Saleem Haddad was born in Kuwait City to an Iraqi-German mother and a Palestinian-Lebanese father. His critically acclaimed first novel, Guapa (2016), was awarded both a Stonewall Honour and the Polari Prize. His writing spans novels, short stories, essays, film, and television. His directorial debut, Marco, premiered in 2019 and was nominated for the Iris Prize for ‘Best British Short Film’. His writing has been supported by institutions such as Yaddo and the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin. His second novel, Floodlines, will be published in February 2026. He lives in Lisbon, with roots in Amman, Beirut, and London.