Mira Jacob is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her debut novel, The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing. This novel, which was a Barnes & Noble Discover New Writers pick, tells the story of an Indian patriarch who begins to communicate with ghosts, much to the surprise and consternation of his family. Born and raised in New Mexico, Jacob grew up in a community with few East Indians, and as a result, she was often assumed to be Native American by her neighbors.
In addition to her work as a novelist, Jacob is also a prolific writer and illustrator. Her writing and drawings have appeared in a variety of publications, including The New York Times, Electric Literature, Tin House, Literary Hub, Guernica, Vogue, and Buzzfeed. She is also the creator of a drawn column for Shondaland, and has taught fiction at a number of prestigious institutions, including NYU, The New School, and Randolph College.
Jacob's work has been honored with a number of awards and accolades. The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing was shortlisted for India's Tata First Literature Award and longlisted for the Brooklyn Literary Eagles Prize, and was named one of the best books of 2014 by Kirkus Reviews, the Boston Globe, Goodreads, Bustle, and The Millions. She has also received commendations from the U.S. Congress and the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association. Currently, Jacob is working on a graphic memoir called Good Talk: Conversations I'm Still Confused About, which is set to be published by Random House in 2019. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.