In August 2008, Melbourne was globally acknowledged by UNESCO as a ‘City of Literature’. Now the world can catch a small glimpse of Melbourne’s queer literary heritage through Word is OUT - Melbourne OUTside the Square’s literary arts program.

Word is Out tells the stories of Melbourne's diverse LGBTIQ community through a selection of works by some of its authors and talented spoken word artists. Curated by Crusader Hillis and Rowland Thomson of Hares & Hyenas, Word is Out is presented online at www.hares--hyenas.com.au {exact hyperlink will be provided to you once I confirm with Rowland the link}

Word is OUT was largely made possible through the generous contribution of the GLBTIQ radio network JOY 94.9, who recorded many of the works available here. Visit JOY 94.9 (http://joy.org.au) for more details.

Presented over the coming week to coincide with the Out Games in Copenhagen, the online anthology Word is OUT includes readings from the following writers:

Patricia Cornelius
Playwright, novelist, director and dramaturg, Patricia Cornelius has written over 25 produced plays for the stage. Co-founder of Melbourne Workers Theatre, Patricia’s work has been performed in Australia and internationally to acclaim and numerous awards. Her novel My Sister Jill was published by Random House Australia. She reads here from Love, a novella in progress based upon her award-winning and internationally performed play of the same name.	Download
Christos Tsiolkas
One of Australia’s most acclaimed novelists, and definitely one its leading lights, Christos is the author of fiction and non-fiction, including Loaded (filmed as the motion feature Head On), The Jesus Man, Dead Europe and the recent and highly acclaimed The Slap, winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for fiction. Christos is also a playwright, film enthusiast and polymath. He reads here from his book The Slap.	Download
Tom Conyers
Tom’s debut novel Morse Code for Cats has proved to be a hit across independent bookstores in Australia. Telling the story of a young country boy facing the conflicting delights and perils of a large city, the novel charts journeys into love, loss, drugs, mental illness and recovery, and captures the unique life of rural Australia and its interface with urban life. The recording here includes an interview with Tom from JOY 94.9 and a reading from his book.	Coming Soon…
Bryan Andy
Bryan is a Yorta Yorta man and a respected writer, actor and advocate in Victoria. Coordinator of the long-running Indigenous social and support network Outblack, which represents gay, sistergirl, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and queer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people in Victoria. bryan also works in areas as diverse as drug education, arts advocacy and land rights issues. He reads here a selection of works including a tribute of respect to an admired friend in his own language.	Download Download
Tom Cho
His recent book, Look Who’s Morphing – a paean to popular culture and its many influences – caused a storm at its recent launch at Hares & Hyenas, achieving the largest ever book launch sales in the shop’s 19-year history. Tom recently handed in his PhD based upon his Morphing fiction collection. He’s a regular in the spoken word scene across Australia, has appeared at several of the state writers festivals, and his stories have appeared in numerous collections, including Best Australian Stories. He reads his most Euro-centric story from Look Who’s Morphing, and offers a new take on gender, sexual and family dynamics of The Sound of Music.	Download
Marg Vandeleur
Marg is an author and poet, being the author of the entertaining and much loved book about the perils of conception as a single woman, The Catch. She has appeared regularly at spoken word events, and her poetry appears in several publications. She reads here a selection of her poetry.	Download Download Download Download Download Download Download Download Download Download Download
Urszula Dawkins
Urszula is a writer, editor and event manager. Her fiction has been published in numerous publications, including the Australian lesbian anthology, Car Maintenance, Explosives and Love (Spinifex Press). She appears regularly as a highly regarded spoken word performer. Her long running love of travel and cold places have taken her often to Europe, including to Germany and Iceland. Her story here is a travel story that she recorded at the Here, Not Here reading for the 2009 Midsumma Festival at Hares & Hyenas.	Coming Soon…
Dmetri Kakmi
An author and editor. His stories and non-fiction have appeared in numerous publications, including Melbourne’s The Age and several anthologies. His book Motherlands, from which he reads here, tells the true story of his journey back to the Greek Turkish island of his childhood as adult in the recent past. This was recorded at the 2009 Midsumma reading Here, Not Here.	Coming Soon…
Jules Wilkinson
A self-confessed television junky, fan convention groupy, zombie lover and writer of dubious moral persuasion, Jules aims to titillate, entertain and provoke spontaneous acts of adoration in her listener - and readership. She is the editor of a book about the television series Supernatural and has consumed many drinks with the legion of worldwide fans of this series. She has a healthy mix of online and real time experiences to inform her filthy fiction.	Download
Yana Alana and the Paranas
Are the Melbourne superband of spoken word and sung lyric. Famous for her outspoken celebration of all things female and powerful, the character Yana is an intriguing mix of massive talent, passive aggression and neurotic insight. Yana Alana and the Paranas are key guests of the Out Games in Copenhagen. Miss them at your peril.	Download Download
Ashley Sievwright
Ashley is the author of The Shallow End, recently shortlisted for best debut fiction in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Hardly a shallow effort. Ashley reads from his work here.	Download Download

Word is OUT is programmed by Rowland Thomson and Crusader Hillis. It is also presented in the bookshop of the Black Diamond (Royal Danish Library), one of Denmark’s most iconic architectural landmarks.

Word is Out acknowledges that the City of Melbourne is situated on the land of the Kulin Nation.