Lilas Taha was born in Kuwait to a Palestinian father and a Syrian mother and immigrated to the U.S. because of the Gulf War in 1990. She is a writer at heart, an electrical engineer by education and training, and an advocate for domestic abuse victims by choice. Pursuing her true passion for creative writing, Taha brings her professional interests and cultural background together in her books. She is the author of Waseem, 2025. She won the 2019 Best Book Awards of the American Book-Fest for her third novel, Lost in Thyme followed by its sequel, Found in Thyme. She also won the 2017 International Book Awards for her second novel, Bitter Almonds. Her debut novel, Shadows of Damascus was published in 2014. In her stories, Lilas celebrates the human spirit in all its complexities and contradictions, discussing some of the social, historical and political events leading to struggles that face Palestinians in exile. Lilas is the proud mother of two and resides in Texas with her family.
2025 Festival Session