Elyse Martin-Smith is a Chinese-American writer and scholar based in Portland, Maine, known for her contributions to literary criticism, historical scholarship, and social commentary. A graduate of Smith College with a BA in French Studies and Comparative Literature, she has a diverse background that includes early modernist and book history scholarship, with particular interests in the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and Romanticism[1][2]. Professionally, Martin-Smith has served as the associate editor for web content and social media at the American Historical Association (AHA) from 2018 to 2020, where she managed the AHA’s digital presence and edited website content[1]. Before that, she worked at the Folger Institute at the Folger Shakespeare Library, supporting advanced scholarly programming[1]. She also writes literary reviews for Publishers Weekly and has published essays, humor pieces, and interviews in outlets such as Slate, The Toast, Electric Literature, Perspectives on History, Smithsonian Magazine, and Tor.com[2][5]. Her essay “Please Let Women Be Villains” was recognized as a notable work in *The Best American Essays 2022* anthology[2]. In addition to her nonfiction work, Martin-Smith is preparing to publish her debut graphic novel, *Copy Cat*, illustrated by Sean Rubin, scheduled for release in winter 2026[2]. Currently, Elyse Martin-Smith is an undergraduate student at Harvard College, concentrating jointly in social studies and African American studies. She contributed to the exhibition *In Their Own Voices: Black Women’s Lives from the Archives*, which showcases historical materials related to Black women’s experiences and is on view through March 2024[3]. Her ongoing work reflects a commitment to exploring social justice, history, and representation. She maintains an active presence on social media platforms under the handle @champs_elyse[2].