Hala Alyan is a Palestinian-American writer, poet, and clinical psychologist. Born in 1986 in Carbondale, Illinois, she has built a career spanning both creative writing and mental health practice, specializing in trauma, addiction, and cross-cultural behavior. Alyan is known for her novels Salt Houses (2017) and The Arsonists' City (2021), as well as five poetry collections. She has also written a memoir, I'll Tell You When I'm Home (2025). Her work often draws on her dual expertise in psychology and literature, exploring themes relevant to her background and professional interests.