AUSTRALIAN POET RELEASES NEW BOOK – THE GREY BETWEEN – POETRY ON THE TRAUMA IN EVERYDAY LIFE
- Hill of Content

- Jul 23
- 2 min read
Medical Radiations academic and UniSA lecturer Nadine Ellis’ new poetry book, The Grey Between, shines an emotional spotlight on the challenges of everyday life: focusing on family dynamics, motherhood, imploding relationships, emotional damage, through to death and the wake left behind.
“I called this book The Grey Between because I like the grey shades of life, the in-between things. As a Radiographer by trade, I work with shadows that radiation leaves behind. Shadows that represent what is, but is not there … reflections, refraction, reduction. Things are never quite what they seem, albeit it’s in the interpretation,” said Ellis.
“The Grey Between as a semi-autobiographical display spans a period of my life and the impacts of my choices, compromises, sacrifices, the rebuilding of dignity, peacefulness, and experiences of love, with a spray of spite and loathing for added flavour.”

Having discovered recently, in her late fifties that she is both dyslexic and autistic, Ellis’ work gives insight to resilience, reminding us that while our experiences are individual, we all seek to make sense of our lives – the pain, trauma, and anxious emotions – as we traverse our journey to find meaning and the best of who we are.
Nadine is an abuse survivor whose story is characterised by resilience, overcoming trauma and abuse, and finding peace through personal transformation. For three decades Ellis has written poetry as a cathartic release, blending and processing her most intense life experiences. “I started writing poetry as therapy, when I was in my twenties with a failing marriage and three children, aged three and under.”
To support her family, Ellis completed High School as an adult in 2001, achieved entry into a Medical Radiations Degree, and eventually started a new career as a Medical Imaging Technologist. She went on to complete a Masters of Medical Radiations and has been a Lecturer, teaching into Medical Radiations at the University of South Australia for more than a decade. She is also currently a part-time student at UniSA, studying a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts.
“While my writing has always been for me, for my own catharsis, I aim to enable the reader’s own experiences to interact and colour where they can; visualise connections with my words, to their thoughts and feelings.”
“I want my poetry to touch people, to inspire them to reclaim their lives, to re-build from hopelessness. To give validation, and recognition, so individuals can begin to repair, knowing they are not alone in their experiences.”

Nadine Ellis’ poetry has previously appeared in America, and throughout Australia, within literary journals, and poetry anthologies. The Grey Between is her first book of collected poems.
To connect with Nadine go to nadineellis.com or you can find her at @nadineellispoetry
PUBLISHING DETAILS:
Title: The Grey Between
Published: Hill of Content Publishing
RRP: $26.00
ISBN: 978-1-7637882-0-6



