These writers are shaping contemporary literature by drawing on their heritage, experiences, and unique perspectives to bring stories to life.
Asian Australian literature is a celebration of diversity and Asian heritage. From beautifully illustrated storytelling to emotionally charged narratives, these works explore migration, family, identity, and belonging in ways that resonate across generations. Whether through dialogue or imagery, Asian Australian writers break language barriers and capture deeply human experiences.
This writing isn’t just adding colour to Australian literature, it’s at the very heart of it. Let’s show off some of our great Asian Australian writing!
Table of Contents
Asian Australian Literature
Check out these Asian Australian books:
Shankari Chandran is an Australian Tamil writer and lawyer. She worked for over ten years in London in the field of social justice across thirty countries. She now lives in Australia with her husband, four children and their dog.
Her writing focuses on themes of injustice, dispossession, cultural erasure and connection. She is the author of three novels and is currently working on two television adaptations.
Her work has been longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award and shortlisted for the Fairway National Literary Award and the Norma K Hemming Award for Speculative Fiction.
Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens
Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is a nursing home located in the suburb of Westgrove, Sydney. It is home to a group of residents with diverse and complex personal histories. The home offers a peaceful environment with gardens, communal activities and a sense of community.
Ann Liang is a Chinese Australian author. She was born in Beijing and grew up between China and Australia. She is the author of several young adult novels including This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn’t Find You. Her work has been published in over twenty foreign territories. She now lives in Melbourne.
Never Thought I’d End Up Here
Never Thought I’d End Up Here is a young adult romantic comedy. The story follows Leah Zhang, a teenager from Los Angeles who is sent on a two-week cultural travel programme in China after causing a scene at her cousin’s wedding. Her parents hope the trip will reconnect her with her heritage. Leah, who barely speaks Mandarin and knows little about Chinese customs, sees it as an escape.
The trip takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that her former classmate Cyrus is also on the tour. As they travel through some of China’s most scenic cities, Leah must navigate old tensions, new attractions, and a deeper connection to her cultural identity.
André Dao is an author and researcher based in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. His debut novel Anam won the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Fiction and the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for New Writing. It was also shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Voss Literary Award. In 2024, he was named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist.
Anam
Anam is a hybrid work that blends fiction, essay and memoir. It follows a grandson’s search to understand his grandfather’s long imprisonment and their family’s past. Through letters, photographs, government documents and memories, he explores themes of place, identity, legacy and displacement.
The novel moves between Vietnam and Australia, interweaving personal history with philosophical reflection. As the narrator raises his own young daughter, he questions how memory and truth shape the future.
The book won the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the 2024 Miles Franklin Literary Award.
Sulari Gentill is an award-winning Australian author known for her historical crime fiction. Born in Sri Lanka, she spent her early years in Zambia before settling in Brisbane. Originally pursuing astrophysics at university, she ultimately graduated in law and worked in corporate legal roles before making the leap to full-time writing.
A Few Right Thinking Men
A charming artist, a brutal murder, and a country on the brink of revolution… Welcome to 1930s Australia. In A Few Right Thinking Men, Rowland Sinclair is the youngest son of a wealthy and respected family who prefers painting, poetry, and parties with his bohemian friends.
Amid the turbulence of the Great Depression, political tensions rise as extremist groups threaten to reshape the nation. When Rowland’s namesake and uncle is found brutally murdered, the scandal sends shockwaves through high society.
With the police baffled, Rowland takes matters into his own impeccably gloved hands. Together with his fiercely loyal circle of creatives, he infiltrates the far-right New Guard, a shadowy and dangerous political movement with secrets that could shake the country to its core.
Anh Do is a Vietnamese-born Australian comedian, author, actor, and artist known for his warmth, humour, and inspiring life story. After fleeing Vietnam with his family as a young child, Anh built a new life in Australia through hard work and resilience.
He rose to fame as a stand-up comedian, appearing on television shows such as Thank God You’re Here and Good News Week, and later as the host of the popular ABC series Anh’s Brush with Fame, where he interviewed and painted prominent Australians. A four-time Archibald Prize finalist, Anh is also a celebrated artist.
The Happiest Refugee
In The Happiest Refugee, Anh Do shares his extraordinary journey from a perilous escape from war-torn Vietnam to becoming one of Australia’s most loved comedians. Facing deadly pirates, hunger, and uncertainty at sea, Anh and his family risked everything for a better life.
Life in Australia brought new struggles, poverty, cultural barriers, and the absence of his father, but Anh’s story is one of grit, gratitude, and laughter.
Explore More Australian Authors
Here’s to the voices inspired by Asian heritage. The writers who bridge two cultures. The creators who explore identity with courage, honesty, and imagination. Asian Australian writing is more than a genre, it’s a celebration of life, culture, and connection.
These Asian Australian writers are just a selection of the great authors we have in our collection. From short stories to poetry, cooking books, or fiction, you can read a range of genres by authors from our own backyard.
Explore our diverse range of books all by Australian authors. You can explore by Author or by Book to find your next great read.
Happy reading!