Amy Shearn is the award-winning author of 5 critically acclaimed novels including Animal Instinct, Unseen City, and The Mermaid of Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Modern Love column, Slate, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Oprah, Coastal Living, Poets & Writers, Literary Hub, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, and many other publications. Amy has an MFA from the University of Minnesota, and lives in Brooklyn, where she teaches writing, works individually with writers, and runs writing retreats.