Sweatshop Literacy Movement has released a new anthology, 'Love', showcasing stories, poems and essays about family, friendship, solidarity and romance.
The collection is the 15th title in Sweatshop's catalogue and brings together 35 writers from First Nations and culturally diverse communities across Australia.
The anthology invites readers into urban and suburban settings, inner lives and emotional experiences, offering different viewpoints on how people give and receive care.
Sweatshop Literacy Movement is led by Tongan-Australian writer Winnie Dunn, whose debut novel 'Dirt Poor Islanders' was published in 2024.
Ms Dunn oversees Sweatshop's programs to support new writers from culturally diverse and marginalised communities.
'Love' is edited by Vietnamese-Australian writer Ms Shirley Le, whose debut novel Funny Ethnics was released in 2023 through Affirm Press.
Ms Le said the anthology was being published at a time marked by uncertainty and loss.
"'Love' connects us all, as human beings, as communities, and as Australians," she said.
"This anthology seeks to show readers different paths to love and to be loved."
The collection includes First Nations writers such as Wiradjuri woman Luca Sawyer, Gooreng Gooreng, Munanjhalli and Ghungalu woman Luana Sanders and Whadjuk Noongar woman Luisa Mitchell.
Contributors include writers with backgrounds spanning First Nations, Latin American, African, Middle Eastern and other diasporas.
Writer Natalia Figueroa Barroso, of Uruguayan descent with Charrúa, Yoruba and Iberian heritage, contributes to the collection after previous work in Sweatshop Women, Between Two Worlds, Meanjin, Red Room Poetry, Overland and Griffith Review.
Her debut novel, Hailstones Fell Without Rain, will be published by UQP in 2025.
Egyptian-Australian writer and journalist Daniel Nour, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, Mascara Literary Review, The Big Issue and The Guardian, is also featured.
Mr Nour's debut memoir, 'How to Dodge Flying Sandals', is due for release through Affirm Press in 2025.
Lebanese-Australian writer Sheree Joseph, based on Dharug Country in Western Sydney, contributes work following publications in the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, SBS, Overland, Russh and Junkee.
Her first memoir, 'Juicy', will be published by Pantera Press in 2026.
The anthology also includes work by African-American writer Tyree Barnette, originally from North Carolina, whose essays and stories have appeared in SBS Voices, 'This Little Red Thing' and 'Racism: Stories on Fear, Hate & Bigotry'.
Mr Barnette's debut memoir, 'Stolen Man on Stolen Land', is scheduled for release by Simon & Schuster in 2026.
'Love' is distributed by NewSouth Books and is now available through major bookstores and online.
