QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1986
Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Hala Alyan is an award-winning Palestinian American poet and novelist whose work delves deeply into the Palestinian diaspora's identity and the impact of displacement. Her novel "Salt Houses" has won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the Arab American Book Award, marking significant milestones in her literary career.
BRIEF BIO
Hala Alyan is a Palestinian American poet, novelist, and clinical psychologist who has received recognition for her literary work that often reflects on the themes of identity and displacement. She has lived in various places including Kuwait, Oklahoma, Texas, Maine, and Lebanon, enriching her experience of diverse cultures and environments that deeply influence her writing.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
Completing her PsyD from Rutgers University.
Publication of her debut novel "Salt Houses" (2017) - May 2, 2017.
Winning the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.
Winning the Arab American Book Award.
Publication of "The Twenty-Ninth Year" collection of poetry (2019).
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Contributions to psychological literature through her work as a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and addiction...See More
Her forthcoming novel "The Arsonists' City," which adds to her body of work centering on themes relevant to the Palestinian experience...See More
Her extensive body of poetry, recognized with multiple awards, which has been influential in American and Arab-American literary circles...See More
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Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
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