Image description: Dark blue sketch of a pineapple laying on its side, with dark blue text above it that reads ‘Queensland Literary Awards finalist’ on a yellow background.

‘Exactly As I Am’ shortlisted for the Qld Literary Awards!

HUGE NEWS! ‘Exactly As I Am’ has been shortlisted for the Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection at this year’s Queensland Literary Awards! 

Big congrats to my fellow shortlistees Michael Farrell, Lionel Fogarty, Autumn Royal, and Simon Tedeschi. And thank you so much to judges Ellen van Neerven, Pam Brown and Toby Fitch!

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 6 September 2023. 

Judges’ comments:

‘Exactly As I Am is an experimental yet accessible exploration of genderqueer politics – Rae White’s fluid use of form skewers the language of conservative politics, authority, and work. Intricate connections and difficulties of identity are performed as vibrant poetry in this tough and vulnerable, joyfully nonconformist account of non-binary living. ’

Grab a copy of ‘Exactly As I Am’ on the UQP website.

Image description: Dark blue sketch of a pineapple laying on its side, with dark blue text above it that reads ‘Queensland Literary Awards finalist’ on a yellow background.
Image description: Front cover of Australian Poetry Anthology. The cover features an abstract art piece of a koala-like creature sitting on top of a white house, with a gold sheep-like creature beside them. These three are on an island surrounded by dark water, with a gold yellow sky in the background.

Australia Poetry Anthology

I recently had the pleasure of guest editing Australian Poetry Anthology Volume 10, 2023 alongside Peter Boyle. I am so immensely proud of the poems we chose and I can’t wait for you to read them.

I’m also honoured to be continuing my work with Australian Poetry as a member of their Board of Directors. I’ve always admired AP’s strong poetic vision and I’m excited to work with them to develop and showcase what poetry can be and do in Australia.

(Cover artwork by Michelle Leber.)

It’s Exactly As I Am’s first birthday!

This month is Exactly As I Am’s first birthday! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who bought, borrowed and read this book over the past year. And thank you to all the excellent folk who interviewed me about it and asked me to read poems from it. 

I hope Exactly As I Am continues to reach wonderful readers, especially those who need it most. 

This past year has been a particularly dark, transphobic time for my community. I hope to combat that as much as I can, by continuing to write and publish books that uplift, embrace and nurture my trans, non-binary and gender diverse siblings 💖🏳️‍⚧️

(Awesome image tiles thanks to my publisher UQP.)

Pride at Play this Saturday

My Bitsy game ‘stand up’ is part of the Official Selection at Pride at Play, an exhibition that celebrates thoughtful queer games. Pride at Play is being held until 24 June 2023 at Carlisle Street Arts Space, St Kilda Town Hall, Melbourne.

This Saturday 17 June in Melbourne, I’ll be taking part in two awesome in-person events, kicking off from 1pm!

Readings @ Pride at Play will feature readings from Al Gallagher, Briar Rolfe, Jini Maxwell, Josie/Jocelyn Deane, Mohamed Chamas, and myself.

While the Queer Gamedev Talks: Personal Queer Games Panel will feature Logan Timmins, Elliot Herriman, Luke Millar and myself, alongside moderator Jae Stuart, discussing the creation of personal queer games and our works.

Looking forward to seeing you there!