Joy Williams is an accomplished American fiction writer with a distinguished career in literature. She embarked on her literary journey with her debut novel State of Grace in 1973, which earned her a nomination for the National Book Award for Fiction. Williams's unique narrative voice further manifested in her subsequent novels and short stories.

Her novel The Quick and the Dead, published in 2000, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Williams has also showcased her versatility as a writer through her short story collections. The first, Taking Care, was released in 1982, followed by Escapes in 1990. She delved into non-fiction with her essay collection Ill Nature: Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals in 2001, which was recognized as a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.

In 2004, Williams published Honored Guest, another collection of short stories that further cemented her reputation as a master storyteller. The 30th anniversary of her novel The Changeling was marked by a special reprint in 2008, featuring an introduction by American novelist Rick Moody.

Williams's stories and essays have been widely celebrated and continue to resonate with readers for their profound exploration of the human condition and the natural world.