Alicia Sometimes

Author, Broadcaster, Poet, Storyteller

Alicia Sometimes is a writer, poet and broadcaster. She regularly appears on ABC radio talking books and culture and is often touring with her poetry. She has also appeared on ABC TV’s Sunday Arts, News Breakfast, Recovery and SBS’s Nomad program. Alicia was a 2014 Fellow at the State Library of Victoria and writer and director of the science-poetry show, Elemental that toured extensively in planetariums around the world.

Where were you born?

I was born in Melbourne but lived in a Japan for seven months when I was ten with my best friend’s family.

What other jobs have you had?

have worked as a bookie’s bag lady, a publicist, a bookshop assistant (and assistant manager) and have worked in radio. I was co-editor of the literary magazine Going Down Swinging for seven years and I was a poetry and short story teacher at Chisholm TAFE for seven years and have taught at RMIT, NMIT and Sunraysia TAFE.

What themes are recurring in your work?

Quantum physics, astronomy, football and the inability to say the right thing at the right time. I’m passionate about helping people find their own voice in their own writing as I know it took me a while to be confident with mine. I love humour as well as delving into the more serious subject matter.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Touring a poetry planetarium show around the world and working with all the artists and scientists that went into making something quite magical. Winning the St Kilda Essence Prize for a poem on St Kilda. Fellowships at Varuna, Melbourne Aquarium and Katherine Susannah Pritchard Writers Centre. Interviewing wonderful people like Laurie Anderson, Neil Gaiman, Sonya Hartnett or Brian Greene. Attending many festivals around the world.

Where have your works been published?

I have two poetry collections, Kissing The Curve and Soundtrack. I have been published in Best Australian Poems, Overland, Southerly, Westerly, The Age, New Matilda, Meanjin, Griffith Review and many more journals.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about arts, science and Aussie Rules football. Also helping others communicate and letting them know it’s okay to thrive when creating.

Haven’t I seen you before?

You can hear me monthly on ABC RN talking books and films on Books and Arts Daily and on ABC 774. You can also hear me on the podcast The Outer Sanctum talking about football and the diversity around the game. In the last year I have been at events at the Wheelers Centre, Melbourne Writers Festival, ANZ Festival (UK) and Bendigo Writers Festival.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I have given many workshops and talks at primary and secondary schools, also universities, TAFEs and local libraries.

Testimonials