The Official Website of Author Jan Crossen

About the Author

Jan Crossen, B.S., M.S.A.

 Jan's interest in the welfare of children began years ago when she was a high school teacher and coach in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA.  Jan was a mentor for many of her student athletes, and maintains contact with several of them even today.

For years, Jan has sponsored children living in developing countries around the world.  Recently, she was asked to serve as a court appointed surrogate parent for two young siblings living in foster care in Arizona.  

At the conclusion of a court hearing, The Honorable Judge said to Jan, "On behalf of the State of Arizona and Pima County, I want to thank you, Ms. Crossen, for your commitment to the welfare of these two children.  I wish that all of our surrogate parents and Court Appointed Child Advocates were as dedicated and involved with the children as you have been."

Jan has always dreamed of creating her family through adoption.  Her vision became a reality in 1999 when she adopted her son, Joshua.  The books in the 9 Lives trilogy were inspired by their lives together.

 

The 9 Lives Trilogy:

9 Lives, I Will Survive

9 Lives, Cat Tales

9 Lives, Full Circle

Author Jan Crossen and Joshua

 

  

    Author Jan Crossen and Joshua

 

 

                                                                                                 My adopted son, Joshua, is very handsome and charismatic. He has a normal IQ and is a talented musician. Joshua was exposed to alcohol while developing in his birth mother's womb. The alcohol damaged his brain. As a result, he has poor control over his impulses, a poor memory, and difficulty with reasoning and abstract thinking. The 9 Lives series was inspired by my son. The stories are fictional, but the behaviors and experiences are typical of someone affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. My goals for writing these books are to raise awareness of FASD and to educate our young people about this preventable disability. Let's spread the message and promote alcohol free healthy births and babies. FASD is a birth defect that is 100% preventable. Please visit the March of Dimes website and consider making a donation to promote healthy births and babies. Click on "bandingtogether" and then "Find A Band." Type in "Josh Crossen" and you can make a contribution in my son's name. Or, you can create a band in honor of someone that you love. My Josh was born 4/14/1989, in Tucson, AZ. He was born 14 weeks premature and weighed 2 pounds and 2 ounces. Thank you for visiting our website and for your support.

Books

9 Lives, I Will Survive

ISBN: 978-0-9793981-9-3 (paperback)

 ISBN: 978-0-9793981-8-6 (hardcover) 

 ISBN: 978-0-9798686-0-3 (E-book)

Joshua is a tenacious young boy who, like a lucky feline, appears to live a charmed life by defying death on several occasions. His challenges began while he was still in his birth mother’s womb. This is a story of survival, and the interracial adoption of an older, special needs child into a home with two loving and committed mothers.