Bassem Khandaqji, born in 1983 in Nablus, is a Palestinian novelist, poet, and journalist. Arrested in 2004 at the age of twenty-one for his political activities, he continued to write from prison, producing a body of work that has earned wide recognition across the Arab world. His novels are known for their lyrical prose, meticulous research, and deep engagement with Palestinian history and memory. Today, Khandaqji is regarded as one of the most distinctive literary voices of his generation. International human rights observers have long criticized his arrest, trial, and imprisonment. He was released from prison in 2025, one year after A Mask the Colour of the Sky won the prestigious International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

Addie Leak is a literary translator and editor, with an MFA in literary translation. She translates from French, Arabic, and Spanish. Her work has appeared in publications such as Asymptote and Words Without Borders.