Michelle Cuevas was born in 1982 in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. She graduated from Williams College and holds a master of fine arts in creative writing from the University of Virginia, where she received the Henry Hoyns Fellowship. Michelle is the author of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles illustrated by Caldecott medalist Erin E. Stead, Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: A Memoir by Jacques Papier, Beyond the Laughing Sky illustrated by Julie Morstad, and The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant illustrated by Ed Young. Forthcoming books in 2017 and 2018 include Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow illustrated by Sydney Smith, The Town of Turtle illustrated by Catia Chien, and a new novel about a girl with a pet black hole.