Danna Staaf is a science communicator and marine biologist with a
PhD in baby squid. Her writing has
appeared in Smithsonian, Nautilus, Atlas Obscura, and Science, and she is the author of Monarchs of the Sea (named one of Science Friday's best science books of the year), The Lady and the Octopus
(a best book of the year of the School Library
Journal and the Children's Book Committee), Nursery Earth (hailed as "a gobsmacking delight!"), and The Lives of Octopuses and their Relatives. Her newest book, Tentacle Mysteries, will be published May 18, 2027. Danna lives in San Jose,
California, with her husband, children, cat, and innumerable plush
octopuses. Learn about her name and its pronunciation here.
Whew, that's enough third person. Hi!
I write a monthly newsletter about cephalopods in science and culture which includes updates on my events and publications.
I'm represented by the lovely Jen Azantian and Alex Weiss of Azantian Literary Agency.
I don't use generative AI for any part of my writing or drawing process.
If you want to talk to me, try e-mail (dannajoy@gmail.com) or social media:
Bluesky (most active)
Instagram (fairly active)
Facebook (I remember it sometimes)
YouTube (I'll get back to it)
Tiktok (I keep forgetting about it)
Twitter (defunct)
