Omar El Akkad
Omar El Akkad is an Egyptian-born author and journalist who grew up in Qatar, immigrated to Canada as a teenager, and now resides near Portland, Oregon.
His journalism career launched alongside the War on Terror, taking him to Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and beyond, earning prestigious awards including the National Newspaper Award for Investigative Journalism.
His debut novel, American War, became an international bestseller, while his follow-up, What Strange Paradise, won the Giller Prize.
He currently teaches in Pacific University's MFA in Writing program.
His work has appeared in major publications including The New York Times and The Guardian.
