Crosbie was born in 1963 in Montreal, Quebec, and now lives in Toronto, Ontario.

She spent some of her 30s busking in Montreal.

She received her Ph.D in English from the University of Toronto, writing her PhD thesis on the work of the American poet Anne Sexton.

In 1997, Insomniac Press published her controversial book on the Canadian criminal Paul Bernardo, Paul's Case: The Kingston Letters.

In 2006, Crosbie published a book-length poem titled Liar, available through House of Anansi Press. Liar is a personal work that deals with the end of her seven-year relationship with the Toronto poet, editor, and professional wrestling fan Michael Holmes.

Crosbie is a cultural critic, and the author of several books of poetry: Miss Pamela's Mercy, VillainElle, Pearl (shortlisted for the Pat Lowther Award) and Queen Rat (a collection of new and selected work.)

Crosbie currently teaches at the Ontario College of Art and Design and has a regular column titled "Pop Rocks" in the Toronto newspaper, The Globe and Mail.