A. Smith was born in Sydney, but started travelling regularly between Fiji and Australia while still a child. Her father managed a copra plantation at Loma Loma in the Lau group. Smith also lived for some time in Suva after her father resigned his position.
Smith spent periods teaching in Sydney, but her ambition was always to write. She was first published in The Bulletin, where she continued to appear regularly. She was a frequent contributor to The Australian Woman's Mirror, and also appeared in The Bookfellow.
