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Anita Heiss

Goodreads Author

Born

Sydney, Australia

Website

http://www.anitaheiss.com/index.html

Twitter

AnitaHeiss

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Nonfiction, Children's Books

Member Since

June 2012

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Dr Anita Heiss is a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales and is one of Australia's most prolific and well-known authors of Indigenous literature.

Her 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. Anita has also edited Life in Gadigal Country and co-edited with Penny van Toorn, Stories Without End.

In 2007 Anita released three titles: Not Meeting Mr Right (Random House) for which she won the Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature. Her poetry collection Dr Anita Heiss is a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central New South Wales and is one of Australia's most prolific and well-known authors of Indigenous literature.

Her 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. Anita has also edited Life in Gadigal Country and co-edited with Penny van Toorn, Stories Without End.

In 2007 Anita released three titles: Not Meeting Mr Right (Random House) for which she won the Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature. Her poetry collection I'm not racist, but... (Salt Publishing) won the Scanlon Prize for Indigenous Poetry and her kids' novel Yirra and her deadly dog Demon (ABC Books), was launched at the Sydney Writers' Festival by Her Excellency Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW.

In 2008 Anita released Avoiding Mr Right (Bantam Books) and The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature (Allen & Unwin) which she co-authored with Peter Minter. The Anthology won the 2008 Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature.

Anita has performed her works nationally (Sydney Writers' Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Adelaide Writers' Week, Melbourne Writers' Festival, Byron Bay Writers' Festival, Message Sticks, Brisbane Writers Festival, Somerset Festival of Literature, Watermark and Wordstorm, among others) as well as internationally in Spain, Austria, the USA, Canada, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, China, France, the UK, Tahiti and New Caledonia. She has also been published widely in journals, anthologies and on-line.

Anita was Communications Adviser for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board (2001-2003), was a member of the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Committee of Management from 1998-2004 and Chaired the organisation 2008-2009. Anita was Deputy Director of Warawara Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University from 2005-2006.
In 2003 in recognition of her literary achievements Anita was awarded the ASA Medal for Under 35s for her contribution to Australian community and public life.

In 2004 Anita was awarded the NSW Indigenous Arts Fellowship and was listed in The Bulletin magazine's 'Smart 100'. In the same year she wrote and directed her first short-film 'Checkerboard Love' as part of the Lester Bostock mentorship program through Metro Screen, Sydney. She was writer in residence at Macquarie University and was also nominated for a 2004 Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature.

Anita has 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.

Anita is currently working as a full-time writer and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney attached to the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education. Anita volunteers her time as a Books in Homes Ambassador and as an Indigenous Literacy Day Ambassador. She is currently a Board Member of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy community. ...more

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Anita Heiss’s books

Average rating: 3.76 · 2,611 ratings · 494 reviews · 26 distinct works • Similar authors

	Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia by Anita Heiss (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Evelyn Araluen (Contributor) , Bebe Backhouse (Contributor) 4.33 avg rating — 773 ratings — published 2018 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Am I Black Enough For You? 3.78 avg rating — 306 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tiddas 3.21 avg rating — 238 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms 3.64 avg rating — 217 ratings — published 2016 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Who Am I? The Diary Of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937 3.86 avg rating — 213 ratings — published 2001 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Manhattan Dreaming 3.29 avg rating — 163 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Not Meeting Mr Right 2.89 avg rating — 137 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Paris Dreaming 3.49 avg rating — 90 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Avoiding Mr Right 3.07 avg rating — 95 ratings — published 2008 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	I'm Not Racist, But ... 4.21 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Anita Heiss's Blog

Why I’ll be marching on January 26…

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It’s that time of year again when I feel incredibly tired and anxious. January 26 is only days away and my social media timelines are full of the angst the date brings to those who know, understand and embrace the true history of this country. At the same time, many others are in full swing ready to barbie and party in the name of ‘Australia Day’ (and it’s attached public holiday)....

