A member of the British aristocracy, Smith became enamored of circus life and the Romany ("Gypsy") people, and spent years working with circuses and exploring Rom folklore, both of which provided much of the material for her novels and short stories. A surprising number of Smith's works have been made into films; now someone needs to make a movie of this woman's life.
Sites:
Brief bibliography [Guide to Supernatural Fiction, Tartarus Press]
Blurb for recent edition of her supernatural collection Satan's Circus [Ash-Tree Press]