Rebecca Makkai is an accomplished American novelist and short-story writer, widely recognized for her engaging and sophisticated works. A prolific author, Makkai has penned several novels including The Great Believers, The Borrower, and The Hundred-Year House, as well as the short story collection Music for Wartime. Her novel The Great Believers was met with critical acclaim, becoming a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and winning numerous honors such as the ALA Carnegie Medal and the LA Times Book Prize.

Makkai's passion for literature is reflected in her commitment to teaching graduate fiction writing at prestigious institutions such as Northwestern University, UNR Tahoe, and Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English. In addition to her educational roles, she is the Artistic Director of StoryStudio Chicago, further contributing to the literary community. Her work has been translated into over 20 languages and has received recognition in anthologies like The Pushcart Prize and The Best American Short Stories.

Before embarking on her literary career, Makkai spent twelve years as an elementary Montessori teacher. She holds an MA in Literature from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English. Along with her literary endeavors, Makkai is a recipient of fellowships from esteemed organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council. She has also enjoyed residencies at notable institutions like Yaddo, Ucross, and Ragdale, and was the 2020 recipient of the Mark Twain Award for Distinguished Contributions to Midwestern Literature.

Rebecca Makkai resides in both Chicago and Vermont and can be found online at her personal website and on social media platforms, where she connects with her readers.