About
Hi,
I’m Michelle, an Indo-Australian muse. I write poetry, fiction, essays and, periodically, I like to blog. I like art, dance and travel. I’m most in balance when I practice yoga and vipassana. I believe there are four noble truths.
My favourite music: Madonna, Vertigo, Pet Shop Boys, Leonard Cohen, Nirvana, Jewel, Bjork, Damien Rice, Natalie Merchant, Tracey Chapman, The Necks, Ian Van Dahl, Portishead, The Catholics, Avril Lavigne
Favourite Animation: Pingu, Puss in Boots, Ice Age 3
Favourite Books: The Portrait Of A Lady, Wuthering Heights, Lolita, Perfume, Heart of Darkness, Bodhinyana, Teachings of Ajahn Chah, Poetics of Space. Crime and Punishment, Refusing Heaven, Franny and Zooey, North, The Rustle of Language, Maps For Lost Lovers, Wolf Notes, A Slant Of Light, Patience, Mutiny, Bark,
Favourite Movie: Pulp Fiction, Paris Texas, The Piano, The Meaning of Life, The Monkey’s Mask, Brokeback Mountain, Candy, Bright Star, The Hours
PUBLISHED BOOKS:
The Accidental Cage (Interactive Press, 2006): shortlisted in the Judith Wright Poetry Prize.
Second Edition, 2007
Poetry Without Borders (Picaro, 2008) ed Michelle Cahill
Ophelia in Harlem, (Kilmog Press 2010) limited edition chapbook
Vishvarūpa (5 Islands Press, 2011): shortlisted in the Alec Bolton Prize, highly commended in the Wesley Michel Wright Prize Order a copy
Night Birds Vagabond Press, Rare Objects Series, 2012
Forthcoming
The Puncher and Wattmann Anthology of Asian Australian Poetry
(Ed. by Boey, Aitken, Cahill) Puncher and Wattmann, 2013
GRANTS:
2008 Copyright Agency Limited Professional Development Grant
2008 Australian Society of Authors Mentorship (poetry)
2009 Australia Council Literature Board Grant (fiction)
2011 Fellowship, Hawthornden Castle
AWARDS:
2011 Wesley Michel Wright Prize: Highly commended
2010 Arts Queensland Val Vallis Award
2010 Inverawe Nature Poetry Prize (minor award)
2009 Blake Poetry Prize: Highly Commended
2009 Alec Bolton Prize: Shortlisted
2007 Judith Wright Prize: Shortlisted
RESIDENCIES
2011 Hawthornden Castle, Midlothian
2010 Residency Varuna, The Writers’ House
2009 Residency at Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi
