Desmond Francis Xavier Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé (b. 1971) has authored 19 books, spanning poetry, fiction, memoir, and experimental writing. Desmond's latest work, Heart Fiat, is a collection of Catholic poems. A former journalist, he has also edited over 25 titles.

In addition to grants from the National Arts Council and Singapore International Foundation, Desmond is the recipient of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, Nautilus Book Award, two National Indie Excellence Awards, Singapore Literature Prize, Poetry World Cup, PEN American Center Shorts Prize, three Illumination Christian Book Awards, three Independent Publisher Book Awards, six Living Now Book Awards, and eight Catholic Media Association Book Awards.

He has held assessor-adjudicator engagements for various national competitions and literary projects organised by The British Council, Ministry of Education, National Arts Council, Poetry Festival Singapore, Singapore Book Council, Sing Lit Station, and Urban Redevelopment Authority—more recently, as Chief Judge of the Singapore Literature Prize (English Poetry).

A Harvard and Notre Dame alumnus of theology and creative writing, Desmond has taught writing for over two decades. Recognition for his academic contributions include the Nanyang Technological University School of Humanities Teaching Award, Hiew Siew Nam Distinguished Academic Award, and four Ngee Ann teaching excellence awards.