more than these bones

more than these bones is an epic and intercontinental poetry work detailing the author's journey through heartbreak and self-discovery. The book is rooted in place. Pieces land in multiple settings - the bar, the beach, the bush and sometimes, the bedroom, each location lending itself to another dimension of his story so far. The canopy of this collection stretches seamlessly from chic to ancient, from tender to tough, as Backhouse's writing offers a vital, polyphonic voice for our times. Alongside his words are photographs and hand-drawn expressions which speckle the page, every line the tattoo of an echo. more than these bones is filled with a love of flesh, of others, of country and eventually, for self.

Bebe Oliver is a descendant of the Bardi Jawi people of the Kimberley region of north-Western Australia, and an award-winning writer who's called Naarm home for many years. Beginning his artistic practice as a classical pianist and composer, Bebe later made a name for himself as a producer and director of theatre, festivals, and public art projects across Australia, including international dance and theatre projects in New Zealand, France, and Belgium. A leader in designing high-profile programs and strategic projects for diverse communities, his senior leadership positions at prolific organisations across Naarm have allowed him to successfully foster many opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives to showcase their work in mainstream platforms, allowing Traditional Culture to thrive in a public space. A writer, poet, illustrator, speaker, and facilitator living on the unceded land of the Kulin
peoples, Bebe's works encompass love, loss, identity, Aboriginal and gay existence, place, and Country. Bebe's debut solo poetry collection is more than these bones (Magabala, 2023).