The author of ‘The Tribe’ in 2014 and the ‘The Lebs’ in 2018, Michael edited ‘After Australia’ last year for 12 emerging indigenous writers before this year completing ‘The Other Half of You’ just before lockdown.
“Over the past 20 years, my goal as a writer and a literacy activist has always been to create empowering and humanising narratives about Arab and Muslim communities in Australia, which counteract the damaging stereotypes that have plagued us since the September 11 attacks,” the western Sydney literacy movement Sweatshop founder said.
“This nomination for Young Australian of the Year is a generous reminder that my work alongside this powerful generation of culturally diverse writers, has had a positive impact on Australian society.
“I could never have hoped for a greater outcome and what makes it most flattering is that the Australia Day Awards organisers said there was no evidence in the nomination that it was from someone I knew.
“It’s so nice to receive recognition for the active role I am playing in empowering minority groups.”
Known as a controversial writer for his earlier novels, Michael said ‘The Other Half of You’ is very tender and a love-letter to his six-year-old son Khalil to help him appreciate his origins.
“I’m hoping this book will help individuals make more sense of their lives and reality; it’s very relatable,” he said.
To order copies of his books, go to hatchette.com.au.
