Jo Hilder

Author and artist, and speaker from the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Jo can be found at johilder.com

She has self-published three books, co-authored and edited three more with other authors, and Rhiza Press published her book Small and Pure - A Cautionary Tale in June 2016.

She is a cancer survivor, diagnosed with stage 3B Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2013. Jo writes honestly about being a white, privileged and middle-aged, along with other depressing topics including living with bipolar disorder, running a business mid-COVID19, and remembering not to be rude to others.

Jo has been involved in creative arts since the 1980's, studying, teaching and working professionally across various spheres including drama and acting, singing and songwriting, art design and advertising media production, web design and blogging, screenprinting, clip art and stamp block design, leadlighting, fabric art design and quilting, painting and drawing, sculpture, clothing design and upcycling and jewellry making.

Jo is also a qualified and experienced support group facilitator and community advocate, having held various roles with the NSW Cancer Council including Programs Coordinator and Relationship Manager. She continues to work closely with the organisation, speaking at events and assisting with training and advocacy.

Jo's writing and commentary can be seen on ABC News Blog (AUS), ABC The Drum - Unleashed (AUS), Mamamia (AUS),, Marie Claire magazine (AUS), The Newcastle Herald (AUS), Burnside Writers Collective (USA), RelevantMagazine.com (USA), Darkwood Brew (USA), BlogHer (USA) among other nefarious places on the internet.

"With haunting and hilarious honesty, Jo Hilder can be as reflective as Henri Nouwen, as bold as Anne Lamott, and as thunderous as fellow Aussies ACDC. Jo's inspiring journey is truly high voltage."

Bert Montgomery,

Writer, teacher and minister

"The only way I know of to develop a writing voice worth sharing is to become a person who has weathered a great storm well. Jo has weathered more than her share and the result is beautiful. Surviving cancer and marital difficulties has left Jo a witty, gritty, and fearless writer. Reading Jo's work makes me laugh, think, and get angry. She makes me feel, which just might be the greatest gift a writer can share."

Larry Shallenberger

Pastor and Author

"Jo's voice is exactly what the world needs right now - unabashed, unashamed, and uninhibited. Jo's work has become essential at Burnside Writer's Collective, where her authentic, relatable voice prods readers to push the envelope of their spiritual experience and break into a new kind of being."

Kim Gottschild

Associate Editor, Burnside Writer's Collective

"Jo Hilder is cantankerous, opinionated, objectionable, tough, courageous, raw, vulnerable, insightful and above all daringly honest. Just the qualities needed in one who confront emperors and points to their nakedness. When others pretend tough issues can be glossed over, Jo points to the fact that there's a complicated elephant in the room that can't be ignored. Never one to blindly follow the crowd or to regurgitate someone elses teaching, Jo's ideas stem from her breadth of life experience, depth of original insights and her courageous capacity to be true to herself and tell it exactly as she sees it. Should I ever act like a naked emperor I'll look to Jo to recommend an honest tailor."

Paul Macklin

Director, Amazing People