Amy Shea

Amy Shea's first short story was featured in a national magazine when she was just 13 years old. She has continued to write throughout her life, publishing frequently in literary journals and anthologies, and has received the prestigious Dylan Thomas Poetry Fellowship in Paris, France, sponsored by the Paris Review, as well as a coveted residency at the world-famous MacDowell Colony.

Delighting in narration, Ms. Shea continues as a chronicler of human behavior, with her book, Defending Happiness, and other acts of bravery, published in July 2012 by Danzatore Publishing. In this collection she shares, with unsparing wit and candor, her take on mother/daughter relationships, parenthood, and the unfortunate lack of speed-bumps in online dating. Her hilarious account of aging, along with her tough and tender story of being diagnosed with breast cancer, take the reader on a deeply-felt ride, always focusing on defining happiness in our lives.

In addition to her writing career, she is president of a brand research consultancy, where she helps brands use research-based insights to improve product offerings. Ms. Shea lectures on brands around the world, and is a recipient of a Great Mind Award in Innovation from the Advertising Research Foundation for her contribution to the body of knowledge on how to effectively measure brand communications. She has also shared an Ogilvy Award with her client, IBM, for her research work, and is co-author of the business book, The Certainty Principle, with Dr. Robert Passikoff.