Thirty writers have been selected from the thousands who entered the to have their submissions published in an anthology by Hardie Grant.
The collection, which will be published in 2022, will feature the work of writers from across Australia.
This anthology follows the publication of which featured the top 30 entries from the inaugural 2020 SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition.
Pam Brewster, publisher at Hardie Grant Books, says: “We are thrilled to again be working with and publishing 30 amazing new SBS emerging writers and sharing their stories with the wider world.”
We are thrilled to again be working with and publishing 30 amazing new SBS emerging writers and sharing their stories with the wider world.
The stories, written in response to the theme Between Two Worlds, feature perspectives that often remain hidden from view. Authors will include the ; Cat Yen, Arky Michael, Maya Hodge, Maya Skidmore and Miranda Jakich.
The other featured writers include: Cindy Wang, Arani Ahmed, Tahnee Carter, Nancy Huang, Iris Huizinga, Renee Paarman, Yasaman Bagheri, Antonia Gage, Raqiya Ahmed, Josh Burrows, Ahona Guha, Catherine Aoll, Natalia Figueroa Barroso, Vivienne Davies, Chloe Mark, Angela Yan, Suri Chan, Irihpeti Waretini, Jaquim Duggan, Reanne Chidiac, Samala Cronin, Anuradha Alahakoon, Rawan Altinawi, Nasim Patel and Mahnaz Angury.
Competition winner Cat Yen’s story ‘’ is her . Her story, inspired by a breakup, delves into her experience of moving between cultures and classes.
Maya Hodge’s ‘’ is a warm tribute to her Country and ancestors, while Arky Michael’s ‘’ is a tense and emotional retelling of taking his elderly father home to Cyprus. Highly commended prize-winners and both weave generations of family history into their stories, reflecting on grief and the ties that bind us.
Competition entrant Ahona Guha was thrilled to have her work selected as part of the anthology. "I think I may have squealed," she said.
Guha says that she was drawn to enter the SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition as someone “who has always felt torn between various places and ways of being.” She says that writing her story allowed her to explore and process that experience through writing.
Arani Ahmed, whose work will also appear in the anthology, feels similarly.
“I’ve grappled with the concept of being 'between two worlds' for many years…I wanted to have a go at getting some of that on the page,” they said.
Ahmed didn’t expect that their story would resonate with others. Speaking about finding out that their work will appear in the anthology they say, “When I first saw it, it took a minute to sink in. I actually thought it was a mistake.”
Ahmed wasn't the only one who couldn't believe the news. Renee Paarman, whose story will also appear in the anthology says she thought she'd forgotten how to read.
"I had to get my parents to read it to make sure it was correct. Then, there may have been a lot of hugs, some woops of delight and many more announcements to family and friends."
Paarman's story was inspired by wanting to read more about the everyday experiences of those with disabilities.
"I compiled a list of experiences I have all too often and then chucked them in a blender. My piece is somehow the result," she said.
SBS Emerging Writers' Competition organisers Natalie Hambly and Danielle Teutsch said the calibre of entries this year was outstanding.
"We look forward to seeing the names of these 30 talented writers in print. For many of them, it's will be their first ever published piece,'' they said.
"The competition is all about unearthing new talent and giving writers a platform for their work, and the anthology partnership with Hardie Grant is an important part of that."
The 2021 SBS Emerging Writers’ Competition anthology will be published by Hardie Grant in 2022.
