Sean Padraic McCarthy's short stories have appeared in Glimmer Train, The Hopkins Review, Prole, Supernatural Tales, The Indianola Review, South Dakota Review, The Sewanee Review, 2 Bridges Review, Water Stone Review, Hayden's Ferry Review, Shadowgraph Magazine, Fifth Wednesday Journal, and South Dakota Review. McCarthy's story "Better Man"-originally published in december magazine-was listed as a "Distinguished Story" in The Best American Short Stories 2015. He is a ten-time Top 25 Finalist in the Glimmer Train Fiction Open Award, and a 2016 recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Artist Fellowship in Fiction Award. In the Midst of the Sea is McCarthy's first novel. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.