1. Briefly tell us about your book. The Naturalist of Amsterdam is a historical novel about Maria Sibylla Merian (b. 1647), an adventurer, scientist, artist, rebel, businesswoman and book publisher, regarded by many as the world’s first ecologist. She was one of the first people to observe insect metamorphosis – insects at the time were … Continue reading Q&A: Melissa Ashley, Author of The Naturalist of Amsterdam