NoViolet Bulawayo is the pen name of Elizabeth Zandile Tshele, a Zimbabwean author born on October 12, 1981. In 2012, the National Book Foundation recognized her as a "5 Under 35" honoree. Bulawayo gained further recognition when her debut novel, We Need New Names, was shortlisted for the 2013 Booker Prize. Her second novel, Glory, achieved the same recognition in 2022, making her the first Black African woman to appear on the Booker list twice.

NoViolet Bulawayo has had an impressive academic journey, earning her MFA at Cornell University. She has taught fiction writing at both Cornell and Stanford Universities. Winning the 2011 Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story "Hitting Budapest" marked a significant milestone in her career. This story delves into the lives of a gang of street children in a Zimbabwean shantytown.

We Need New Names was also shortlisted for the International Literature Award, the Man Booker Prize, and the Guardian First Book Award, further solidifying her place in the literary world. Currently, NoViolet writes full-time and continues to contribute to the world of literature with her unique voice and storytelling.