Abusers, thats what they do. They only need one punching bag, not two. Treat everyone around them like gold, just not you, to pack the biggest punch. An empowering collection of poetry from bestselling, Cypriot-Australian poet, Koraly Dimitriadis, exploring all the different ways a person can experience abuse.
Koraly Dimitriadis is a Cypriot-Australian writer, performer and author of the poetry books Love and Fuck Poems, Just Give Me The Pills, She’s Not Normal. Her poetry is bestselling for the poetry genre in Australia and her books have won and have been shortlisted for international prizes. Her short story collection is The Mother Must Die (Puncher and Wattmann). Her poems have been translated and published in Polish, Czech, Greek and Greek-Cypriot journals and anthologies, and she has had short stories, essays and poems published in Southerly, Etchings, Overland, Unusual Works, Social Alternatives, Meanjin, Solid Air (UQP), Resilience (Ultimo/Mascara), Foyer (UK), Harana (UK) and others. Koraly’s poetry films have won international prizes, have screened at festivals and been televised, including SBS on demand and the Sydney Opera House for Red Room Poetry. Koraly has performed internationally, including The Poetry Café (London), The Bowery (New York), Rage Con (Berlin), Milosz Festival (Krakow). Koraly’s poetic theatre monologue “I say the wrong things all the time” premiered at La Mama in 2016. Koraly was an associate artist at Theatre Works in 2021. She performed as part of Outer Urban Projects’s theatre ensemble Poetic License for numerous years which included productions at Melbourne Writers Festival (Footscray Community Arts Centre) and 45 Downstairs. Koraly’s personal essays and opinion articles have been published widely across Australia in publications such as ABC, SBS, The Age and News.com.au, with international publications in The Independent (UK), Shondaland, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Today show (USA) and Al Jazeera. Koraly has been awarded residencies at UNESCO City of Literature residency in Krakow, Wheeler Centre, Chantilly, HOANI (Cyprus) and Moreland Council. Koraly holds a diploma in professional writing/editing (RMIT) and a double degree in accounting/computing (Monash). She has spoken on panels, run workshops, taught poetry at RMIT, and has been interviewed on television and radio including ABC’s The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine. www.koralydimitriadis.com
The recent media regarding the cancellation of Dr Randa Abdel Fattah for Adelaide Writers Week has made Koraly Dimitriadiss new poetry book even more relevant, as she has a whole chapter of poetry dedicated to bullying and blacklisting she has experienced in the Australian literary sector. She also has recent poetry about the Silvagni case. One poem, which she read online, has amassed 200,000 views to date.
Koraly has also just recently launched a new festival/symposium, Greek Women Speak, smashing taboos in multicultural Australia.
"- “That’s what they do” is a collection of poems exploring the different ways a person might experience emotional abuse: from friendships, family, cultural background, romantic relationships, work, society. It is a collection aimed to bring comfort to those who have experienced emotional abuse so they feel less alone. The author writes in an honest way to connect with readers, writing of her own personal experiences resulting in a powerful text.
-Violence often begins with emotional abuse. With the increase in violence against women, this book brings the issue to the forefront of the literary cannon.
- Koraly Dimitriadis is a bestselling in the Australian poetry genre. This is her third poetry book. As a divorced single mum from a working-class background, Koraly is self-made and self-published and has sold thousands of copies. Her books have always been censored by Amazon and as such she has not reached her full potential. In 2025 Love and Fck Poems (2011) won best book of narrative poetry at the Legacy Book Awards at American Book Fest. In 2023 it was longlisted for the UK Poetry Book Awards. In 2024 Just Give Me The Pills (2018) won best book of poetry (narrative) at American Book Fest. She’s Not Normal was published in 2024.
-In today’s fast-paced world, accessible poetry is a quick and enjoyable read. We have seen the success of other poets such as Rupi Kaur, Hera Lindsay Bird, Lang Leav. Koraly’s poetry is not boring. It is honest and raw and isn’t afraid to say things directly, which differentiates her from other poets. She is celebrated for her honesty in a world that is by default dishonest.
