Alex Skovron was born in Poland, lived briefly in Israel, and emigrated to Australia in 1958, aged nine. Multi-award-winning, he has five collections to date: The Rearrangement (1988), Sleeve Notes (1992), Infinite City (1999), The Man and the Map (2003); and Autographs (2008). He has also published a prose novella, The Poet (2005). A number of his short stories have appeared in print. His New & Selected Poems is due in 2012.

Alison Wong is a third-generation Chinese-New Zealand novelist and poet, now an Australian Resident living in Geelong Australia. Her first novel, As the Earth Turns Silver was shortlisted for the prestigious 2010 Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and was longlisted for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Award. It won the 2009 Janet Frame Award for Fiction and the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Award for Fiction. Her poetry collection Cup, was shortlisted for many awards.

Andy Kissane is third-generation Irish-Australian and his people come from (and remain in) Kerry. He has published three books of poetry, Facing the Moon (1993), Every Night They Dance (2000) and Out to Lunch (2009). His first novel was Under the Same Sun (Sceptre, 2000) and he has a new book of short stories The Swarm (2012). He has been awarded a number of grants and won or been placed in many poetry competitions.

Dr Robyn Rowland AO is third generation Irish-Australian and has been living between Ireland (Connemara) and Australia for 30 years. Widely anthologized, she has published nine books, six of poetry, most recently Seasons of doubt & burning. New & Selected Poems (2010) representing 40 years of publication. Her poetry has recently appeared in Being Human, ed. Neil Astley, (Bloodaxe Books, UK, 2011). Robyn is winner of a number of poetry prizes. She has two CD’s: Off the Tongue and Silver Leaving – Poems & Harp with Irish harpist Lynn Saoirse.