Ala Hlehel is the author of the novels Au Revoir Akka (2014) and The Circus (2001),the short story collections My Secret Affair with Carla Bruni (2012) and Stories for Times of Need (2003), and the novella and short story collection The Father, the Son, and the Wandering Ghost (2008). He was awarded The Ghassan Kunafani Short Story Prize (Palestinian State Prizes, 2013) and is a three-time awardee of the A M Qattan Foundation Award (2005, 2003, 2001), among other honors. Hlelel has a BA in mass media and fine art from the University of Haifa, and is a graduate of the School of Screenwriting. He has worked for many years as a press, radio, and internet journalist, and is Editor in Chief of the cultural website qadita.net.