For the second year, SBS Voices is proud to partner with Hardie Grant Books to bring 30 of the best memoir pieces chosen from the 2021 SBS Emerging Writers' Competition.
The new anthology , with foreword by competition judges and award-winning authors Tara June Winch and Behrouz Boochani, features perspectives that often remain hidden from view.
Entrants to the 2021 competition were invited to share stories in response to the theme 'between two worlds'. The result is an exciting snapshot of contemporary Australia, exploring everything from sense of place to family, loss, culture and sexual awakening.
"These powerful stories explore a range of themes from the pains of migration to the evocation of Country by some emerging First Nations writers. All these stories encounter many versions of Australia and dissect the sociological and political times of our lives," write the judges.
"This anthology celebrates the diverse perspectives and insights into Australia today. It showcases the simplicity of the winning stories and the stylistic artistry used to convey each experience of the authors. It also provides a vital platform for emerging voices from under-represented backgrounds to be heard. We hope you enjoy their stories as much as we did."
Nancy Huang, who contributed the piece 'Mini Moke', began drafting her personal story some 20 years ago. Huang believes entering the competition was what helped her finish the piece.
"In order to submit [to the competition], I had to be ruthless and focused… I turned 60 last year, so it has been a slow brew."
Competition winner Cat Yen's story '' is her first ever literary piece. Her story, inspired by a breakup, delves into her experience of moving between cultures and classes.
"This was the first piece I ever finished," she says of her story. "I think I always wanted to write but I always felt that capturing a story is a really important thing and I really wanted to get it right."
Competition runner-up Maya Hodge's '' is a warm tribute to her Country and ancestors, while joint runner-up 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.
Told with emotional honesty and utterly fresh perspectives, the stories from this new collection are an invitation into the complex, private worlds of everyday Australians.
Between Two Worlds is on sale from August 3. Featured writers include: Cat Yen, Arky Michael, Maya Hodge, Maya Skidmore and Miranda Jakich, 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.
The 2022 SBS Emerging Writers' Competition is open for entries on August 16. Write on the theme of 'Emergence' for your chance to be awarded the $5000 first place prize, $3000 second place prize or one of two runners-up prizes of $1000. The top entries will also be published in an anthology by Hardie Grant. Go to to register and find out more.
