UWA Publishing

31/07/2025

Congratulations to Mohammed Massoud Morsi on being named the winner of the 2025 Dorothy Hewett Award!

On his acceptance, Morsi said: "Thank you for recognising my work. As a journalist who has spent time listening to people from all walks of life, I am grateful that not only mine, but their stories get a chance to be told. In Australia we have the privilege of peace and a chance to consider lives different from our own. And now, with current events around the world, I think this is a wake-up call for all of us to understand the stories of those of us who yearn for justice. My wish is this book is received in the manner in which it is given. I have always been drawn to the stories that bind us and give us the sense of belonging to each other; that which we dream of but struggle speaking about. This book, this story, began almost 20 years ago. I never imagined that this was the way it would come to life.”

Watch the full announcement on the UWA Publishing YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/gEBoYP3ZQJI

The Dorothy Hewett Award is open annually to Australian writers of fiction, narrative non-fiction, or poetry and the winner receives $10,000 courtesy of the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund and a publishing contract with UWA Publishing. The award will reopen for submissions on 1 November 2025.

Mohammed Massoud Morsi Copyright Agency

31/07/2025

UWA Publishing and the Copyright Agency is excited to announce that the winner of the 2025 Dorothy Hewett Award is Mohammed Massoud Morsi for his unpublished fiction manuscript 'The Hair of the Pigeon.'

Morsi will receive a publishing contract and manuscript development with UWA Publishing and $10,000 prize money courtesy of the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund. 'The Hair of the Pigeon' will be published by UWA Publishing in the first half of 2026.

In his acceptance speech, Morsi says: “Thank you for recognising my work. As a journalist who has spent time listening to people from all walks of life, I am grateful that not only mine, but their stories get a chance to be told. In Australia we have the privilege of peace and a chance to consider lives different from our own. And now, with current events around the world, I think this is a wake-up call for all of us to understand the stories of those of us who yearn for justice. My wish is this book is received in the manner in which it is given. I have always been drawn to the stories that bind us and give us the sense of belonging to each other; that which we dream of but struggle speaking about. This book, this story, began almost 20 years ago. I never imagined that this was the way it would come to life.” Watch the full announcement here: https://youtu.be/gEBoYP3ZQJI

The Dorothy Hewett Award is open annually to Australian writers of fiction, narrative non-fiction, or poetry and the winner receives $10,000 courtesy of the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund and a publishing contract with UWA Publishing. The award will reopen for submissions on 1 November 2025. Find out more about the award and how to submit via the UWA Publishing website: https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/pages/dorothy-hewett-award

UWA Publishing sends a warm thank you to the Copyright Agency for its ongoing support for the Dorothy Hewett Award and congratulates Mohammed Massoud Morsi on his achievement.

Mohammed Massoud Morsi is an Egyptian-Danish-Australian photographer, journalist and writer. His work has been published in all three of his traditional languages. Morsi discovered journalism made people yesterday’s news and turned to writing novels instead. He has a talent for reaching to the heart of existence in a complex world and looks to important questions, finding that which is quintessentially human within much broader struggles. His work is enriched by his photographer’s eye for detail and a passion for speaking out for those suppressed, challenging and breaking common narratives all at once.

Read the full announcement here: https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/blogs/marginalia/mohammed-massoud-morsi-named-the-winner-of-the-2025-dorothy-hewett-award

30/07/2025

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Dorothy Hewett Award, and are hosting a panel discussion and poetry reading from winners and shortlisted poets. I'm thrilled to be on the panel, chaired by along with (winner) Kaya Ortiz Poetry and other shortlisted .poet and .glance. This wonderful event will take place at the where all our books will be sold by . ANNOUNCEMENT: My second collection, GOLD DIGGER will be on sale as a special PRE-RELEASE at this event.

tickets are FREE
but please RSVP here
https://events.humanitix.com/ppf2025-uwap

29/07/2025

25/07/2025

Thank you so much to Susan and team at the Nedlands Library for inviting me to give an author talk this morning. It was wonderful speaking about Matia with such a curious and engaged audience. I really enjoyed it!

Thanks also to Helen at Open Book who came along to sell books. They still have a few copies of Matia left in store if you are keen to read.

UWA Publishing
Nedlands Library Service
Open Book

22/07/2025

Join renowned local Perth actor Caitlin Beresford-Ord as she brings stories to life.

Our new orated short stories events provide an opportunity for adults to listen to some notable short stories while relaxing in the Library. Caitlin’s lyrical and warm voice will draw you into a world of new and classic adventures, starting with a story from our own backyard—Perth.

Celebrate ‘Love to Read Local Month’ at the Library by listening to selected stories from Greater City Shadows by Laurie Steed read to you as you enjoy a cuppa and biscuit or two.

This event is particularly suitable for older adults with vision impairment or adults learning English.

Date: Wednesday 6 August 2025
Times: 1pm to 2.30pm
Venue: City of Perth Library, 573 Hay Street Perth
Cost: FREE
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1424313

21/07/2025

"When it comes to poetry, I am a quick writer, both with the idea and the composition. The editing and tweaking come later. Like all writers, I have often returned to a previous (published) work and thought, ‘Damn, I wish I’d written it differently’ but I don’t see that as a failure. For me, poetry is an attempt to capture a moment in time, and years later I may not feel the same about a particular incident, but back then it was what I genuinely felt, so I have to honour that.

If I feel that a poem is not working, no matter how hard I try to tinker with it, I abandon it. Sometimes forever, sometimes for a short spell, and then returning to it when I am in a different frame of mind. Hopefully then I can wrangle it into something that I am happy with."

Read Thuy On's short interview with the team at Liminal Mag:
https://www.liminalmag.com/5-questions/thuy-on-2

“Writing criticism, editing and composing poetry are all different variations of playing with words, but each one flexes a different muscle. I am a better editor and critic because I am a poet and vice versa. “

21/07/2025

I'll be at Success Library to give an author talk on the 23rd July.

Follow the link to book: https://cockburnlibraries.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=146433

21/07/2025

One week to go until Stories From The West on Sunday 27 July at the State Library of WA.

You can stay for one panel or the whole afternoon. There will be a bar and Boffins will be selling the shortlisted books.

Here is some more information from the State Library of WA…tickets are available here: https://slwa.wa.gov.au/whats-on/stories-west
…

Get better acquainted with the books on the 2025 WA Premier's Book Awards shortlist and their authors at Stories from the West, a special event for readers and writers on Sunday 27 July.

Join us for an afternoon of panel conversations, book giveaways and a chance to meet the shortlisted authors.

1:00–2:00pm: Bringing Your Book to the World
Khin Myint, Emily Tsokos Purtill, Katherine Allum, Shaeden Berry and Daniel Juckes in conversation about what is involved with bringing life to your first book and sending it out into the world. Moderated by Alan Fyfe.

2:30–3:30pm: Two Truths and a Lie: Using Memoir to tell a Story
How subjective is the truth? What part of the story is left out? Can you change details to get the point across? Delve into the complexities of using memoir to tell bigger stories. With Paul Hardisty, Tracy Westerman, Julia Lawrinson, Gerard McCann, Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie. Moderated by Georgia Tree.

4:00–5:00pm: What makes a Western Australian Story?
Annie Raser-Rowland, Sarah Winifred Searle, Alexander Thorpe, David Whish-Wilson and Louise Wolhuter discuss the impact of the Western Australian identity on their writing (and the impact of their writing on the Western Australian identity). Moderated by Molly Schmidt.

UWA Publishing
State Library of Western Australia
Boffins Books