Biography of the Author

Faye Rapoport DesPres is the author of the literary memoir-in-essays Message From a Blue Jay (Buddhapuss Ink, 2014), the Stray Cat Stories Children’s Book Trilogy (Writer’s Coffee Bar Press, 2018-2022), the fiction collection Soul to Soul: Tiny Stories of Hope and Resilience (Huntsville Independent Press, Dec. 1, 2023), and the fiction chapbook of three stories, The Varmint and Other Short Stories (Huntsville Independent Press, Dec. 1, 2024). She also co-edited The Art of Touch: A Collection of Prose and Poetry from the Pandemic and Beyond (University of Georgia Press, Nov. 1, 2023) and contributed an essay to the anthology. A tenth anniversary edition of Message from a Blue Jay is now available from Hunstville Independent Press.

Although born in New York City, Faye spent most of her childhood in a small farming town in upstate New York. Over the years, she has lived in England, Israel, Colorado, and Massachusetts.

A life-long animal and wildlife lover who enjoyed writing stories and poems as a child,  Faye earned a B.S. in English and American Literature from Brandeis University and a M.S. in Environmental Science and Communications from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Initially, she pursued a career in journalism and media/public relations for environmental organizations and other companies. In 2010, she earned her MFA at Pine Manor College.

Faye’s creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry have appeared in a wide variety of literary journals and magazines and have won a number of awards. Her 100-word story “By the Sea,” first published in The Dribble Drabble Review, earned a Best Microfiction 2023 award.

Sharing the joy and craft of writing is one of Faye’s passions. She has taught writing at Framingham State University and Lasell University, as well as in continuing education classes for adults and online classes for children. Her love of nature and the outdoors informs her work, and she continues to advocate for animals and wildlife. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of her children’s books is donated to non-profit animal rescue organizations.

Faye currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband, Jean-Paul Des Pres, and their rescued cat, Tobias.

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