About the Author

Kelly Van Nelson is a contemporary author and poet from Newcastle upon Tyne. She lived in London, Edinburgh, Cape Town, L'Agulhas and Perth, before moving to Sydney, Australia. Her poems, short stories, and articles have been featured in numerous international publications and she regularly appears on radio and television discussing current issues prevalent in society. She is represented by The Newman Agency.Graffiti Lane, her powerful debut poetry collection, was showcased at the London Book Fair and became an instant number-one bestseller, raising awareness and influencing change around bullying, (c)Aleksander Walker @Storytrend mental health and suicide. Punch and Judy, her second bestselling poetry collection, puts the spotlight on domestic violence, generating much-needed conversation. Her third bestseller, Retrospective, explores the underbelly of urban life. She is also the author of Rolling in the Mud, a short story collection, and the curator of Globalisation: The Sphere Keeps Spinning, an anthology featuring several international poets. Her books are frequently gifted to Hollywood celebrities, music icons and Academy Award winners.Kelly is a 'KSP First Edition Fellowship' recipient; an AusMumpreneur 'Big Idea - Changing the World' gold award winner for her creative use of the literary word as an antibullying advocate; a double-gold 'Roar Success Award' winner for 'Best Book' (Graffiti Lane), and 'Most Powerful Influencer'; 'Social Media Star' silver award winner, and bronze winner of the 'Making A Difference' award. She is also a 'Telstra Business Women's Award' and 'CEO Magazine Managing Director of the Year' finalist.Kelly is the mum of two children, wife of her soulmate of more than two decades, TedX speaker and managing director on the executive board of a global organisation. In the spare time she doesn't have, you can find her hanging out on the open mic performing poetry around the world. In short, she is a juggler. www.kellyvannelson.com

Reviews

Kelly Van Nelson's website is titled with the description: EDGY STORIES FROM INSIDE THE MIND. I find this an apt description of her poetry. It's very edgy, an unfiltered musing on the darker elements present within society. The hidden, the insidious, the things people want to hide from. Her prose is powerful, and rather impressive. Kelly Van Nelson is a talent to watch for those interested in the Australian poetry scene. Theresa Smith Writes
This book is packed with heavy themes and raw, unfiltered poetry that speaks directly to the poet's experience of violence, abuse and bullying. The author's working-class upbringing informs her perspective, lingering in the corners of most poems, sometimes with nostalgia and sometimes with powerful, bitter resonance. Holden Sheppard, Author