Oksana Marafioti is an American writer and activist of Romani, Armenian, Greek, and Ukrainian descent. She aligns strongly with all of her cultures and often explores themes of identity, belonging, and multiculturalism in her writing. Oksana is the author of the bestselling memoir, American Gypsy (FSG, 2012) and the urban fantasy, Donatti’s Lunatics (WRP, 2018). Her works have appeared in Rumpus, Slate, and Time magazines and in a number of literary journals and anthologies. As a guest speaker, she has appeared on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, the American Library Association, C-Span’s Race and Ethnicity in the 21st Century, and more. Oksana was the 2013 BMI - Library of Congress Kluge Center Literary Award recipient and the 2020 recipient of the Picador Guest Professorship Award from the University of Leipzig, Germany. In 2018 Oksana founded Lounge Writers, an online creative writing studio where writers of all levels and genres can stay inspired and hone their craft. Her 2023 book project has been funded by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is a lapsed, classically trained pianist and an amateur chef.