Pam Houston is a renowned American author, celebrated for her remarkable contributions to literature through her short stories, novels, and essays. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, she gained widespread acclaim with her debut book, Cowboys Are My Weakness (1992), which has been translated into nine languages. This work won her the 1993 Western States Book Award and was named a New York Times Notable Book in 1992.

Houston's stories have been featured in esteemed collections such as Best American Short Stories, The O. Henry Awards, The Pushcart Prize, and Best American Short Stories of the Century. Among her many accolades are the WILLA Award for contemporary fiction, the Evil Companions Literary Award, and numerous teaching awards.

Her writing often delves into themes of relationships between men and women, the outdoors, animals, and childhood trauma. In addition to her literary contributions, Houston is the Director of Creative Writing at U.C. Davis and teaches in the Low Rez MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is also the co-founder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers.

Living at 9,000 feet near the Rio Grande's headwaters in Colorado, she shares her homestead with her husband, Mike, and various animals, including Icelandic Horses and Irish Wolfhounds. Her upcoming book, Without Exception: Reclaiming Abortion, Personhood and Freedom, is set to be published in September 2024.