Ambelin Kwaymullina

"You can't transform a society for the better with violence, Ashala. Only with ideas."

Ambelin Kwaymullina is an Aboriginal writer and illustrator from the Palyku people. The homeland of her people is located in the dry, vivid beauty of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Ambelin is the author/illustrator of many picture books as well as a number of Young Adult books. When not writing or illustrating, Ambelin teaches law and spends time with her family and her dogs.

What genres does Ambelin Kwaymullina write in?

She writes children's picture books and Young Adult fiction, and she also illustrates many of her picture books.

What series has she written and in what order should I read it?

She is the author of The Tribe trilogy — The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf is listed as Book 1 and The Foretelling of Georgie Spider as Book 3; the boxed set is also available. Read the trilogy in its numerical order (Book 1 through Book 3).

Where is a good place to start if I'm new to her work?

For younger readers start with her picture books such as The Two-Hearted Numbat or Benny Bungarra's Big Bush Clean-Up. For teen readers start with The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf (Tribe Book 1) or the award-winning Catching Teller Crow.

Has Ambelin Kwaymullina won any major awards for her writing?

Yes — Catching Teller Crow won the 2019 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, Young Adult category.

What themes does she commonly explore in her books?

Her work frequently draws on her Indigenous background (Palyku people) and the Pilbara landscape, exploring identity, connection to land and community, and broader social themes.