USN), whom she met when her mother and Dustin's were in the same military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
"wives club" together the year Smiley was born, is a navy flight instructor and SH-60 helicopter pilot. Unlike many military brats, Smiley spent most of her upbringing in one place (Hampton Roads Virginia) where she grew used to being on and near aircraft carriers and Navy bases.
In 2003, Smiley began writing a column titled "On the Homefront" for the local military newspaper at NAS Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida. When her husband was transferred to Pensacola, Florida later that same year, Smiley asked the The Pensacola News Journal to consider her writing for a weekly column. "Shore Duty" first appeared in the paper on September 16, 2003, and within a month, Smiley self-syndicated the column to other newspapers, and eventually reaching more than 11 publications and 2 million readers weekly.
In late 2003, Smiley was criticized for posing for a picture wearing her husband's Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
cover (hat). The infamous "Hat Photo" bothered some people who believe no one besides a service member should ever wear the uniform. Other people deemed the photo "nostalgic." Comparisons were drawn between Smileys photograph and old World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
photos featuring wives and girlfriends in their sailor's hat and/or uniform. The debate over Smiley's "Hat Photo" caused heated arguments on message boards across the country.
In January 2004, Rick Broadhead, a Canadian literary agent
Literary agent
A literary agent is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and major non-fiction writers...
, approached Smiley about writing a book. In September, reportedly while Smiley and her family were displaced by Hurricane Ivan, Broadhead sold Smiley's memoir, Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife, to New American Library, a division of Penguin.
Going Overboard was released in hardback on November 1, 2005.
On November 6, 2005, The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
ran a six-page feature on Smiley ("Confessions of a Military Wife," by Alex Witchel). Smiley was eventually featured in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
and on ABC's Nightline, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Sunday Morning, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
The Early Show, Fox News and MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
.
Prior to the release of Going Overboard, Smiley's life rights were optioned by Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
's company, Grammnet Productions
Grammnet Productions
Grammnet Productions is an American television production company owned by Kelsey Grammer and Camille Grammer.-Grammnet Productions productions:* Boss * The Game...
and Paramount Television
Paramount Television
Paramount Television was an American television production/distribution company that was active from January 1, 1968 to August 27, 2006.Its successor is CBS Television Studios, formerly CBS Paramount Television...
. A half-hour sitcom based on her columns and book is now in development for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
Smiley's husband and father have never publicly agreed or disagreed with Shore Duty. Both, however, claim to support Smiley's First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
right to express herself. Smiley's husband once said, "It's [Sarah's] column, so it's her opinions. I fully support her right to express them. But they don't always reflect mine. And that's OK."
Her second book, I'm Just Saying... A Collection of Essays was released on August 15, 2008, and is a collection of her syndicated columns.
Sarah Smiley has a B.S. in Education from Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
.
Non-fiction
Other Published Work
- Shore Duty, Syndicated Column
- Contributions to various Chicken Soup for the Soul books
- Column reprints in USAA Magazine and U.25
- Smiley writes a regular feature for Military Spouse Magazine and Military Money Magazine