Jean Thompson is a novelist and short story writer, whose most recent novel is THE POET'S HOUSE. She has published nine previous novels, including THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME and WIDE BLUE YONDER, and six short story collections, including the National Book Award finalist WHO DO YOU LOVE.

Thompson’s short fiction has been published in many magazines and journals, including The New Yorker, and been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize. Her work has been praised by Elle Magazine as “bracing and wildly intelligent writing that explores the nature of love in all its hidden and manifest dimensions.”

Jean has been the recipient of Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, among other accolades, and taught creative writing at the University of Illinois–Champaign/ Urbana, Reed College, Northwestern University, and many other colleges and universities. She lives in Urbana, Illinois.