person or book cover
Note: Photo courtesy of Fremantle Press.
Ambelin Kwaymullina Ambelin Kwaymullina i(A109528 works by)
Gender: Female
Heritage: Aboriginal ; Aboriginal Palku / Palyku
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Works By

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1 1 y separately published work icon Liar’s Test Ambelin Kwaymullina , Melbourne : Text Publishing , 2024 27476485 2024 single work novel young adult fantasy

'Seven will come. Two will die. Two will sleep. Two will serve. One will rule.

'I didn’t want to rule the Risen. Wreak a little havoc upon them, though? That was something else entirely.

'Bell Silverleaf is a liar.

'It’s how she’s survived. It’s how all Treesingers have survived since they were invaded by the Risen and their fickle gods. But now Bell is in the Queen’s Test—she’s one of seven girls competing in deadly challenges to determine who will rule for the next twenty-five years. If Bell wins, she’ll have the power to help her people and take revenge on the Risen. But first she has to make it through the challenges alive.

'She doesn’t know how much she’s been lied to, or where she fits in a bigger story, a mystery stretching back generations. And she’s facing much bigger dangers than the Queen’s Test. She’s up against the gods themselves.

'Liar’s Test is a fast-paced, intricately woven fantasy novel with an unforgettable heroine inspired by the strength and power of Aboriginal women.' (Publication summary)

1 Indigenist Futurisms i "Indigenist futurisms", Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2023 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Routledge Handbook of Australian Indigenous Peoples and Futures 2023; (p. xxiii-xxiv)
1 y separately published work icon Bush Dance : A Treasury of Stories Sally Morgan , Glebe : Little Hare Books , 2022 25160555 2022 selected work children's fiction 'In this collection of four vibrant books, Sally Morgan celebrates Australian animals and the habitats in which they live. From dingos to galahs, children can watch, learn, listen and count and experience the beauty of country in this magnificent treasury. This stunning hardback edition includes The Last Dance and Where is Galah?, illustrated by Sally Morgan alongside Joey Counts to Ten and Bush Bash, illustrated by Ambelin Kwaymullina.' 

 (Publication summary)

1 Fifteen Days On Mars Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2022 single work short story
— Appears in: Unlimited Futures 2022; (p. 42)
1 Investigating the Publication of OwnVoices Australian Picture Books in 2018 Emily Booth , Ambelin Kwaymullina , Rebecca Lim , 2021 single work criticism
— Appears in: Publishing Research Quarterly , March vol. 37 no. 1 2021; (p. 27–40)

'This paper discusses findings from the first OwnVoices count of Australian picture books, as part of a grant-funded partnership with advocacy group Voices from the Intersection (VFTI). The research involved the compilation of a detailed annotated list of all Australian picture books published in 2018; the identities of the characters; and demographic information of authors and illustrators, sourced from publicly available resources where creators freely self-identified as belonging to structurally marginalised communities. A book’s OwnVoices status was determined from this information. Findings indicate OwnVoices picture books are significantly under-published in Australia, and contribute a greater understanding of the level of equity and access in the contemporary Australian publishing industry.' (Publication abstract)

1 y separately published work icon Billie and the Blue Bike Ambelin Kwaymullina , Ambelin Kwaymullina (illustrator), Broome : Magabala Books , 2021 20765355 2021 single work picture book children's

'Billie wants the blue bike and she asks her Mum to buy it for her - but her Mum has no money to spend on a bike. She asks Uncle Jack and he won't give her the money either, but he will help her save up to buy the bike herself. She can work for him for $10 per week for 10 weeks to save the $100 for the bike. But Billie is impatient, and she tries washing cars and even enters her dog Spike in a dog contest - neither of which works out. She eventually she goes back to Uncle Jack and saves the money in 10 weeks - and she is able to purchase the bike!

'Billie and the Blue Bike is a fun and engaging way to introduce young children to financial literacy knowledge, and is written for Indigenous children in particular. This brightly illustrated and instructive picture book, written and illustrated by the award-winning Ambelin Kwaymullina, has been designed to include financial literacy learning relevant to students at a Year 2 level. 

