Lina Abdulkarim

Lina Abdulkarim is a Palestinian-American writer, mother, and former healthcare professional.
Born in Jerusalem in 1987 and originally from the West Bank, she spent six formative years living there — an experience that deeply shapes her identity and storytelling. Lina holds a degree in MRI from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and worked in healthcare before turning to storytelling, where she found a deeper calling in sharing stories that spark dialogue and carry meaning. Her love for travel has taken her around the world, including time living in Dubai and Switzerland. Lina also enjoys hiking, cooking, and exploring nature — pursuits that nourish her spirit and imagination.
It Could Have Been Me is her debut book and also the basis for her directorial debut — a short animated film of the same name, born out of grief and urgency as she witnessed the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. Though trained in healthcare, Lina turned to storytelling as a way to process,
respond, and amplify voices too often overlooked. She self-funded and independently produced the film, bringing together Palestinian artists across borders- one currently in Gaza and the other recently displaced - to tell the story with authenticity and heart.