After having worked in the corporate arena in the design field for over 12 years, Tanja ventured out to start her own illustration and design business in 2003.  Since then she has worked on many various projects with her main focus being children’s illustration. Her first picture book, “There’s a Coqui in My Shoe!”, written by Marisa de Jesus Paolicelli and released by ChiChi Rodriguez Books in 2007, won the 2008 10th Annual International Latino Book Awards for Best Educational Children's Book in English. It also won 1st place in the animation category of the International Latino Book Awards for the Latino Books Into Movies Award.

Her second book “The Adventures of Salt and Soap at Grand Canyon” published by the Grand Canyon Association, won the Arizona Book Award for the best children's nonfiction book published in the state in 2009. Her third picture book will be released by Raven Tree Press in the Spring of 2011. Furthermore, Tanja is also the illustrator of the “Wright On Time” chapter book series published by Do Life Right, Inc. and is currently working on book four of the series.

In addition to design and illustration projects varying from character studies, book illustrations, greeting cards and marketing collateral, Tanja has enjoyed working on numerous book jackets ranging from children’s titles to adult fiction and non-fiction titles. Her love of story telling drives her to continually refine her craft. Traditional mediums such as acrylics, water color as well as pen and ink are Tanja’s favorite, but she also loves the freedom that digital tools such as Photoshop offer.

Tanja is an active member of the Arizona chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and helps out as Co-Illustrator Representative. After having lived in Germany and Australia, Tanja now calls Arizona her home with her husband, Kevin, her daughters, Isabelle and Zoe, her menagerie of two Golden Retrievers and four, yes four, cats.

Awards and Recognitions:

"There's a Coqui in My Shoe!" - Winner - Latino Books Into Movies
2010 12th Annual International Latino Book Awards

"The Adventures of Salt & Soap at Grand Canyon" - Winner - Best Children's Non-Fiction
2009 Glyph Awards - Arizona Book Publishing Association

"There's a Coqui in My Shoe!" - Winner - Best Educational Children's Book - English
2008 10th Annual International Latino Book Awards

"There's a Coqui in My Shoe!" - Tied for Second - Best Children's Book
2008 10th Annual International Latino Book Awards

"The Student from Zombie Island " - Winner - Best Cover Design: Children/Young Adult
2008 Glyph Awards - Arizona Book Publishing Association