Sherman Joseph Alexie Jr., born October 7, 1966, is a distinguished Native American novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. His creative works are deeply rooted in his experiences as an Indigenous American, drawing from his ancestry across several tribes. Raised on the Spokane Indian Reservation, Alexie now calls Seattle, Washington, his home.

Among his most celebrated works is the semi-autobiographical young adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007), which garnered the 2007 U.S. National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the Odyssey Award in 2008 for best audiobook for young people, notably read by Alexie himself. His literary journey began with The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (1993), a compelling collection of short stories that was later adapted into the film Smoke Signals (1998), with Alexie as the screenwriter. His debut novel, Reservation Blues, was honored with a 1996 American Book Award.

Another significant accolade came with his 2009 collection of short stories and poems, War Dances, which clinched the 2010 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Sherman Alexie is not only a beacon for contemporary Native American literature but also a voice that resonates with the complexities and beauties of Indigenous American life.