Deborah Nam-Krane was born in New York, raised in Cambridge and educated in Boston. You're forgiven for assuming she's prejudiced toward anything city or urban. She's been writing in one way or another since she was eight years old (and telling stories well before that). She first met some of the characters in The New Pioneers series when she was thirteen years old, but it took two decades- and a couple of other characters- to get the story just right. Things you might want to know:First crush: Peter Pan... until she realized he wasn't real. Then she moved onto Captain Kirk, then Mister Spock (and there she's stayed).What makes her write: a character that needs to have his or her story told.How much time does she spend writing: as much as possible! Sometimes one hour a day, sometimes four.Inspired by: People she watches on the street, conversations she listens in on, current events and developments, a really great nonfiction bookFavorite author: Nathaniel HawthorneFavorite book: Too many to choose from! But Lolita, The White Goddess, Sexual Personae and The Tenant At Wildfell Hall are definitely on the list