anita heiss
Dr Anita Heiss is an internationally published, award-winning author of 25 books across genres. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central NSW, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the GO Foundation, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland.
Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. 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.
In 2023, Anita re-released her rom coms, plus her first children’s book Bidhi Galing (Big Rain) illustrated by Samantha Campbell, all through Simon & Schuster. Soon after she released an Audible Original titled Red Dust Running.
In 2023, she Anita also became Publisher at Large with Simon & Schuster, managing her own First Nations imprint, Bundyi Publishing.
Anita adapted her novel Tiddas for the stage and it premiered at the 2022 Brisbane Festival in partnership with La Boite theatre, and it was presented by Belvoir St as part of the Sydney Festival in 2024.
Anita has just signed contracts for three more books, one epic historical novel, and two commercial women's novels, due for release in 2025, 2026 and 2027.Her most recent romcom is RED DUST RUNNING (Simon & Schuster).
Anita loves chocolate, running and being a creative distruptor.
What is Anita looking for?
What is the minimum word-count your agency takes, or your publishing house requires?
Single title only (80k and upwards) or Category Length (45k-55k)
What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for?
Poetry.
Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see?
All fiction by First Nation authors
What genre is your personal favourite?
Historical Fiction.
What is your major turn-off in a book?
Shallow characters.
What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book?
Something innovative - a re-imagining of a classic through a First Nation lens.
Any advice to your potential pitchers? I am only taking pitches from First Nations authors for the Bundyi Imprint.
- Write your synopsis before we meet
- Know why you are writing the story (your purpose/inspiration)
- Who are you writing for?
- Who/what does your work compare with in the marketplace?
Get to know Anita...
All-time favourite book?
Current favourite book?
If your life was a romance novel, what would the title be?
Oh this is just too hard! But I've read The Bridges of Madison County three times :)
Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang
Living her best life!