'Billie and the Blue Bike references the National Consumer Financial Literacy Framework, which sets out three dimensions of learning that underpin consumer and financial education: knowledge and understanding; competence; and responsibility and enterprise. Teachers and parents can use the book as a resource to help children understand core financial literacy matters through storytelling.'

Source : publication summary

1 Time i "Linear time", Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2020 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Saturday Paper , 24-30 October 2020;
1 1 y separately published work icon I Want To Be A Superhero Breanna Humes , Ambelin Kwaymullina (illustrator), Broome : Magabala Books , 2020 20273089 2020 single work picture book children's

'Beautifully told and illustrated story of Breanna, who wants to be a superhero. She asks family and friends if she can become a superhero by wishing upon a shooting star. She tries but it doesn't work. Breanna is finally happy with the idea of working hard and becoming a superhero doctor, lawyer, engineer or vet. But she still wants to fly!' (Publication summary)

1 Message from Ngurra Palya Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2020 single work short story
— Appears in: After Australia 2020; (p. 237-250)
1 15 y separately published work icon Living on Stolen Land Ambelin Kwaymullina , Broome : Magabala Books , 2020 19537773 2020 selected work poetry prose

'Living on Stolen Land is a prose-styled look at our colonial-settler 'present'. This book is the first of its kind to address and educate a broad audience about the colonial contextual history of Australia, in a highly original way. It pulls apart the myths at the heart of our nationhood, and challenges Australia to come to terms with its own past and its place within and on 'Indigenous Countries'. 

'This title speaks to many First Nations' truths - stolen lands, sovereignties, time, decolonisation, First Nations perspectives, systemic bias and other constructs that inform our present discussions and ever-expanding understanding. This title is a timely, thought-provoking and accessible read.' (Publication summary)

1 y separately published work icon Girls Can Fly Sally Morgan , Ambelin Kwaymullina , Broome : Magabala Books , 2020 18588398 2020 single work prose

'Girls can do anything
Who says girls can't fly?
Stretch out your arms
Aim for your dreams 
Believe in your wings 
Breathe in the sky
Fly high

'Who says girls can't fly? 

'Girls Can Fly is an inspirational, young teen book from award-winning Aboriginal writer and artist Sally Morgan and her equally talented daughter Ambelin. Together they have written short, poignant sayings full of advice that comes from their life experiences. Mother and daughter have written a beautiful, thoughtful and inspiring book. An early draft of the manuscript was given to the participants of the Kimberley and Pilbara Girls program and their feedback and suggestions were taken in. An acknowledgement, information about and photographs of the girls are featured at the back of the book.'  (Publication summary)

1 Respect, Relationships, Renewal : Aboriginal Perspectives on the Worlds of Tomorrow Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2019 single work essay
— Appears in: Westerly , vol. 64 no. 1 2019; (p. 121-134)
'I am an author of Indigenous Futurisms, a phrase coined by Aninishaabe academic Grace Dillon to describe a form of storytelling whereby Indigenous authors use the speculative fiction genre to challenge colonialism and imagine Indigenous futures (1–3). Indigenous Futurisms present both challenges and opportunities for Indigenous storytellers as we speak our truths to the settler-states—and the settler literacies—that were created out of, and continue to benefit from, our dispossession.' (Introduction)
1 Literature, Resistance, and First Nations Futures : Storytelling from an Australian Indigenous Women’s Standpoint in the Twenty-first Century and Beyond Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2018 single work criticism
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 63 no. 2 2018; (p. 140-153)

'Narrative has long played a significant role in the rich First Nations
cultures of the earth, including the culture of my people, the Palyku. But in
the wake of colonialism, storytelling from an Indigenous standpoint can
be a complex task. This paper explores Indigenous standpoint theory and
examines the considerations and contexts that affect my work as a First
Nations storyteller who writes speculative fiction stories for young adults.'

Source: Abstract.

