Anonymous Premonition by Yvette Holt

MEDIA RELEASE - 8 FEBRUARY 2008 RESILIENCE - WHAT IT IS TO BE AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN TODAY                                        Photo: Lyle Radford   ABOUT THE AUTHOR   YVETTE HOLT is a descendant of the Bidjara Nation, Queensland. Born in Brisbane, where she still lives, Yvette is socially active in numerous community, state and national boards where the elevation of Indigenous Australian women is positively promoted. A graduate from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), she received the UTS Human Rights Award in the category of Reconciliation for her outstanding contribution towards the elevation of social justice for Indigenous Australians. Yvette currently researches Indigenous Australian literature at AustLit: The Resource for Australian Literature at the University of Queensland and also lectures Aboriginal Women’s Studies at the university.   Samuel Wagan Watson, author of New South Wales Book of the Year Smoke Encrypted Whispers describes Yvette Holt’s first poetry volume, Anonymous Premonition, as ‘a fledgling collection of poetry that takes flight! Uplifting and revealing; an uncompromised body of verse from an authentic, charismatic Indigenous voice.’   Winner of the 2005 David Unaipon Award, Anonymous Premonition gives the lowdown on what it is to be an Indigenous woman today.  Empathy, grief, outrage, justice, reconciliation, love, affirmation and celebration aresome of the words used by Jena Woodhouse to describe Yvette Holt’s language. Her collection of startling and fresh poems treats us to an energetic and conventional journey from love, sex, empowerment and travel to motherhood and family, activism and grief.   According to Dr Anita Heiss, ‘Anonymous Premonition is lyrical and luscious but it is also poetic activism that packs a punch. In discussing pride in identity, painful memories, the realities of Aboriginal life and death, and the power of sisterhood, this collection is a tribute to the resilience of Aboriginal women everywhere.’ Yvette Holt’s is a compelling voice that is loud and proud and she’s not afraid to use it. Anonymous Premonition will be launched by Dr Anita Heiss  at the State Library of Queensland, on Saturday 15th March at 3.00pm.  Yvette Holt will be a guest at the Wordstorm Writers’ Festival, Darwin in May and the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival in July.   For futher information or to arrange an interview with Yvette Holt, please contact Meredene Hill (UQP) on 0401 575 143 or meredeneh@uqp.uq.edu.au   ANONYMOUS PREMONITION Yvette Holt RRP: $24.95 ISBN: 978 0 7022 3571 9 Publication Date: 3rd March 2008