-Australia, and in particular, Melbourne, has the biggest population of Greeks outside of Athens, yet we don’t often see mainstream books by Greek female authors. Greek/Italian women are hungry for books that speak to their experience.
-Koraly is visible: she performs her poetry in theatres, at poetry events, both nationally and internationally. She has toured Europe, the USA, New Zealand and around Australia. Her poetry films, which are available on YouTube, also make her visible. Her poetry films have been selected and won prizes at international film festivals and have screened on-demand on SBS. She publishes opinion articles/personal essays and has had over 160 articles published in major Australian publications such as SBS, ABC, The Age, News.com.au, and internationally in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, Shondaland and The Today show (USA). She has an engaged following on social media, with Facebook of 3,300, 3,300 Instagram, Twitter 1,700, 3,500 Tiktok where she posts daily commentary. Her short story collection, The Mother Must Die, was published in 2024 with Puncher and Wattmann.
-Koraly has received state and federal funding for her arts in Australia and Cyprus and has been awarded various residencies including a Wheeler Centre fellowship and the UNESCO City of Literature residency (Krakow)
“… a voice of reason or a reckless rebel.”
– Channel Nine News
“Koraly Dimitriadis is a poet of the finest balance. She writes with the tenderness of a loving hand and a fist that smashes oppression.” – Tony Birch, bestselling author, White Girl, and Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature.
“I am so obsessed with Koraly. Her work is disarming, emotionally fearless and she sounds like nobody else alive. I will read her poetry forever.” – Hera Lindsay Bird, international, bestselling poet, Pamper Me To Hell And Back
“Dimitriadis’s writing is committed, honest and powerful. She’s fearless and so her stories and words are vital, they are alive.” – Christos Tsiolkas, award-winning author, The Slap
“Relentlessly bold, unapologetic, and humorous at all the right times. If one can detect a new wave of Australian poetry on the rise, it’s due in no small part to the pioneering efforts of Koraly Dimitriadis.”
– Ruby Hamad, author, White Tears, Brown Scars
“Ms Dimitriadis is the voice of an angry Australia. Her anger is for the disaffected, the voiceless and the invisible.
– Paul Capsis, award-winning performer
“She dishes the dirt, and she’s not afraid of anything. Her writing is coming for you, so you’d better just accept it … a voice that literally demands to be heard.”
– Overland Literary Journal
“The kind of honesty that can only come about after being wound-up, held writhing, repressed and silenced.”
– Disclaimer Magazine (UK)
“She is merciless … astounding.” – Stage Whispers
“A traditionalist’s nightmare ... searingly honest explorations of life ...” – Junkee
“Dimitriadis’ poems are explosively political and humane.”
– Andy Jackson, award-winning poet, Human Looking"
Publicity:
* This book will have a book launch in February promoted by the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria.
* Review copies will be sent out in advance and author quotes sourced. It will also be promoted on social media.
The recent media regarding the cancellation of Dr Randa Abdel Fattah for Adelaide Writers Week has made Koraly Dimitriadiss new poetry book even more relevant, as she has a whole chapter of poetry dedicated to bullying and blacklisting she has experienced in the Australian literary sector. She also has recent poetry about the Silvagni case. One poem, which she read online, has amassed 200,000 views to date.
More here
Koraly has also just recently launched a new festival/symposium, Greek Women Speak, smashing taboos in multicultural Australia.
The recent media regarding the cancellation of Dr Randa Abdel Fattah for Adelaide Writers Week has made Koraly Dimitriadiss new poetry book even more relevant, as she has a whole chapter of poetry dedicated to bullying and blacklisting she has experienced in the Australian literary sector. She also has recent poetry about the Silvagni case. One poem, which she read online, has amassed 200,000 views to date.
More here
Koraly has also just recently launched a new festival/symposium, Greek Women Speak, smashing taboos in multicultural Australia.
