Award winning author, Crystal McCrary Anthony, Esq., is a cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (B.A., 1991) where she double-majored in English and Communications. She then attended Washington College of Law at the American University and New York University School of Law (J.D., 1995). During this period she participated in the international law program sponsored by Tulane University and studied European Community law while living in Paris, France. Barred in the State of New York, she practiced entertainment law specializing in theatre production, publishing contracts and director’s agreements with the New York firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison before leaving to pursue a full-time career in writing.

Since that time, she has written for several magazines including, Vibe, Glamour, Savoy and Tastemakers NYC. She has also been featured in O At Home, Black Enterprise, Town & Country, Newsweek, the New York Times, Mirabella, Essence Magazine, O Magazine, People, Sister-to-Sister, the New York Daily News and USA Today. She was recently named to Crain’s-New York Business’ 2007 Forty Under Forty. Ms. McCrary Anthony also published the best-selling novel HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE (Avon, 1998); a Literary Guild featured alternate selection, also optioned by Sony/Screen Gem to be made into a feature film. Her second published novel GOTHAM DIARIES (Hyperion, 2004) was a New York Times Best Seller and was the 2005 Blackboard Fiction Book of the Year. She also executive produced the independent film "Dirty Laundry," ABFF's Best Feature Film winner, starring Loretta Devine, Rockmond Dunbar, Jenifer Lewis, Teri J. Vaughn, Sommore and Veronica Webb due in theatres April 2007 (www.DirtyLaundrytheMovie.com). The film's 12-city festival tour was sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign(www.hrc.org).

Outspoken on women’s issues, literacy, children’s rights and race, she has appeared on several national television shows including Good Morning America, Access Hollywood, Extra, the Tavis Smiley Show and as a regular pop culture critic on CNN American Morning. Crystal’s most recent appearance was as guest co-host on ABC’s The View. She has also been a legal analyst on numerous television shows including Fox News Channel, CNBC and Court TV as well as a co-host of the new show on BET-J, "My 2 Cents."

Crystal served as executive producer for two new television shows on BET-J: "Real Life Divas" (a documentary/intimate portrait profile of African-American women who have shaped our culture artistically, socially and politically) and "My Model Looks Better than Your Model" (hosted by "America's Next Top Model winner" Eva Pigford).

Ms. McCrary Anthony sits on the advisory board of Jumpstart, a national organization dedicated to increasing early childhood literacy particularly in low-income neighborhoods across the country. She has recently joined the Advisory Committee for Hyperion Books New Imprint VOICE focusing on women from their mid-30’s and offering books that answer today’s women’s needs.

She resides in New York City with her six-year-old son, Cole, and her four-year-old daughter, Ella.