Laura Mancuso grew up loving the beach and marine biology in St. James, New York. After graduating from the University of Buffalo, she continued to live and work in Buffalo, New York, with her husband. However, she missed her family and friends--and the ocean, too! Laura made her way back home to Long Island. Inspired by her daughters' love of mermaids and nature, Laura decided to start writing children's books. With her writing, she hopes to encourage young children to love reading while drawing awareness to the preservation of our waters. Laura currently lives in Hampton Bays, where you can find her with her family at one of its many beautiful beaches. The Fin-Tastic Rescue is Laura's second children's book, following 2021's The Fin-Tastic Cleanup.