Joyce Carol Oates is an American author who has written over 50 novels, as well as numerous short stories, plays, and essays. She is best known for her works of psychological fiction, which often explore the complexities of human relationships. Oates has won numerous awards, including the National Book Award and the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction. She has also been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature.