Ainsley MacLean is a published poet and short story writer based in Kendenup, Western Australia. Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), his work spans the visceral, the mythic, and the sharply humorous, exploring themes of endurance, human vulnerability, ritual, and the everyday absurdities of life.

His poetry, from the haunting reflections of 1944 to the biting satire of The Anti-Christmas Poem, has been published in the Voices of the South anthology and read on Great Southern FM Radio, showcasing his distinctive voice across print and radio. His fiction, including works like Stream of Consciousness, blends immersive, speculative worlds with emotional intensity, drawing readers into ritual, sacrifice, and the human condition.

MacLean’s writing mirrors his visual art: confronting, disciplined, and uncompromising, offering glimpses of beauty and insight in unexpected places, informed by a lifetime of navigating chronic illness.