"Stories about journeys have interested readers since the beginning of language," says Donald R. Gallo of DESTINATION UNEXPECTED, his critically acclaimed anthology of short stories by prominent writers of young adult fiction. "Arriving at the destination is the goal, certainly, but the experiences during the journey itself are what transform the character. The most important experiences are often those not expected." With more than a dozen anthologies to his credit, Don Gallo has garnered a reputation as the godfather of YA short stories. He was initially drawn to the genre back in 1980, when he realized that junior and senior high schools across the country taught required units on short stories, but that virtually none of the stories students were asked to read were by authors who wrote specifically for teenagers. His first, ground-breaking anthology of YA short stories, SIXTEEN, featuring some of the top authors in the field, was recognized by the American Library Association as one of the 100 Best Books for Young Adults published between 1966 and 1999. Since then, Don Gallo has edited a number of short story anthologies for teens, including the highly regarded FIRST CROSSING and WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?. Among the numerous awards he has received is the ALAN Award for Outstanding Contributions to Young Adult Literature. A former junior high school teacher and university professor of English, Don Gallo currently spends his time as an editor, author, workshop presenter, and interviewer of famous authors. He also likes to read, travel, garden, cook, and take photographs. The father of two, he lives with his wife in Solon, Ohio.