She Doesn't Seem Autistic – Esther Ottaway
She Doesn't Seem Autistic
With her characteristic heart and power, the winner of the Tim Thorne Prize for Poetry turns her attention inward in this new poetry collection, creatively illuminating her own hidden autism and that of girls and women, most of whom are misdiagnosed and unsupported in a medical system designed for boys. This powerful collection is surprising and moving, and has been called "a revelation, not just in terms of our understanding of autistic experience, but of what is possible within poetry. With unflinching honesty, piercing insight and formal ingenuity, Ottaway's language blows apart the myths to clear a space for grief, solidarity and beauty. Be prepared to be shaken and embraced." – Andy Jackson, poet and Prime Minister’s Literary Award winner.
About the author
Esther Ottaway is a Tasmanian/Lutruwita poet, editor and mentor whose poetry has won or been shortlisted for many international prizes, including the Bridport, Montreal, Tom Collins, Woorilla, MPU International, and Mslexia. Her second book, Intimate, Low-voiced, Delicate Things, won both the Poetry category and the People’s Choice category in the 2022 Tasmanian Literary Awards. Her landmark national anthology of Australian disability writing, Raging Grace: Australian writers speak out on disability (Puncher & Wattmann), co-edited with Andy Jackson and Kerri Shying, was released in 2024. She has served as guest editor of Australian Poetry Journal and as a judge of the Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize. Esther co-convenes the Women’s Poetry Oasis workshop series in Hobart/Nipaluna. Esther is a recipient of Australia Council for the Arts grants, a former Board member of Island magazine, and a former Communications Co-ordinator for the Tasmanian Writers’ Centre. She is a member of Arts Tasmania’s Expert Register, a National Assessor for Regional Arts Australia, and a poetry tutor of adults with disabilities through the NDIS and Arts Access Australia.