black&write! 2025 shortlist announcement

We are so excited to announce the 2025 black&write! writing fellowship shortlist.

black&write! is a groundbreaking national project dedicated to nurturing and empowering First Nations writers and editors through their prestigious Indigenous writing fellowships and editing internships. As innovators in Australia, black&write! have fostered meaningful collaborations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and editors since 2011.

A huge congratulations to these six First Nations authors shortlisted for the 2025 black&write! writing fellowships:

Joyrah Sebasio (QLD) for Letters to Live By

Joyrah Sebasio is a Bamaga woman who loves writing in Kala Lagaw Ya with her cultural parents Ama Matilda Bani, Awa Brian Whap and Nanu Kuthayg Sani Tamwoy. Joyrah’s existence and Creation stories are woven into Kala Lagaw Ya from Panay & Maydh on Mabuyag and Badu in Zenadth Kes. Joyrah is a young poet led by the footsteps of other renowned poets, authors, songwriters and knowledge holders from Injinoo, Cape York, and Tamwoy Town, Waibene.

Letters to Live By is a poetry collection.

Angelina Hurley (QLD) for Black Beatles

Angelina Hurley is a First Nations academic and creative writer who works in Indigenous Arts and Education. She has held key research roles as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Griffith University’s Creative Arts Research Institute, and currently is a Research Fellow at RMIT. A Fulbright Indigenous Scholar at NYU, her doctoral work Reconciliation Rescue: Blak Comedy and Aboriginal Cultural Perspectives on Humour focuses on Aboriginal humour, storytelling, and fostering understanding through creative and cultural practices.

Black Beatles is an adult novel.

K.A Ren Wyld (SA) for Whichway Shimmering Dust

K.A Ren Wyld is an author of Martu descent who lives by the sea on Kaurna Yerta. Ren has written narrative nonfiction, short stories, children’s nonfiction, and poetry. They co-edited the 2024 anthology The Rocks Remain: Blak Poetry and Story. Their novel Where the Fruit Falls won the 2020 Dorothy Hewett Award. Other literary awards include 2024 SA Literary First Nations Fellowship and 2022 Tangkanungku Pintyanthi Literature Fellowship.

Whichway Shimmering Dust' is an adult novel.

Scott Wilson (WA) for Dampa for Grampa

Scott Wilson is a proud Gooniyandi man from Muladja community and Gajerrong man from Kununurra, raised on Yawuru/Djugun Country in Broome, Western Australia. Scott is currently the co-founder and managing director of three visionary companies, one of which is the INDIGIVERSE, Australia’s first First Nations superhero comic and educational platform. Recently, he became the first First Nations creator to be featured as a VIP guest at major comic conventions across Australia. Scott continues to break new ground, sharing his culture and creativity with audiences nationwide and beyond.

Dampa for Grampa is a children's book.

Marilyn (Marly) Hooper (QLD) for Moodu-gutta Will Get Ya

Marilyn ‘Marly’ Hooper is a proud Kooma/Kunja woman from Cunnamulla, Southwest Queensland. She works at Leichhardt State School as Indigenous Community Coordinator. Marly is passionate about art, culture, and language, and is instrumental in introducing local Language into local schools. Her children’s book ‘Moodu-gutta Will Get Ya’ celebrates water and cultural teachings, inspired by joyful memories with her grandmothers and family. Marly’s work reflects her deep love for culture and strong matriarchal traditions.

Moodu-gutta Will Get Ya is a children's book.

Mariah Sweetman (QLD)for Black and White

Mariah Sweetman is a proud descendant of the Ugarapul people, living and creating on Gubbi Gubbi land with her family. She loves to create with words and paint and she’s been telling stories since childhood. Mariah is passionate about people, young and old, engaging with Indigenous histories and stories.

Black and White is an adult fiction novel.

The announcement of the two winners will take place in a special ceremony on 20 May at State Library Queensland. If you'd like to come celebrate with us, book your free ticket here.