Jamal Ouariachi (b. 1978) studied psychology and spent years working as an online therapist. He made his literary debut in 2010 with the novel De vernietiging van Prosper Morèl (The Destruction of Prosper Morèl). Since then he has written controversial stories, articles and columns for a range of leading publications including nrc.next, HP/De Tijd, de Volkskrant, Knack Focus and Vogue.
His second novel Tenderness has earned him nominations for the BNG Literatuurprijs and the Gouden Uil. He has followed it up with 25, one third of a Dutch literary trilogy written in response to Fifty Shades of Grey.