Joe Amato (born May 31, 1955) is an American writer and poet.

[1] He received a BS in mathematics and mechanical engineering from Syracuse University in 1976.

He spent seven years working in project engineering in New York before returning to graduate school and earning a MA and Doctor of Arts in English from University at Albany in 1986 and 1989, respectively.

[1] He has since authored eleven books, including a memoir and three novels, and coauthored screenplays with writing partner Kass Fleisher.

[citation needed] Amato was the former production manager at Steerage Press, founded by Fleisher in 2011.