Hani Al-Salmi is a Palestinian short story writer and novelist. He was born in 1978 in Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. He graduated from the Faculty of Science at Al-Azhar University in 2002.
Literary Career and Awards
Al-Salmi's passion for writing began as a child, when he would write on the walls of houses and school desks. His heart was drawn to writing, and he formed relationships with a group of Palestinian writers in Gaza. He was and continues to be influenced by novels, especially fiction.
The year 2007 marked a turning point in his career when he happened to read an advertisement for the Abdul Mohsen Al-Qattan Foundation's Young Novelists Award. Al-Salmi, 27 years old at the time, was intrigued by the $5,000 prize.
Al-Nudba Prize (2007): Hani Al-Salmi won first place in the award for his first novel, "Al-Nudba." The next day, his name was featured in local newspapers as the first Gazan to win this award, competing with writers from the West Bank, the Palestinian diaspora, and inside Palestine. His novel "The Scar" was printed with the prize money from the foundation and published by the Culture and Free Thought Association in Gaza in 2008.
"This Bullet I Love" Award (2011): Al-Salmi won the same award from the Abdul Mohsen Qattan Foundation in 2011 for his novel "This Bullet I Love."
Community Work and Living Challenges
After winning the first prize, Al-Salmi's name became widely known among Palestinian writers. He began working with civil society organizations on numerous projects as a social activist and youth organizer. He then moved on to training in creative writing and story writing for children and youth, as well as in the field of psychological support through writing. He also worked with organizations concerned with education and culture.
In 2014, Hani Al-Salmi's living conditions began to deteriorate, as he was unable to find work with any cultural or educational institutions. He noted that people had abandoned reading in this era, and some were struggling to make ends meet. His work shifted from being a novelist to being a coffee vendor, so he decided to buy his cart from a beverage stand owner. Regarding writing amid the financial crisis, he said, "I can't write while I'm hungry. My family needs an income to live, and my daughters need to continue their education."
Family Life
Hani Al-Salmi married in 2008 and has four daughters, whom he considers his four novels. His daughters are: Qamar (the eldest), Sama (the second), Suwar (the third), and Judy (the youngest). He was able to instill a love of reading in his daughters, to the point that they would come to him to tell him that they had found his name in their school library and ask him to come to school to share some of his stories with their classmates.
Published Works
* The Novel "Escape from the Temple" – Center for Cultural Development, Egypt, 2024
* Short Story Collection "The Donkey's Head in My Lap" – Diaries of the War on Gaza, Palestinian Ministry of Culture, 2023
* Short Story Collection "Skilled at Replacing Broken Lightbulbs" – Khutawat Publishing House, 2023
* Children’s Story Collection "The Wooden Ant" – The White Shark Publishing House, 2022
* Children’s Story Collection "The Sweet Cactus" – The White Shark Publishing House, 2022
* Narrative Text "The Beardless Sufi" – Dar Al-Kalima, Palestine, 2022
* The Novel "The Lame Jew"
* 1st Edition: Maqam Publishing, Egypt, 2021
* Special Edition: Dar Al-Kalima, Palestine, 2021
* 2nd Edition: Dar Al-Maaref, Egypt, 2021
* The Novel "The Last Christian"
* 1st Edition: Maqam Publishing, Egypt, 2021
* Special Edition: Dar Al-Kalima, Palestine, 2021
* Hindawi Foundation, Egypt – London, 2021
* The Novel "Massa"
* 1st Edition: Kalimat Publishing, Sharjah, 2015
* 2nd Edition: Hindawi Foundation, Egypt – London, 2021
* Children’s Story "The Shadow Dances with Me" – Tamer Institute for Community Education, Ramallah, 2014
* The Novel "I Love This Bullet" – (Youth Novel Award), A. M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah, 2013
* The Novel "The Second Paradise" – Mim Publishing House, Algeria, 2011
* The Novel "When Hind's Face Disappeared" – Ugarit Center, Ramallah, 2010
* The Novel "The Secret of the Scent" – Ugarit Center, Ramallah, 2009
* Narrative Texts "Edges of the Shadow" – Special Edition, Gaza, Palestine, 2009
* The Novel "The Scar" – (A. M. Qattan Novel Award), Special Edition, Culture and Free Thought Association, Gaza, 2008
