Born in Toronto, Mimi Cross is an author, singer, and songwriter who grew up by the beach in New Jersey. She received a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College and an MA in Music Education from NYU with an emphasis on vocal jazz. She is an experienced performer, and worked briefly in the music industry. Before Goodbye and Shining Sea are her first two novels.​Mimi runs creative writing classes, songwriting classes, and yoga classes for K-12 and college students, libraries, bookstores, yoga studios, conferences, retreats, and individuals. Current offerings include Songwriting Studio and Choosing the Artist's Path, through Project Write Now in Red Bank, NJ.* Sessions for large or small groups as well as individuals.* Author visits and Q&A sessions for classrooms and book clubs. * Coaching/developmental editing for adult and teen writers."Mimi fuses delicacy and power, heart and gut. Her writing and singing are inspiring and evocative."--Grammy award winning artist Rosanne CashA two time Asbury Music Award winner, Mimi has shared the bill with such luminaries as Sting, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Lauryn Hill, Loudon Wainwright, and Jill Sobule. She enjoys performing for the benefit of others, and has played shows with many Jersey Shore musicians including Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. Her songs have been used in independent films and TV shows.Mimi is also a 200+ hour certified yoga instructor and the creator of Body of Writing, a practice that adds an additional dimension to the body-mind-spirit discipline of yoga: story. Body of Writing is designed to help people deepen their creativity and discover their stories through meditation, movement, and writing. Praise for BEFORE GOODBYE:"A book to set your heart aflutter.”—The Toronto Star "The complex, yet honest, nature of the novel allows readers to connect with the characters and builds a natural empathy for their tribulations. Highly recommended."—The Manitoba Library AssociationPraise for SHINING SEA:“Cross's songwriting experience comes across in the poetic language and descriptive passages.” —Publishers Weekly"Kudos to Mimi Cross for surprising readers."—Newark Star-Ledger