1 Introduction Rebecca Lim , Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2018 single work essay
— Appears in: Meet Me at the Intersection 2018;

'This is a book of `Own Voices'* stories — stories about marginalised peoples told by people from those marginalised groups. The genesis of this collection was conversations across 2015 and 2016 where the two of us shared our frustration at the massive under-representation of diverse Australian voices in children's and young adult (YA) literature and the lack of a formal movement in Australia to focus attention on, and tackle, systemic bias — or what we like to call problems with the filter. '  (Introduction)

4 7 y separately published work icon Catching Teller Crow Ambelin Kwaymullina , Ezekiel Kwaymullina , Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2018 14072595 2018 single work novel young adult

'Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since she died. Her dad, a detective, is the only one who can see and hear her—and he's drowning in grief. But now they have a mystery to solve together. As it unravels, Beth finds a shocking story lurking beneath the surface of a small town, and a friendship that lasts beyond one life and into another. Told in two unforgettable voices, this gripping novel weaves together themes of grief, colonial history, violence, love and family.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 4 y separately published work icon Meet Me at the Intersection Ambelin Kwaymullina (editor), Rebecca Lim (editor), Fremantle : Fremantle Press , 2018 13558740 2018 anthology short story autobiography poetry

'Meet Me at the Intersection is an anthology of short fiction, memoir and poetry by authors who are First Nations, People of Colour, LGBTIQA+ or living with disability. The focus of the anthology is on Australian life as seen through each author’s unique, and seldom heard, perspective.

'With works by Ellen van Neerven, Graham Akhurst, Kyle Lynch, Ezekiel Kwaymullina, Olivia Muscat, Mimi Lee, Jessica Walton, Kelly Gardiner, Rafeif Ismail, Yvette Walker, Amra Pajalic, Melanie Rodriga, Omar Sakr, Wendy Chen, Jordi Kerr, Rebecca Lim, Michelle Aung Thin and Alice Pung, this anthology is designed to challenge the dominant, homogenous story of privilege and power that rarely admits ‘outsider’ voices.'  (Publication summary)

1 Growing up, Grow up, Grown-Ups Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2018 single work life story
— Appears in: Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia 2018; (p. 136-137)

'My people are the Palyku and we are born of the red dirt, purple hills and blue skies of the Pilbara. But I grew up amongst the tuart trees and winding rivers of Whadjuk Noongar country in the south-west of Western Australia. The arrival of my branch of the family in Perth was the result of a journey undertaken by my great-grandmother that was not her choice. Like so many others, she was a member of the Stolen Generations, as was my grandmother after her.' (Introduction)

1 y separately published work icon Benny Bungarra’s Big Bush Clean-Up Sally Morgan , Ambelin Kwaymullina (illustrator), Broome : Magabala Books , 2018 12958140 2018 single work picture book children's

'An environmental tale for Early Childhood and Lower Primary readers that shows how animals are affected by rubbish left in their habitat by humans. Ambelin Kwaymullina’s illustrations are an explosion of colour and cleverly show the perils faced by our native animals.

'When the animals work as a team to come up with ways to look after the bush, they decide to ask the humans to REDUCE, RECYCLE and use RUBBISH BINS. But it is Benny Bungarra who has the bright idea of a BIG BUSH CLEAN-UP so the animals can also help look after the bush.' (Publication summary)

1 Reflecting on Indigenous Worlds, Indigenous Futurisms and Artificial Intelligence Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2018 single work essay
— Appears in: Mother of Invention 2018; (p. 177-186)

'I am a Palyku author of Indigenous Futurisms, a term coined by Anishinaabe academic Grace Dillon to describe a form of storytelling whereby Indigenous peoples use the speculative fiction genre to challenge colonialism and imagine Indigenous futures. Indigenous Futurist writers draw from worldviews shaped by our ancient cultures, from our inheritance of the multigenerational trauma of colonialism, and from the sophisticated understandings of systems of oppression that are part of the knowledge base of all oppressed peoples. Because of this, we share similarities that shape our works and provide a fruitful base for cross-textual analysis. But because we are many individuals from many Indigenous nations, each with our own homelands, cultures, and identities, there is also great diversity between us all. As such, my viewpoint is one among many Indigenous viewpoints.' (Introduction)

1 The Creators of the Future: Women, Law and Telling Stories in Country Ambelin Kwaymullina , 2017 single work biography
— Appears in: Us Women, Our Ways, Our World 2017;
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