K. A. Ren Wyld

K. A. Ren Wyld, also known as Ren Wyld, and formerly Karen Wyld, is an Aboriginal Australian writer of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She is known for her 2020 novel, Where the Fruit Falls, and her 2021 non-fiction picture book for children, Heroes, Rebels and Innovators: Inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from History.

Early life and education Wyld was born in South Australia, of Martu descent. Her grandmother's Country lies in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Wyld earned a Master of Arts by research from University of Technology Sydney

Career Writing Wyld writes fiction and non-fiction, some of which examines aspects of colonisation, displacement, the Stolen Generations, and Indigenous rights in Australia.

Wyld's 2020 novel, Where the Fruit Falls, and was published by UWA Publishing. Where the Fruit Falls won the Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript.

In 2021, Wyld's non-fiction picture book for children, Heroes, Rebels and Innovators: Inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from History, illustrated by Mununjali and Fijian illustrator Jaelyn Biumaiwai, was published. The book tells the stories of seven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during the years of early first contact with colonists. Among these are Dharug woman Patyegarang, who taught her language to the colonists at Sydney Cove in 1791, and the heroes of Gundagai, Yarri and Jacky Jacky, two Wiradjuri men who saved up to 70 settlers from drowning in a disastrous flood in 1852.

In 2024, an anthology of poetry and prose called The Rocks Remain: Blak Poetry and Story was published by Wakefield Press, co-edited by Wyld and Dominic Guerrera.

Appearances and other roles In 2023, she joined Palestinian American writer Susan Abulhawa and Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi writer and broadcaster Lorna Munro on a panel at Adelaide Writers' Week.

She appeared at Adelaide Writers' Week again in March 2025.

After Adelaide Writers' Week was cancelled in 2026 owing to a boycott by authors following the disinvitation of Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah, an event was organised by local community groups in its wake, called "Constellations: Not Writers' Week". Wyld programmed an afternoon of discussions titled "Rivers of Reason: Blak & Arab Writers in Conversation", and also appeared on another panel, titled "When We Refuse: Cultural boycotts, artist strikes and creative solidarity".

Rescindment of award Wyld made national headlines in May 2025 when, just hours before the ceremony in Brisbane on 20 May at which she was to receive one of two black&write! writing fellowships from the State Library of Queensland (SLQ), the award was rescinded on the instruction of Queensland arts minister John-Paul Langbroek. The decision was based on a 2024 tweet by Wyld about the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israel, in which she called him a "martyr" and praised him for "resisting colonisation". The fellowship had been awarded for Wyld's unpublished manuscript for a novel entitled Whichway Shimmering Dust, written to highlight that the "Bringing Them Home" report on the Stolen Generations was published nearly 28 years earlier, but only 6 per cent of the recommendations had so far been actioned.

Following the announcement, several panel judges for the Queensland Literary Awards resigned, including Jeanine Leane and writer and critic Nigel Featherstone. The Australian Society of Authors issued a statement condemning the action of the government. An open letter addressed to SLQ and the arts minister, signed by many notable First Nations writers as well as non-Indigenous allies, demanded "an immediate apology be offered to Ren Wyld and to the black&write! team, and for the fellowship to be reinstated in full". Formerly known as Karen Wyld, she now calls herself K.A. Ren Wyld. Her X handle is Ren Wyld and she is also referred to by others by this name.

Wyld lives on the south coast of South Australia. 2025: Shortlisted, black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship, for Whichway Shimmering Dust (won but rescinded, see above)