Tlotlo Tsamaase is a PhD candidate in English (Creative Writing). She’s a Motswana author whose novels include The Silence of Wilting Skin, Totem nelle nostre ossa, and Womb City, which was a finalist for the Ignyte Award, Nommo Award, and the Locus Award. Tlotlo is a Caine Prize finalist, received support from the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, and jointly won the Nommo Award for Best Short Story (2021). Her short fiction has appeared in multiple best-of anthologies, Africa Risen, New Suns 2, Chiral Mad 5, The Best of World SF Volume 1, Clarkesworld, Futuri uniti d'Africa, and other venues. She has two forthcoming novels: House of Margins and The Bloodwinds.