Series by Anita Heiss

My Australian Story (1 book)
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Anita Heiss (Goodreads Author)

3.91 avg rating — 22 ratings

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Anita Heiss wrote a new blog post Why I’ll be marching on January 26… It’s that time of year again when I feel incredibly tired and anxious. January 26 is only days away and my social media timelines are full of the a... Read more of this blog post »
Jan 23, 2020 03:53AM · like
Anita wants to read Every Morning A Foot Is Looking For My Neck by Bonita Lee Penn	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 14, 2019 11:52PM · 8 likes · like
Anita and 8 other people liked Kathy's review of Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms: " Loving historical reads and the fact that Cowra is only a few hours from where I live, I have always had an interest in the Cowra Breakout and that time period. The love story of Mary & Hiroshi was slow and gradual and I just loved it. With M..." Read more of this review »
Mar 14, 2017 05:14PM · see review
Anita made a comment on 52 Weeks of Gratefulness: Week 42 – Having a sense of belonging " Carolyn wrote: "I wish that cleansing dance could be added to the treatment plan for every teenager with anxiety issues - what a blessing for them ...more "
Nov 14, 2016 01:47AM · see blog post
Anita rated a book it was amazing Comfort Food by Ellen Van Neerven	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 25, 2016 05:53PM · 3 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Comfort Food by Ellen Van Neerven. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Comfort Food by Ellen Van Neerven <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Anita answered a question about The Intervention: Do any readers notice that none of the contributors are people "on the ground" as the author says. I was chief executive officer of the remote community Kintore the day the army and the government officials rolled in. I have never been contacted for a contribution nor do I see any names of people from Kintore. Plenty of academics and people from the east coast but none from the remote communities directly effected? Hello Unreconstructed, There are 13 statements from grassroots NT people or Aborigninal communities impacted on by the Intervention spread throughout the book. The ‘concerned Australians' publications (http://www.concernedaustralians.com.a...) addi... See Full Answer
Aug 22, 2016 01:14AM · 1 like · like
Anita and 9 other people liked Nat's review of Who Am I? The Diary Of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937: " I came across this book because of my yearly aussie author challenge, and what a delight it was. Who Am I? The Diary Of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937 is written with a target audience of young teens and adults, but I soon find myself immersed into Mar..." Read more of this review »
Jul 23, 2016 02:26AM · see review
Anita is now following Lisa Heidke Author of Stella Makes Good
Dec 29, 2015 06:17PM · 2 likes · like
Anita rated a book it was amazing Back Burning by Sylvia Petter (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 26, 2015 11:54PM · 1 like · like
Anita rated a book it was amazing Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 26, 2015 11:53PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Whiskey & Charlie by Annabel Smith <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Anita Heiss

“How can you possibly be an agent of positive change in the world when you are full of bitterness and hatred?”
― Anita Heiss, Am I Black Enough For You?

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“Who do we know in Canberra who wears a suit?’ Libby asked. ‘More importantly, who looks good?’ I asked. ‘Stephen Smith,’ Libby offered. ‘Wayne Swan,’ Denise countered. ‘Peter Garrett?’ Libby asked ‘Greg Combet, most definitely,’ I insisted. ‘Julia Gillard,’ Libby said adamantly. Both Denise and I looked at her strangely. ‘What? Seriously, she wears a suit better than any of those guys. Especially that purple one she has.”
― Anita Heiss, Manhattan Dreaming

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“When I met Oodgeroo, I met my mother: not just Dossie’s poise, eyes and Lindt-like skin, but the funny-bugger with a steak knife, buried, a serrated intensity that unsettled me—a boy of elocution lessons and an easier ride, 25 a man of lighter brown travelling, whose tab of overt intolerance came in at insults and one lost girlfriend. I wasn’t there when indignity did its daily round—rarely blunt, rather, a pointed 30 needling that cut near the core, left wounds that broke their stitches every morning I did know that the sharp steel about Oodgeroo was also about my mother. On campus—”
― Anita Heiss, Anthology of Australian Aboriginal Literature

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Polls

What should be our October Read Around the World book (Oceania)?

Am I Black Enough For You? by Anita Heiss (Australia)

13 votes 37.1%

Terra Nullius by Claire G. Coleman (Australia)

9 votes 25.7%

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (Australia)

7 votes 20.0%

Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic (Australia)

6 votes 17.1%

35 total votes

2 comments

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