Tanya Anne Crosby

That’s the million dollar question, right? The truth is the seeds of a story come from anything and everything — a newspaper headline, a dream, something my husband said. But the best answer I can possibly give is the same answer I give when I speak to young kids. It’s all about “What if?” That’s the magical question that every single story begins with … What if?

All over! I'm a military brat, born in Spain. I can’t remember the precise moment when I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I can guess it was very early, based on the simple fact that at 12, all I wanted after getting my tonsils out—even more than ice cream—was my father’s typewriter. I spent my childhood with books, making up stories and imaginary friends, and I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I was a bit of a fish out of water. I came to the U.S. as a wee child, not understanding a word of English, and it took me quite a long time to “get my legs.” I can say this, though, I was never bored!