Aleksandar Hemon was born in Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia in 1964, of Ukrainian descent on his father's side and Bosnian, of Serb background on his mother's side. He graduated from the University of Sarajevo with a degree in literature in 1990. He worked as a journalist in Sarajevo and continues to write a biweekly column for BH Dani (BH Days), published in Sarajevo. He came to the United States as a tourist in 1992 and decided to stay when war broke out in Sarajevo. While living in the United States, Hemon has worked as a Greenpeace canvasser, sandwich maker, bike messenger, ESL teacher and salesperson in a bookstore.

He began publishing in English in 1995, his work appearing in The New Yorker, Esquire, Paris Review and elsewhere. His first book of stories, The Question of Bruno, was published in 2000, and his first novel, Nowhere Man, was published in 2002 and was a nominee for the National Book Critics Circle Award. His most recent novel, The Lazarus Project, was published in 2008 and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, was a National Book Award finalist and was selected for the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2008. His collection of short stories, Love and Obstacles, was published in May 2009. He currently lives in Chicago. [2009]

Lania Knight teaches writing and literature at the University of Missouri and is an editorial assistant at the Missouri Review. She is currently at work on her first novel. [2009]