Amal Awad

Amal is the author of eight books, across fiction and non-fiction. Her novels include Courting Samira (2011), This is How You Get Better (2015), The Things We See in the Light (2021), and Bitter & Sweet (2023). Her non-fiction titles—The Incidental Muslim: Undiluted Perspectives on Life, Love, and Pop Culture (2014), Beyond Veiled Clichés: The Real Lives of Arab Women (2017), Fridays With My Folks – Stories on Ageing, Illness and Life (2019), and In My Past Life I was Cleopatra (2021)—reflect her ongoing interest in personal storytelling, community, and the complexities of everyday life.

In 2024, Bitter & Sweet was voted into Better Reading’s ‘Top 100’ list. She has also contributed to the anthologies Growing Up Muslim in Australia and Some Girls Do … (My Life as a Teenager).

Alongside her work in publishing and broadcasting, Amal also works across film and television as an award-winning screenwriter, director and actor. She also teaches screenwriting at AFTRS, and has also run storytelling workshops and courses for various organisations.      

Amal has appeared as a speaker at schools, universities and writers’ festivals around Australia, and she also facilitates workshops, covering topics such as diversity, multiculturalism, women’s issues and pop culture. In 2019, she was a TEDx Macquarie University speaker, delivering a talk on ‘Moving beyond the token minority’ in film and television.

Where were you born?

Sydney, Australia.

What other jobs have you had?

I’ve been a lawyer, publishing editor, journalist and magazine editor. I now consider myself a full-time writer in various capacities – journalist, columnist, author and screenwriter.

What themes are recurring in your work?

Life and society, with a focus on popular culture, religion and women. Self-development and empowerment.

What have been the highlights of your career?

The publication of Courting Samira, which was a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2012

Travelling to the Middle East to research my book Beyond Veiled Clichés – I met many amazing people.

Where have your works been published?

SBS Life, Daily Life, Frankie, Elle, The Vine, Aquila Style, Kill Your Darlings, ABC Religion and Ethics, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun Herald.

What are you passionate about?

Writing and speaking about the creation of new pathways and ideas, particularly in relation to minorities; self-improvement; women’s issues; and popular culture.

Haven’t I seen you before?

I have been a guest on ABC Radio National: News in Review with Julian Morrow; Life Matters; and The Drawing Room with Waleed Aly and Nikki Gemmell. I have produced and presented segments for ABC RN Life Matters.I have also participated in numerous events as a speaker, including All About Women at the Sydney Opera House.