With a background that included Croatian, Scottish and English heritage, Jude Aquilina grew up in Magill, South Australia. She matriculated at Norwood High School and her early jobs included as a writer for Flim Flam Singing Telegrams and selling piano accordions. Jude's poetry and short stories are published across Australia and abroad. She has taught creative writing for three decades, at Flinders University, Adelaide College of the Arts, at libraries, schools, community centres and in a prison. Jude works as an educator, editor, writing mentor and is partner in Em-Dash Publishing. She has published four books with Wakefield Press including Knifing the Ice, On a Moon Spiced Night and WomanSpeak (with Louise Nicholas). Jude Aquilina lives in Milang and was the 2018 recipient of the Barbara Hanrahan Fellowship for her sustained contribution to South Australian literature.