The Dynamo Duo
Maureen Pacifici Smith was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia — the fifth of eight children. Fran Thomas was born in Macon, Georgia and often visited both sets of grandparents who lived on an island outside of Savannah. The authors felt that their shared experiences growing up in the South in the sixties, their strict Catholic education and comfortable upbringing as Doctors’ daughters, begged to be recorded in this fast-changing world.
Maureen’s enthusiasm for writing began as a young girl. She wrote many short stories and essays in elementary school; her essay My Family won a Georgia Youth Writing contest. With the support and guidance of a high school teacher Maureen continued to write. However, later, her love of art moved her in another creative path — for the last thirty-five years she has channeled her design ability as a commercial interior designer and space planner. After retiring from a local firm, she continued her profession as a freelancer and now balances her career with her writing.
Maureen lives in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia with her husband, David. They have a blended family with seven children and ten grandchildren.
The duo have commandeered Fran’s art studio where they brainstorm new ideas, banter back and forth, and inspire one another.
Fran Thomas graduated with a BFA from Auburn University. In addition to her art degree, she studied painting with renowned artists and painted independently in Italy for twelve years. She arrived on the Savannah art scene in 2002 with the opening of Gallery 440. Her art work can be found in many collections both private and corporate.
In 2008, Fran, who had always had an interest in literature, took a course in memoir writing and discovered a new passion. This class led to the formation of a group which encouraged her to write many short stories and a novel. In 2009, she closed her gallery to free up time to paint and write.
Fran also resides in the historic district of Savannah with her husband, Hue. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. She and Maureen are neighbors and have commandeered Fran’s art studio to work on their books. They brainstorm new ideas, banter back and forth, and inspire one another..