Jamil Jan Kochai

Jamil Jan Kochai is an Afghan American fiction writer whose work explores the intersections of war, memory, family, and identity. Born in a Pakistani refugee camp and raised in Sacramento, California, he draws deeply on his Afghan heritage to craft stories of profound humanity and imagination. His debut novel, "99 Nights in Logar," was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, while his short story collection, "The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories," further cemented his reputation as a vital and distinctive voice in contemporary American literature. He holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.