Zaina Arafat

About the Author

Zaina Arafat is a Palestinian-American writer whose work explores the complexities of identity, desire, and cultural displacement with unflinching honesty and sharp wit. Born in the West Bank and raised in the United States, she draws from her bicultural experiences to craft narratives that interrogate themes of belonging, sexuality, and familial expectations. Arafat's debut novel, You Exist Too Much, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, follows a young woman's journey through love, addiction, and self-discovery across continents, earning praise for its bold voice and emotional depth. Her essays and short stories have appeared in prestigious outlets like The New York Times Magazine, Granta, and The Paris Review, establishing her as a vital new voice in contemporary literature. With a background in creative writing from Brown University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Arafat continues to push boundaries in exploring the intersections of heritage and modernity.