Nafisa Haji is an American novelist of Indo-Pakistani descent, acclaimed for her explorations of identity, displacement, and cultural heritage. Born in Los Angeles, she spent parts of her childhood in Karachi, Manila, Chicago, and London, experiences that deeply inform her storytelling. Her debut novel, The Writing on My Forehead, was a finalist for the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Book of the Year Award. Her second novel, The Sweetness of Tears, continues her examination of personal and political boundaries. With a background in American history and education from UC Berkeley and UCLA, and experience teaching in bilingual classrooms, Haji brings a nuanced perspective to her work. She resides in Northern California with her family and maintains close ties to Pakistan.

Nadene Ghouri is the host of On Spec’s Season Four.

An award-winning journalist specialising in human interest and human rights issues, Nadene freelances for major publications including The Guardian and The Mail On Sunday and is a former correspondent of both the BBC and Al Jazeera English. Nadene has reported from around the globe, including the Middle East, Africa and Asia. She lived for 7 years in Afghanistan, and is widely regarded as a specialist on Afghan issues.

Today she also works as a screenwriter and is a New York Times bestselling non-fiction author.