One of Variety’s ten screenwriters to watch in 2008, Shauna Cross is the writer of many popular female-driven comedies like Whip It and the upcoming What to Expect When You’re Expecting. After graduating from the University of Texas in Austin, she moved to Los Angeles and supported herself by optioning several screenplays. Although she is a screenwriter, Shauna Cross’ first success was her novel Derby Girl, a story about her own experiences as a roller derby girl. Soon, Drew Barrymore’s company, Flower Films, hired her to adapt the story into a screenplay and Whip It was born.