She’s not normal, why can’t she be normal, she makes me feel really uncomfortable…An empowering collection of poetry from bestselling Cypriot-Australian poet Koraly Dimitriadis, for people who are not normal.
Koraly Dimitriadis is a Cypriot-Australian writer, performer and author of the poetry books Love and Fuck Poems and Just Give Me The Pills. Her short story collection, The Mother Must Die, is forthcoming with Puncher and Wattmann (2024). Her poems have been translated and published in Polish, Czech, Greek and Greek-Cypriot journals and anthologies, and she has had short stories, essays and poems published in Southerly, Etchings, Overland, Unusual Works, Social Alternatives, Meanjin, Solid Air (UQP), Resilience (Ultimo/Mascara), Foyer (UK), Harana (UK), Fuck Poems (USA) and others. Koraly’s poetry films have been shortlisted for prizes, screened at festivals and televised, including SBS on demand. Koraly has performed internationally, including The Poetry Café (London) and The Bowery (New York). Koraly’s poetic theatre monologue “I say the wrong things all the time” premiered at La Mama in 2016. Koraly was an associate artist at Theatre Works in 2021. She performed as part of Outer Urban Projects’s theatre ensemble Poetic License for numerous years which included productions at Melbourne Writers Festival (Footscray Community Arts Centre) and 45 Downstairs. Koraly’s personal essays and opinion articles have been published widely across Australia in publications such as ABC, SBS, The Age and News.com.au, with international publications in The Independent (UK), Shondaland, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Today show (USA) and Al Jazeera. Koraly is a professional member to the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Koraly’s debut fiction manuscript, We Never Said Goodbye, was awarded the UNESCO City of Literature residency in Krakow. She was also awarded residencies at the Wheeler Centre, Chantilly, HOANI (Cyprus) and Moreland Council. Koraly holds a diploma in professional writing/editing (RMIT) and a double degree in accounting/computing (Monash). She has spoken on panels, run workshops, taught poetry at RMIT, and has been interviewed on television and radio including ABC’s The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine. www.koralydimitriadis.com
“… a voice of reason or a reckless rebel.” – Channel Nine News “Koraly Dimitriadis is a poet of the finest balance. She writes with the tenderness of a loving hand and a fist that smashes oppression.” – Tony Birch, bestselling author, White Girl, and Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature. “I am so obsessed with Koraly. Her work is disarming, emotionally fearless and she sounds like nobody else alive. I will read her poetry forever.” – Hera Lindsay Bird, international, bestselling poet, Pamper Me To Hell And Back “Dimitriadis’s writing is committed, honest and powerful. She’s fearless and so her stories and words are vital, they are alive.” – Christos Tsiolkas, award-winning author, The Slap “Relentlessly bold, unapologetic, and humorous at all the right times. If one can detect a new wave of Australian poetry on the rise, it’s due in no small part to the pioneering efforts of Koraly Dimitriadis.” – Ruby Hamad, author, White Tears, Brown Scars “Ms Dimitriadis is the voice of an angry Australia. Her anger is for the disaffected, the voiceless and the invisible. – Paul Capsis, award-winning performer “She dishes the dirt, and she’s not afraid of anything. Her writing is coming for you, so you’d better just accept it … a voice that literally demands to be heard.” – Overland Literary Journal “The kind of honesty that can only come about after being wound-up, held writhing, repressed and silenced.” – Disclaimer Magazine (UK) “She is merciless … astounding.” – Stage Whispers “A traditionalist’s nightmare ... searingly honest explorations of life ...” – Junkee “Dimitriadis’ poems are explosively political and humane.” – Andy Jackson, award-winning poet, Human Looking The book was first published and launched in late October 2023 in Cyprus ONLY while Koraly was touring as part of a Cypriot government grant. This has created a hype around the book. A launch will be planned in Melbourne TBA. Review copies are currently being sent out. There is also a poetry film trailer https://youtu.be/ltMQ-5mZafU
*https://youtu.be/ltMQ-5mZafU
* https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/book-review-shes-not-normal-koraly-dimitriadis-2690752/
NATIONAL TOUR AUS + NZ
* Melbourne 3rd of Feb, Cherry Poets, Cherry Tree Hotel in Richmond, 1:30pm for 2pm start + “not normal” open mic. FB event
* Melbourne Antipodes Street Festival, 24th-25th Feb (book signing)
* Hobart 28th Feb, Silver Words, Shambles Brewery, 6:30pm. FB event
* Melbourne, 12th March, Coburg library, 6:45pm + Q and A
* Sydney 14th March, Poetica, Woollahra Gallery, 6pm
* Clunes Booktown 23rd – 24th March (book signing)
* Poetry in Motion Wellington NZ, 4th April, The Fringe Bar, 7:30pm.
* Brisbane, Ruckus slam, 29th May, Lefty’s music hall, Caxton street 7pm
* Adelaide, Spoken Slurred, Broadcaster Bar, 30th June, 5:30pm
* Canberra, Smiths poetry, Smiths Alternative (date tbc)
* Perth, Perth Poetry Club, Moon Cafe (date tbc)
* https://neoskosmos.com/en/2023/12/04/life/books/greek-australian-authors-narratives-enrich-the-seasons-reading/
* https://www.neomagazine.com/2023/12/new-books-to-add-to-your-list/?fbclid=IwAR06sKoTCH-Yg_eZ_F4OM93v7p5FOtHIwWACW280R8MvRDPV95uQ0yqugQE
"A unique voice that I keep coming back to. Full of raw energy, bamboozling, confronting, direct, insistent...She pours it all out onto the page like few can"
