Jessica Love is the author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed picture book, Julián is a Mermaid, published by Candlewick Press. Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Jessica studied printmaking and visual art at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and graduated with a degree in Visual Art. She was then accepted to The Juilliard School to study acting, and graduated with a degree in Drama in 2009, and has been working as a stage actor ever since. She has appeared on and off-Broadway, as well as many theaters around the U.S. Julián is a Mermaid is Jessica's first book, and she lives in Brooklyn.