Anita Heiss

About me:

I'm a member of the mighty Wiradjuri nation, born in Gadigal country, and have lived most of my life on Dharawal land. I am sometimes referred to as the concrete Koori with Westfield Dreaming... I have been categorised as an author, poet, social commentator, cultural activist, academic and Pacific palm swayer. My friends tell me I'm fun, feisty, sassy, serious, political, passionate, impatient, analytical, generous, naughty, witty, IT illiterate, a workaholic, a believer in love at first sight, a beach-goer and an impulsive shopper. My published works include the historical novel ‘Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937’, the poetry collection ‘Token Koori’, satirical social commentary ‘Sacred Cows’, non-fiction text ‘Dhuuluu-Yala (To Talk Straight) – Publishing Aboriginal Literature’, and a children’s book entitled Me and My Mum. I have also edited editions of ‘Southerly’, ‘Five Bells’ and the anthology ‘Life in Gadigal Country’. In 2007 I released three titles: ‘Not Meeting Mr Right’ (Random House) for which I won the Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature. My poetry collection ‘I’m not racist, but… ‘(Salt Publishing) won the Scanlon Prize for Indigenous Poetry and the kids novel ‘Yirra and My deadly dog Demon’ (ABC Books), was launched at the 2007 Sydney Writers Festival by My Excellency Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW. In 2008, I co-edited with Peter Minter, ‘The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature’, which showcases 81 different Aboriginal writers, playwrights, storytellers, poets, songwriters and leaders. My most recent title is ‘Avoiding Mr Right’ (Random House, 2008).

I have performed my works nationally (Sydney Writers’ Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Adelaide Writers’ Week, Byron Bay Writers’ Festival, Message Sticks, Brisbane Writers Festival, Somerset Festival of Literature, Watermark, and Wordstorm, among others) and internationally in Spain, Austria, the USA, Canada, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, China, Tahiti, France, the UK and New Caledonia. I have also been published widely in journals, anthologies and on-line. I was Communications Adviser for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board (2001-2003), and a member of the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Committee of Management from 1998-2004. I was Deputy Director of Warawara Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University from 2005-2006. In 2003, I was awarded the ASA Medal for Under 35s. In 2004 I was awarded the NSW Indigenous Arts Fellowship and was listed in The Bulletin magazine’s “Smart 100” (or as I like to say, the ‘Smart Arse’ 100). I was also nominated for a 2004 Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature. In 2004, I wrote and directed my first short-film “Checkerboard Love” as part of the Lester Bostock mentorship program through Metro Screen, Sydney. I was also writer in residence at Macquarie University.

My work often focusses on aspects of shared 'Australian history' like the Stolen Generations (everything post-invasion is 'AUSTRALIAN HISTORY': ie Australian governments formulated policies of protection and assimilation and endorsed segregation). One of my goals when writing is to break down stereotypes related to who we are as Aboriginal people in the 21st century, and therefore much of my work is based on my own life experiences as an urban Aboriginal woman living in Sydney. My non-fiction writing in texts like 'Dhuuluu Yala: publishing Aboriginal Litearture' (Aboriginal Studies Press, 2003), considers the roles and responsibilities of Aboriginal literature in documenting stories while providing a voice for our people (in lieu of any real political platform in this country). I have published in the genres of: historical fiction, non-fiction, children's fiction, chicklit, poetry and social commentary. I have made guest appearances on the Einstein Factor, Message Stick, Vulture, Critical Mass, A Difference of Opinion, The Catch up and 9am with David and Kim. I am currently the Coordinator of the AustLit - Black Words subset and Chair of the Australian Society of Authors. For more information go to: www.anitaheiss.com