Author, Advocate, and Storyteller

I never planned on becoming an author—life had other ideas.

Growing up on the Northside of Minneapolis where my father ran the Capri Theater (yes, where Prince gave his first concert!), I absorbed stories everywhere I went. But it would take decades before I finally found my own voice as a storyteller.

My unlikely path began as a precocious child, evolved through my years as a teenage hacker, and culminated when federal authorities labeled me "one of the single biggest threats to the entire United States banking system." Not exactly the traditional route to publishing. But when I decided to share my story with my daughter, everything changed. That personal project blossomed into my debut memoir, "Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System—and Pocketed $40 Million."

When that book became an Amazon Editor's Pick, a Barnes & Noble Best Non-Fiction of 2024, and one of The New York Times Best Books of the Summer, I couldn't believe it. And when Universal Pictures announced a film adaptation starring Janelle Monáe? Completely surreal.

But here's what excites me most: finding my creative voice now proves it's never too late to reinvent yourself. Today, I'm expanding beyond memoir into exciting new territories. "THE HOA" is my first psychological thriller, exploring what happens when surveillance and control collide in a seemingly perfect community. I'm also working on a historical non-fiction project that excavates forgotten moments which shaped our present, and a dark comedy that examines the absurdities of modern life.

Through my writing, I want to transport you—whether that's behind the curtain of our banking system, into the unsettling quiet of suburban neighborhoods hiding sinister secrets, or deep into overlooked historical moments that deserve their time in the spotlight.

My life has given me a unique lens on both extraordinary success and profound challenges. That's why my advocacy work focuses on prison reform, racial justice, women's rights, and economic equality. I'm particularly passionate about amplifying voices society often silences—the unemployed, disabled, homeless, and underestimated. I've stood where they stand, and I know the transformative power of having someone believe in your potential when everything else suggests you're finished.

These days, you'll find me in Southern California, crafting my next narrative, speaking truth to power, and embracing this unexpected chapter of my life with equal parts wonder and determination. What comes next? I couldn't tell you—and that uncertainty has become my greatest creative fuel.

I hope my stories challenge you, move you, and maybe even change how you see the world around you. Because that's what stories did for me—they saved me, shaped me, and ultimately set me free.

Meet Tanya Smith

Author, Advocate, and Storyteller