Kgshak Akec is a young writer, poet and lover of words

At 26 years old, Kgshak Akec is a passionate and dedicated writer, poet, and lover of words. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Creative Writing at Deakin University, and is also an artist in residence at Somebody's Daughter Theatre Company in Melbourne. 

Having learned how to write in English at the age of six, Kgshak has been transforming the stories of her mind into written words ever since. 

Unconstrained by genre, her writing is inspired by the small moments of the everyday – the untold words and unsung songs of life – and seeks to capture and transport the reader. 

Kgshak was born in South Sudan and now resides in Melbourne and Geelong. She recently published her debut novel, Hopeless Kingdom. She continues to explore the power of storytelling and world-building, creating works of art that are deeply rooted in truth.

Have you always known you wanted to write? How did that manifest as a child?

I had the wildest imagination as a kid,I’d think up all these stories, and characters who went on all these adventures, way before I learnt to write; and all I ever wanted to do was tell people about them, to share them. I have two younger sisters who are three and five years younger than I am. When we were little and one of us was struggling to get to sleep, mum or dad would tell us bedtime stories, but I remember right before they did that, I would insist on telling mine first. When I learnt how to write at six, I fell into the world of books and storytelling in the written word, and I’ve been immersed in that world ever since.

Your debut novel Hopeless Kingdom deals with migration and family dynamics, did you pull from your own life experience in telling this story?

Absolutely. The first draft of Hopeless Kingdom was honestly almost autobiographical, and in saying that, I had no intention of anyone outside my sisters or my mother reading it. But the more I wrote, the more these characters and their stories took on lives of their own and suddenly, it wasn’t about me anymore, but so many other migrant Australians, Sudanese Australians, and the African-Australian community as whole who I now share these stories with. 

How did you practice self care while writing a book that deals with some tough themes?

I wrote the first draft during the first lockdown of March 2020 and finished it three months later in May. It’s funny because even though the book deals with some very tough themes, channelling it, writing these things out was as confronting as it was cathartic and comforting. It was also a time of sheer boredom, during the lockdowns, but I’d set boundaries for myself to rest and take a break from writing whenever I felt like I needed it. I’d speak to my mother or my sisters whenever things got too heavy, and I would only continue writing when I wanted to because the last thing I wanted was for writing this story that I love so much to feel like a chore. 

Why was it important for you to share this Australian story?

Because we’re so underrepresented, Hopeless Kingdom is such a rare story, and a unique voice in Australian fiction. It sheds a light on the hues and complexities of the African Australian experience and speaks on what once was the unspoken. I have picked up so many Australian books by brilliant Australian authors and they have been some of my favourite stories ever for many reasons, but primarily because I love feeling familiar traces of home between pages. Even though there have been characters that I felt akin to, there was always that feeling that they were nothing like me, and that in every turn in my life, in many degrees, was deflating. 

You won the Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, how did that feel?

I was bewildered for a very long time, and just suspended in disbelief. I kept feeling like they’d made a mistake which to be honest – I don’t know what’s up with that. As an artist and a creator, you have to believe in your craft, but you prepare yourself for other people to do the opposite. In saying that, I’m so honoured to wear that title and I wear it with pride. 

Do you have another book in the works?

Yes! It’s very much in its early stages and I’m still ruminating and daydreaming as the characters become clearer in my mind as I get to know them. 

What advice do you have for young African Australian's who are hoping to share their story and get published?

Do it! Even the smallest steps count as a start. Do some research, look for opportunities around you because believe me, they’re there, even though they can be hard to see sometimes. Right now, there is a hunger for stories from people who have a story to tell, especially those from unique perspectives and experiences, make the most of it!

Finally, what do you like to do to relax?

I like relaxing by spending time with my loved ones, binge watching my favourite animated series’, I love to cook, to write, to paint and I love long nature walks. I’m very blessed because I live in Geelong and all around me are these beautiful nature reserves and the You-Yangs.

Interview Freya Bennett. Photographs Mia Mala McDonald

Hopeless Kingdom is available at QVWC SHOP