Jincy Willett is an author and writing teacher currently living in San Diego, California. She has written short pieces for various anthologies and periodicals including the Winter 2006 issue of Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern and Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules. Her first book, a collection of short stories called Jenny and the Jaws of Life, was initially published in 1987 to critical acclaim but smaller-than-expected sales. The public admiration of Willett's writing expressed by David Sedaris, however, had the book in reprint in 2002, garnering praise from critics and public alike. Her next book, a novel entitled Winner of the National Book Award: A Novel of Fame, Honor, and Really Bad Weather, was published in 2002. She co-leads a writers' workshop and tutors online. Her third book, The Writing Class, a Novel, was published in 2008 by Macmillan's Picador imprint and is a witty mystery. Her fourth book, the novel Amy Falls Down, a sardonic adventure featuring an aging female novelist, was published by Thomas Dunne Books in July 2013.