EX-HOSTAGE, BOOK HIT ATLANTA

AUGUSTA - Now that she has visited on Oprah's couch, taken calls with
Larry King and started the day on "Good Morning America," it's time
for Ashley Smith to meet her public.

The author of "Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story of the Atlanta
Hostage Hero," says she is buoyed by her supporters and unfazed by
her critics. She began a book tour Saturday that brings her to Atlanta tonight.

"You look the same as you do on TV," Eugene Woo told Smith at
Saturday's signing at a Family Christian bookstore in Augusta.

"She's been through a lot," said Rhonda Wilson, who brought her
10-year-old daughter, Krista, to the signing. "She deserves to be famous."

The 272-page book details the seven hours Smith spent in the
captivity of suspected Fulton County Courthouse shooter Brian
Nichols, who is accused of killing four people March 11.

Smith says she shared her faith with Nichols, reading to him from
"The Purpose-Driven Life," and talked to him about her daughter and
her late husband. Mack Smith died in 2001 after being stabbed.
Smith's book also reveals that she gave Nichols methamphetamine after
he asked if she had marijuana, a tidbit that drew criticism.

About 200 people turned out for the two-hour signing, including
self-described former addicts who told Smith they related to her
description of past drug use. Ministers invited her to speak to their
congregations.

Katie Smith, 24, the author's niece by marriage, said she was ready
to call in to Larry King's talk show if callers turned negative.

"I am very proud of what she's done with her life," said Katie Smith,
among several relatives who came to Saturday's signing. Relatives
included Ashley Smith's mother, Mary Jo Croft; sister Leah Croft;
grandmother Ann Machovec; and sister-in-law Tanya Smith.

"Unlikely Angel" debuts at No. 16 on next Sunday's New York Times
Best Sellers List, Smith's publicist said.

Smith seemed at ease meeting strangers.

"I came out of ["Good Morning America"] and some guy said, 'Ms.
Smith, can I have your autograph?' I was like, 'You've got to be
kidding,' " she said.

But reaction to Smith's book hasn't all been positive.

"It is hard for me to imagine two people high as kites reading from
'The Purpose-Driven Life,' " read a review posted on the amazon.com
Web site. "She most likely woke up from her high and watched
television and saw a reward was offered for the man she just spent
the night with. This self-proclaimed angel got a huge payday that
most likely is in the drug man's pocket."

Smith said she had read the post, and had tried to prepare herself
for such criticism. "Everybody has their own opinion," she said. "I
have also seen tremendous support for what I'm doing."

The crowd at the Augusta signing had nothing but praise for Smith.
Sandra Jo Babb drove about an hour from Barnwell, S.C., with her
daughter and sister. All three women bought two copies each of Smith's book.

"I'm probably going to be sorry that I didn't get some more," Babb said.