K.J. Hayward

K.J. Hayward is home schooled and lives in a caravan, travelling Australia with her family and cheeky Jack Russell, Bruno.
Hayward attended her first open mic night in Ballarat and went on to win the Australian Poetry Slam on stage in the Sydney Opera House in just four public performances. Hayward has published in Teen Breathe, performed on ABC Radio and toured the states of NSW and Victoria.

K.J. enjoys listening to music, trying new foods, collecting kooky badges and relaxing under a night sky around a campfire with her family. Her poetry weaves stories of feminism, youth and her own journey of the transition between 'normal' school and home-school with the rap, rhythm and rhyme of slam.

Hayward’s debut collection of poetry, Puzzle, was published by Word Travels Press in 2024.