“I want characters to do bad things and get away with their misdeeds. I want characters to think ugly thoughts and make ugly decisions. I want characters to make mistakes and put themselves first without apologizing for it.”

American writer, professor, editor, and social commentator

Roxane Gay is an American writer, professor, editor, and social commentator. She is known for essays, fiction, memoir, and public commentary, and for books including Bad Feminist, Ayiti, An Untamed State, Difficult Women, and Hunger. Her work spans criticism and creative writing, with Bad Feminist becoming a New York Times best seller. Across her books, she writes about culture, identity, gender, and the pressures of contemporary life, moving between personal reflection and sharper social critique.