Melanie Saward

Melanie Saward is a writer and academic whose work is helping to make the romance genre—and the publishing industry—more inclusive. Her creative writing and research centre Indigenous identity, intersectionality, and diversity, bringing fresh perspectives to Australian literature.

What She’s Done:

• Telling Inclusive Stories: Melanie’s debut novel Burn explores identity and belonging, while her co-authored teen romance A Good Kind of Trouble (written with Brooke Blurton) brings Indigenous perspectives into young adult fiction. Her stories are heartfelt, funny, and culturally rich—offering readers something they might not have seen before.

• Research That Informs Practice: Her PhD looked at how Indigeneity and intersectionality are represented in romantic fiction. That work directly shaped her romantic comedy Love Unleashed, which blends humour with cultural insight and challenges the usual tropes of the genre.

• Pushing for Change in Publishing: Melanie’s current research builds on her earlier work and dives into diversity in the publishing industry—a space she’s incredibly passionate about. She’s exploring the barriers that exist and advocating for more inclusive practices that support underrepresented voices.

Why It Matters:

Melanie’s work is about more than just telling good stories—it’s about changing who gets to tell them, and how. By bringing Indigenous experiences into popular genres and pushing for systemic change in publishing, she’s helping to shift the narrative and make space for others.

Real-World Impact:

• Her books have reached wide audiences and sparked important conversations about representation.
• Her research has contributed to discussions around diversity in Australian publishing.
• She’s regularly invited to speak at festivals, panels, and industry events, showing the growing recognition of her work.

Melanie Saward’s storytelling and research are helping to build a literary world that’s more reflective of the real one—diverse, complex, and full of possibility.