Anita Heiss writes non-fiction, commercial women's fiction, children's literature and poetry. She is a fierce advocate and is known for her social commentary. A proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of central NSW, Anita is also a Lifetime Ambassador of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, an Advocate for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, an Ambassador of Worowa Aboriginal College, and an Adjunct Professor with Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at UTS.

Anita's literary career kicked of with Sacred Cows (1995). Since then, her non-fiction works include writing Am I Black Enough for You? (2012) and editing the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature (2008). She has published six novels, including Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms (2016), which was shortlisted for the Indigenous Writers Prize in the 2017 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, as well as Tiddas (2014), Paris Dreaming (2011), Manhattan Dreaming (2010), Avoiding Mr Right (2008) and Not Meeting Mr Right (2007).

Anita also published a poetry collection, I'm Not Racist, But... (2007), as well as the children's books Yirra and her Deadly Dog, Demon (2007) and Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney, 1937 (2001). Anita's also published two football inspired works, Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic (2016) and Matty's Comeback (2016).

In 2018 Anita edited the Black Inc anthology Growing Up Aboriginal In Australia .

About The Garret

The Garret is committed to accessibility and education. The transcript and interactive show notes of Anita's interview are available at www.thegarretpodcast.com/anita-heiss.