Nadia Hashimi is a talented author of literary fiction, born and raised in New Jersey and New York. Her parents were Afghan natives who had the opportunity to migrate to the US before the Soviet Invasion. Hashimi's mother, a granddaughter of a renowned Afghan poet, earned her Master's degree in Civil Engineering in Europe while her father worked tirelessly to establish a comfortable life for his family in the US. Growing up, Hashimi was surrounded by a large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins, which allowed her to stay connected to her Afghan culture.
Hashimi is not only an accomplished author but also a pediatrician, a mother, an advocate, and a dog lover. She enjoys the simple indulgences of life, including dark chocolate and coffee. Her novels, which have gained international acclaim, explore themes such as forced migration, conflict, poverty, misogyny, colonialism, and addiction. Hashimi is passionate about engaging in conversations with readers of all ages, from libraries to classrooms to living rooms. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages, and she has a wide readership around the world.
Hashimi earned her degrees in Middle Eastern Studies and Biology from Brandeis University. She completed her medical education in Brooklyn, New York, and finished her pediatric residency training at NYU and Bellevue hospitals. Hashimi then moved to Maryland with her husband, where she worked in a busy emergency room. After years of avid reading, she began writing stories inspired by her Afghan heritage and the complex experiences of Afghans. In 2003, Hashimi made her first trip to Afghanistan with her parents, who had not returned to their homeland since leaving in the 1970s. She is committed to serving on boards of organizations that aim to educate and nurture Afghanistan's most vulnerable children and empower the female leaders of tomorrow. Hashimi is also a Montgomery County health care commissioner and an organizing committee member of the Gaithersburg Book Festival. She is a proud mother of four children, an African Grey parrot named Nickel, and Justice, a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Hashimi enjoys connecting with her readers through social media platforms and her website.