Riikka Pulkkinen is a Finnish author, born on 8 July 1980 in Oulu, North Finland. She is considered one of the leading figures in Finnish literature. Raised in Oulu, she was a talented athlete during her youth. Pulkkinen currently resides in Helsinki and studies literature and philosophy at the University of Helsinki, balancing her academic pursuits with an active lifestyle.

Pulkkinen's literary career began with her debut novel The Border (2006), which was well-received and marked a successful entry into the literary world. Her second novel, True (2010), brought her international acclaim and was shortlisted for the prestigious Finlandia Prize. The novel's film rights have been sold to Vertigo Productions, and it was adapted for the stage at Helsinki KOM Theatre in November 2011.

She has received several awards, including the Kaarlen Prize in 2007 and a grant from the Laila Hirvisaari Foundation the same year. Additionally, she was honored with the Veijo Meri Prize by the Otava Book Foundation in 2019. Her works have been translated into numerous languages and published in 17 countries, exemplifying her global literary impact.