Phan Hồn Nhiên (b. 1972) is the author of ten collections of short stories and seven novels. Ngựa thép (Horse of Steel) is her first novel. Phan is the recipient of several prestigious prizes and awards, including the 2010 Ho Chi Minh Writers Association Award for her short story collection Left Wing and the 2011 National Book Award for her other collection A Dangerous Emotion. She was a resident of the Iowa International Writing Programme in 2011.