Mary Beth Keane is an American writer known for her novels exploring complex human relationships and historical themes. Her works include The Walking People, Fever, Ask Again, Yes, and The Half Moon. Keane received significant recognition early in her career. In 2011, she was named one of the National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35, an honor recognizing outstanding American writers under the age of thirty-five. In 2015, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Fiction, a prestigious grant supporting artists and scholars across disciplines.