The Black and Bright Festival is a literary festival dedicated to the diverse expressions of First Nations storytelling.

Established in 2016 this four-day festival is based in Naarm (Melbourne) and covers all genres from oral stories, novels, to plays and poetry. 

With over 60 first nations artists set to appear at the upcoming festival between 14 and 17 March 2024, it is sure to be a fabulous celebration of black stories. 

And in honour of this premier cultural event, I spoke with Julie Janson.

Julie is a Darug woman of the Burruberongal Clan.  

A playwright, poet and novelist, Julie’s 2022 novel, 'Madukka the River Serpent', an Indigenous crime novel, was long listed for the Miles Franklin Award. 

Julie was also a recipient of the Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize 2016 and the Judith Wright Poetry Prize 2019. 

Julie’s historical novel 'Benevolence' was published by Magabala Books in 2020  and published in the US and UK in 2022. 

'Compassion' is the follow-up novel to 'Benevolence' and has just been released by Magabala. 

I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Julie about her work on the podcast recently.