Hala Alyan is a prominent Palestinian American writer and clinical psychologist, born in Carbondale, Illinois, on July 27, 1986. She spent her early years in Kuwait but had to flee with her family to the United States due to the Iraqi invasion. Alyan's multicultural background has significantly influenced her writing, which reflects her experiences growing up between two different cultures.\n \n Alyan's work has been widely recognized and acclaimed, with her poetry and prose appearing in various prestigious journals such as The Missouri Review, Prairie Schooner, Colorado Review, Guernica, and many others. She has received numerous awards for her poetry, including the 2013 Arab American Book Award in Poetry for her collection "ATRIUM" and the 2015 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry for her latest collection, "HIJRA."\n \n In addition to her poetry, Alyan has also made a significant contribution to fiction writing. Her debut novel, "SALT HOUSES," is set to be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2017. Alyan's exceptional literary talent has earned her recognition as a Lannan fellow, and she currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband. Her work continues to inspire and captivate audiences, showcasing her unique voice and perspective as a Palestinian American writer.