Born and raised in Newcastle, Mark Mordue is an internationally published journalist and poet. He is the author of the biography, BOY ON FIRE – THE YOUNG NICK CAVE (HarperCollins Australia). His first book of poetry, DARLINGHURST FUNERAL RITES (Transit Lounge, Melbourne, 2018), mapped a loose-weave journey through Sydney’s post-punk music scene during the 1980s. His next collection was VIA US – POEMS FROM INSIDE THE CORONA (digital only, 2020). His poetry combines lyricism and reportage; influences such as Lorca, Bukowski and Marc Bolan. He’s interested in harnessing the immediacy of online communications to connect poetry with what he calls ‘the existential news of the day’.