Photo By Jen Dainer, Industrial Arc
Photo By Jen Dainer, Industrial Arc
Claire G. Coleman is a Noongar woman whose family have belonged to the south coast of Western Australia since long before history started being recorded. She writes fiction, essays, poetry and art criticism while either living in Naarm (Melbourne) or on the road.
Born in Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Perth), away from her ancestral country she has lived most of her life in Victoria and most of that in and around Naarm (Melbourne).
During an extended circuit of the continent she wrote a novel, influenced by certain experiences gained on the road. She has since won a Black&Write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship for that novel ,"Terra Nullius". Terra Nullius was published in Australia by Hachette Australia and in North America by Small Beer Press.
Claire's second Novel, The Old Lie, was written in response to what she learned when traveling and was published in 2019 by Hachette Australia.
Lies, Damned Lies, Claire's first non-fiction book, unpacking the effects of the history of Australia's colonisation, was released on the 1st of September 2021.
Since mid 2020 Claire has been a member of the cultural advisory committee for Agency, a Not-for-profit Indigenous arts Consultancy (https://agencyprojects.org/).
Winner - Griffith Review Novella Project 2020
Winner - QPF Philip Bacon Ekphrasis Award 2019
Winner - Norma K Hemming Award for a Long Work 2018
Winner - Tin Duck Award for a Professional Long Work 2018
Winner - black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship, 2016
Runner Up - MUD Literary Prize 2018
Shortlisted - Bangkok Book Awards 2021 (For Terra Nullius)
Shortlisted - Incinerator Art Award 2021
Shortlisted - Oodgeroo Noonuccal Prize for Poetry 2020
Shortlisted - Peter Porter Poetry Prize 2020
Shortlisted - Horne Prize for Essay 2019
Shortlisted - The Neukom Institute Literary Awards 2019
Shortlisted - Best Science Fiction Novel, Aurealis Awards 2017
Shortlisted - Best New Talent, Ditmar Awards 2017
Shortlisted - Stella Prize 2018
Shortlisted - ABIA Matt Richell Award for New Writers 2018
Shortlisted - Reading Women Award for Fiction 2018
Shortlisted - Horne Prize for Essay 2018
Longlisted - Indie Book Awards for Debut Fiction 2018
Longlisted – Dublin Literary Award 2019
Highly Commended - Victorian Premiers Literary Awards 2018
Highly Commended - Oodgeroo Noonuccal Award 2018
Lies, Damned Lies will be in stores on September 1, 2021
Enclave, Claire's third novel, has been delayed until mid 2022.
Publicity Enquiries (AU): publicity@hachette.com.au
General Enquiries: info@clairegcoleman.com