Anita Heiss (Wiradyuri Nation) is an internationally published, award-winning author of over 20 books across genres, including historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction and novels for children. Her best-selling novel Tiddas was adapted for the stage and premiered at the Brisbane Festival in 2022 and the Sydney Festival in 2024.

Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Red Dust Running.

Her novel Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms was shortlisted for the QLD Literary Awards, longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was the University of Canberra 2020 Book of the Year. Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray won the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Prize for Indigenous Writing, was shortlisted for the 2021 HNSA ARA Historical Novel (Adult Category) and the 2022 ABIA Awards, and longlisted for the 2022 Stella Prize.

Anita’s children’s literature includes Who Am I? the diary of Mary Talence, Our Race for Reconciliation, Harry’s Secret, Matty’s Comeback, Koori Princess and Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Micheal O’Loughlin. She also wrote two kid's novels with students from La Perouse Public School - Yirra and Her Deadly Dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard. And in 2023 she released Bidhi Galing (Big Rain) illustrated by Samantha Campbell.

Her latest books are Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) about the Bathurst War of 1824, and The Paradise Pact.

Anita is a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD, and she loves chocolate, running and being a creative disruptor.