Maxine Beneba Clarke

Where were you born?

Sydney.

What themes are recurring in your work?

My creative work explores humanity in all its complexities, including contemporary issues of racism, recycling, schoolyard bullying, family relationships, migration and displacement.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Having my short fiction collection Foreign Soil put on the 2018 VCE syllabus, and my first picture book The Patchwork Bike being listed as a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour book and reviewed by the New York Times have been incredible career highlights.

Where have your works been published?

My books have been published in the US, UK and Australia. I’ve also been writing creative portraits of interesting people (writers, filmmakers, politicians, actors, teachers, and everyday people) for The Saturday Paper for four years.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about my family and friends, kids literature, the arts, education, and social justice.

Haven't I seen you before?

A lot of people ask if they’ve seen me somewhere before, but they can’t remember where. One of the perks of being a writer has been being invited into the public sphere, on shows such as Q&A, One Plus One, and Meet the Mavericks. And I guess there aren’t really that many people in Australia who look like me, so people don’t tend to forget my face!

Anything else you'd like to share with us?

Words change the world.