Ikstena was born on October 15, 1969, in Riga. She has published seven novels and is the author of several short story collections, biographies and essays.
Her best-known work is the novel "Mother's Milk" from 2015, in which she depicts a girl and her mother during the years when Latvia was under Soviet occupation.
Ikstena has received several literary awards and her works have been adapted for film and theater, including the 2023 film "Soviet Milk".
