Join me at this event on 6 November to bear witness to the lives of Gazans experiencing genocide.
For one night, we’ll come together as a community to read the poetry and first-hand accounts of Palestinians who have had to flee their homeland, those who have been martyred, and those who are still surviving the daily nightmare. All ticket sales will go to families currently in Gaza to help them buy food, medicine and other necessities.
Book launch: Salvage by Jennifer Mills Thursday 19 June 2025 6:00 pm Readings Carlton 309 Lygon St, Carlton VIC Wurundjeri country Free but bookings essential
Oh hey it’s a new festival on the block! I’m doing a couple of things at the inaugural Footscray West Writers Fest, one filthy and one frugal. But which is which?
First Floor Fantasy Saturday 29 March 2025 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm Harley & Rose Upstairs 572 Barkly St, Footscray VIC 3012 (Please note: Access is via stairs) Tickets $15, book here
Indulge in an evening of quickfire erotic storytelling by local authors, including Jinghua Qian, Thuy On, Rochelle Siemienowicz, Aud Pitch.
Closing Night Event: Stories from the Belly of the West Sunday 30 March 2025 4 pm to 10 pm Harley & Rose 572 Barkly St, Footscray VIC 3012 Tickets $30, book here
Join us for the festival’s unforgettable closing night event, Stories from the Belly of the West, where six talented authors share brand-new site-specific works after taking up the most ramshackle writers-in-residence program imaginable. Jinghua Qian takes us to Savers, Emilie Collyer to Rex Hairdressing, Sam Elkin to WeFo Dog Park, Tina Cartwright to The South Road Coin Laundry, Alice Pung to Cheaper By Miles, and Rijn Collins takes us under the Westgate Bridge, with each tale offering a fresh perspective on the vibrant heart of the community. Don’t miss this celebration of place, creativity, and storytelling to mark the festival’s finale. Enjoy music from The Orbweavers during the event.
Check out the whole festival program, it’s a banger with events featuring Maxine Beneba Clarke, André Dao, Ernest Price, Liz Crash, Najma Sambul, Benjamin Millar, the students of Footscray High School, and basically all your fave westies. Amazing work from Jess, Donita and Reem!
My second gig of the year is this one. Not sure what I’m reading yet but it’s billed as “spoken turd”!
Queer Shit Show: Shitsumma Special Friday 7 February 2024 7:00 pm to midnight Pony Club Gym 488 High St, Preston VIC 3072 Tickets $10-$20 | Booking, line-up and access info here
My first gig of the year is this, I’ll be reading a couple of silly sexy poems (including a Banjo Patterson parody).
Wicked Words x Archer Magazine Thursday 23 January 2025 7:00 pm to 10:00pm Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre 189 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 Tickets $25-$40 | Booking and access info here
Liz and I will be chatting about anti-carceral history, Yarra Bend Park and the long-awaited second season of our podcast at Collingwood Library next week, please come join!
Underfoot: The Facility Monday 7 October 2024 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Collingwood Library 11 Stanton Street, Abbotsford VIC 3066 Free, book here
Okay I am the worst because I keep forgetting to promote anything until it’s already sold out! But if you managed to snag a ticket, Liz and I are doing another local history talk with the beautiful folks at Williamstown Library.
Williamstown, Underfoot Thursday 18 July 2024 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Williamstown Library 104 Ferguson Street Williamstown VIC 3016 Book here
Today, Williamstown is best known as a picturesque seaside suburb, but its past was anything but tranquil.
Join local historian Liz Crash and writer Jinghua Qian as they delve into Willy’s hidden histories, uncovering tales of gambling dens, Chinese laundries, lady boxers, waterfront brawls, brothel sponsorship chaos, and Australia’s worst morgue. You can also discover how to unearth these buried stories yourself.
I’m so excited for this one! A multigenerational line-up of storytellers surrounded by projected images of unapologetic dykes from the archives of Wicked Women (1988–96), an erotic zine published by Lisa Salmon and Jasper Laybutt. I’ll be reading my dirty Lex posts/poems, drinking up the queer gaze. Horny on main, we love it.
Wicked Words is a storytelling event that celebrates dyke and queer and trans sexuality. Gird your loins and prepare yourself to be swept off your feet. The lineup of storytellers includes Maude Davey, Jinghua Qian, Annaki Kisses, Tomoko Yamasaki, Gavril Aleksandrs, Bumpy Favell, and Lisa Salmon with videopoems by ReVerse Butcher.
Wicked Words Saturday 29 June 2024 7 pm to 10 pm Victorian Pride Centre 79-81 Fitzroy Street St Kilda VIC 3182 Tickets here
Join me, Tony Birch, Harry Saddler and Meyer Eidelson at Willy Lit Fest next week for a seaside chat about our fave rivers.
The confluence of the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers is of great ecological, psychogeographical and cultural significance—in particular to the Woi Wurrung and Boonwurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation. Take an armchair journey along the river with Harry Saddler (A Clear Flowing Yarra), Meyer Eidelson (Melbourne Dreaming), Tony Birch (Ghost River) and Jinghua Qian (Underfoot).
Where two rivers meet Saturday 15 June 2024 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm The Chamber, Williamstown Town Hall 104 Ferguson Street, Williamstown VIC 3016 Tickets from $20
Jinghua Qian 