We pay homage to Australia’s original storytellers who remind us that storytelling is about deep listening. We recognise Australia’s First Nations Peoples for their ongoing connection to storytelling, country, culture, and community. We also respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we’re all situated and recognise that it was never ceded.  

David Shield

David is a writer, Japanese interpreter, kimono maker, Koto (Japanese harp) musician and tea lover. He’s the 2025 winner of the E.J Corbett award for Y.A historical fiction, has short listed for the Publishable contest and has been published in WQ magazine and various anthologies. He trained in kimono making in Japan and has played Yamada style of koto music for more than ten years. He divides his time between Brisbane and Japan and writes to bring joy, laughter and hope to a dark world.