Anita Heiss talks about the writing craft and process behind her novel Dirrayawadha.  

Anita shares her insights about weaving research, backstory and Wiradyuri language into the narrative, emphasising the importance of authors trusting themselves and their stories. 

We discuss Anita’s meticulous planning when it comes to her novels, which involves chapter breakdowns, character profiles, and using butcher's paper to keep organised. She talks about the importance of pre-manuscript consultations, sensitivity reads, and the editorial process with her First Nations editor, Grace Lucas-Pennington. 

Anita highlights the necessity for writers to remove themselves from their work to avoid burnout and gain a fresh perspective, as well as tips for keeping your writing authentic and managing the emotional labour of tackling heavy historical content.

ABOUT DIRRAYAWADHA

'Dirrayawadha is full of heart and hope, truth-telling and history – and shimmers with language too' Guardian

'A story from the past given vivid life for new understanding’ Kate Grenville

Bathurst, 1820s

Miinaa was a young girl when the white ghosts first arrived. She remembers the day they raised a piece of cloth and renamed her homeland 'Bathurst'. Now she lives at Cloverdale and works for a white family who have settled there.

The Nugents are kind, but Miinaa misses her miyagan. His brother, Windradyne, is a Wiradyuri leader, and visits when he can, bringing news of unrest across their ngurambang. Miinaa hopes the violence will not come to Cloverdale.

When Irish convict Daniel O'Dwyer arrives at the settlement, Miinaa's life is transformed again. The pair are magnetically drawn to each other and begin meeting at the bila in secret. Dan understands how it feels to be displaced, but they still have a lot to learn about each other. Can their love survive their differences and the turmoil that threatens to destroy everything around them?

From the bestselling author of Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) comes another groundbreaking historical novel about resistance, resilience and love during the frontier wars.

ABOUT DR ANITA HEISS

Dr Anita Heiss is an internationally published, award-winning author of 23 books; non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction and children’s novels. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central New South Wales, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the GO Foundation, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland. Anita is also the Publisher at Large of Bundyi, an imprint of Simon & Schuster cultivating First Nations talent, and a board member of the National Justice Project and Circa Contemporary Circus. As an artist in residence at La Boite Theatre, she adapted her novel Tiddas for the stage. It premiered at the 2022 Brisbane Festival and was produced by Belvoir St for the Sydney Festival in 2024. Her novel, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, about the Great Flood of Gundagai, won the 2022 NSW Premier’s Indigenous Writers' Prize and was shortlisted for the 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize and the 2022 ABIA Awards. Anita’s first children’s picture book is Bidhi Galing (Big Rain), also about the Great Flood of Gundagai. Anita enjoys running, eating chocolate and being a creative disruptor.

Website: https://www.anitaheiss.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dranitaheiss/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnitaHeissAuthor/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anitaheiss

Buy Dirrayawadha by Anita Heiss here.

REFERENCES MENTIONED BY ANITA HEISS

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Anita Heiss interview with Richard Fidler on ABC Conversations

Bundyi Imprint (a division of Simon & Schuster) - A First Nations Imprint

Buy The Too-Tall Tales of Alma T. Best by Katherine Collette here.

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This podcast is recorded on the beautiful, unceded lands of the Garigal people of the Eora nation.

Full show notes available at writersbookclubpodcast.com