Maya Smart

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About Maya Payne Smart

Maya Smart

  • Name: Maya Payne Smart
  • Title: Book Enthusiast
  • Education: Master of Science in Journalism, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University; Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies, Harvard University
  • Home Base: Austin, Texas
  • Writing Specialties: Book Reviews, Commentary
  • Super Powers: Speed Reading, Google Searching, Question Asking, Storytelling

I’m Maya Payne Smart, a lover of caffeine, books, and justice. A wife, mom and community advocate, I split my “me time” between speed reading and slow writing. My specialty? Covering dynamic women who lift as they climb.

I love a good lifestyle blog and thought the space could use some more color.

I pledge not to bore you with souped-up photos of my daily outfits. Trust me, there are only so many ways to wear burnt orange. (I’m the new first lady of Texas men’s basketball).  I will also steer clear of horribly executed but beautifully photographed DIY projects. (When it comes to home repairs, I’m a leader in the HAPpier movement. That is, hire a professional.)

Instead, expect an eclectic mix of advice, book reviews and social commentary inspired by daily life as lived by me.

I’ve got big dreams and a small child, so tips for the work-hard-sleep-short set are my sweet spot. I appreciate when a blogosphere tidbit saves me time or money and I hope to pay it forward. Whether recommending a book or a beach, caffeine or a cause, I aim to instruct, amuse and excite.

Writing for the heck of it is new to me.

For years, I wrote only for hire. Before Zora, I was a business journalist who wrote hundreds of articles for publications ranging from local weeklies to national mega-sites. I also taught freelancers how to run profitable writing businesses in workshops for the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

These days I’m writing for love.

I’m promoting the causes I support, interviewing women I admire, exploring my new home town of Austin, Texas, and capturing juicy slices of the Smart life. You can view my full resume here.

Thanks for checking me out!

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Hey There, I’m Maya!

Maya Smart

I’m Maya Payne Smart, a book lover and reviewer. I split my time between speed reading and slow writing, usually about dynamic women who lift as they climb. My specialty? Delivering life-changing reads to world-changing women.

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Austin Lit Events

  1. Story Bar Lab: Spring 2019 Cohort

    April 2 @ 8:30 pm
  2. Jericho Brown Visiting Writers Series: Carrie Fountain

    April 16 @ 6:00 pm
  3. 2019 Agents & Editors Conference

    June 28 - June 30

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Instagram

  • Took care of some holiday shopping at @domainnorthside with a stop at Theory, Lush and Amazon. Great gifts for all the special people in my life and few treats for myself!
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#DomainNORTHSIDE #ShopNORTHSIDE #OurSideHasItAll #do512 #igaustin #litrich #austin360 #atxlife
  • No matter where I am on Thanksgiving, I always pause to reflect on the years of family feasts I enjoyed as a kid at my Grandma's house in Cleveland. Love and laughter were always on the menu along with turkey, dressing, greens and sweet potatoes. Here are a few great picture books I discovered at the @texasbookfest that help us celebrate grandmas and grandpas and nanas and paw-paws year-round. The special ways grandparents love, teach and relate to their children’s children is proven fodder for vivid, powerful storytelling. May they remind us of our elders’ wisdom, wit and care, as well as the role we parents can play in fostering space for those irreplaceable bonds to bloom.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#bibliophile #abmlifeissweet #kidsreadingforpleasure #literacymatters #readersgonnaread #childrensliteracy #morethanbooks #readersareleaders #readingisfundamental #litrich #familytime #thanksgiving
  • That nagging feeling, those recurring dreams, that idea that won't let go. Sit with them. Embody the lesson. Be free.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#quoted #quotabelle #beautifullysaid #morethanbooks #litrich #quotesforyou #quotefortheday #quotesoflife #quoteslover #igquotes #pemachodron
  • Add camping—in a tent—to the things motherhood has made me do. I never thought of myself as the outdoorsy type but as a Girl Scout troop leader I’ve got to model the adventurous spirit we wish for our girls. So here we are at Pedernales Falls State Park for the Walnut Creek Service Unit Fall Campout. Yes, I am wearing a fanny pack. This is definitely one for the books!
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Photo by @instaeileen
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#riseandclimb #gsctx #flashesofdelight #thehappynow #weekendvibes #livemoremagic #lessworkmorelife #simpleandstill #theslowdowncollective #howyouglow
  • I was traveling last week and missed The Library Foundation's Stories Gala, an incredible celebration of my very favorite library. Looks like my mom did a great job keeping the party going in my absence.  Thanks to everyone who raised funds and awareness to keep @austinpubliclibrary resources and programming strong. Nothing says community like a vibrant public library!
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#aplambassador #bibliophile #flashesofdelight #abmlifeissweet #familyphoto #literacymatters #readersgonnaread #childrensliteracy #morethanbooks #readersareleaders #do512 #igaustin #litrich

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