Elena Sheppard is a non-fiction author, an opinion writer, and a cultural critic. Her work has been published in numerous outlets including The Cut, The New York Times, Catapult, and The Guardian. Her first book, The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora, is coming out on September 30, 2025. In addition to her work as a writer, Elena is available for writing and book proposal coaching, ghostwriting, and other editorial services. Elena holds a BA in English from Princeton University, and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University.