Anita Heiss

"Novels are a great way of teaching and challenging audiences by hooking them through entertainment."

We are very fortunate at Booktopia to have interviewed Anita twice – read Anita's answers to our Ten Terrifying Questions here and her answers to our Five Facetious Questions here.

Dr Anita Heiss is an award-winning author of non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction, children’s novels and blogs. She is a proud member of the Wiradjuri Nation of central New South Wales, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, the GO Foundation and Worawa Aboriginal College.

Anita is a board member of University of Queensland Press and Circa Contemporary Circus, and is a Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland. As artist in residence at La Boite Theatre in 2020, Anita began adapting her novel Tiddas (S&S, 2014) for the stage.

Her novel Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms (S&S, 2016), set in Cowra during World War II, was the 2020 University of Canberra Book of the Year.

Anita enjoys eating chocolate, running and being a “creative disruptor”.

What genres does Anita Heiss write in?

She writes across nonfiction, historical fiction, commercial women's fiction, children's novels and also publishes blogs.

Which book is a good place to start with her work?

It depends on your interest: try the novel Tiddas for contemporary women's fiction, Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms for historical fiction, or Am I Black Enough For You? 10 Years On / Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia for non-fiction on Indigenous experiences.

Does Anita Heiss have any award-winning books?

Yes. She is described as an award-winning author, and her novel Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms was the 2020 University of Canberra Book of the Year.

Are her books part of a series or mostly standalone?

Most of her novels and non-fiction works are standalone. She has also contributed to anthologies and edited or curated collections associated with Indigenous writing.

What themes does Anita Heiss commonly explore in her writing?

Her work often explores Indigenous identity and Wiradjuri heritage, history (including wartime settings), family and community, and contemporary women's lives. She also uses fiction to teach and challenge readers.