Boffins Books is thrilled to be the bookseller at Refugia with Elfie Shiosaki hosted by the Centre for Stories.
Join us for an unforgettable evening with Dr. Elfie Shiosaki, as she shares insights into her powerful new book, Refugia. This intimate discussion will delve into her creative process, the role of storytelling in shaping social and cultural narratives, and the impact she hopes her work will have.
This is more than just a book talk—it’s an invitation to reflect, learn, and engage with the urgent themes of Refugia in a deep and meaningful way. How do stories hold space for healing and resistance? What does it mean to create a refuge through writing? Together, we will explore these questions and more.
Boffins Books will be selling copies of Refugia on the night, and Elfie will be signing copies.
About Refugia
Refugia is an unparalleled work of vision and political fury from Noongar and Yawuru poet and scholar Elfie Shiosaki. Shortlisted for the 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards for Indigenous Writing, this collection draws on colonial archives to contest the occupation of Noongar Country.
Inspired by the beeliar (Swan River) and the NASA James Webb Space Telescope’s first year of science, Refugiaexamines memory, history, and the afterlife of imperial violence. As the bicentennial year of the colony of Western Australia approaches, Shiosaki looks both to the stars and back to the earth to make sense of deep time, place, and survival.
About the Author
Dr. Elfie Shiosaki is a Noongar and Yawuru poet, academic, and storyteller from the southwest region of Australia. She is a leader in community education, using her award-winning Indigenous storytelling practices to illuminate human rights and social justice.
Her previous book, Homecoming, was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and won the Emerging Writers Prize in the WA Premier’s Awards, solidifying her place as one of Australia’s most important literary voices.
