Gary Anthony Soto is an American poet, novelist, and memoirist known for his works that often reflect on the experiences of the Mexican-American community. Born on April 12, 1952, Soto has made significant contributions to literature with his wide array of poetry collections and novels.

Gary Soto is the author of eleven poetry collections for adults, most notably New and Selected Poems, which was a 1995 finalist for both the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Award. His poems have been featured in numerous literary magazines, including Ploughshares, Michigan Quarterly, Poetry International, and Poetry. Soto's contributions have earned him several accolades, such as the Bess Hokin Prize and the Levinson Award.

In addition to his literary honors, Gary Soto has received fellowships from both the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. He also produced a film titled "The Pool Party", which was awarded the 1993 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Film Excellence.

Due to his advocacy for reading, in 1997, Soto was recognized as NBC’s Person-of-the-Week.