Michael Aiken

Michael Aiken is a writer living and working in Sydney, Australia. His first notable publication was as Vibewire young poet-in-residence in 2004. In 2015 his first book, A Vicious Example, was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry and the Dame Mary Gilmore Prize. He has worked as a security guard, shop assistant, television extra, telephone sales manager, musician, chicken catcher, arts reviewer, census collector, security risk assessor, freelance journalist, trades assistant, life model, community worker and labourer in concreting, bricklaying, roofing and diamond drilling. He holds degrees in English literature and international security, and minor qualifications in information technology, ornamental iron forging and thermal cutting and welding.