Community Publishing in Regional Australia

01/08/2024

The Book Cow - Kingston is a family owned and independent bookstore based in Kingston, Canberra! We have come across them frequently in the course of our research into independent publishing, and they stock a great range of books and actively support local authors.

25/07/2024

Click the link below to read this excellent article by team member Professor Sandra Phillips, recently published in Pursuit. Sandra writes on three possible examples of education for Indigenous Futures and First Language learning across schools in Australia could look like into the future.

This article was published for NAIDOC week: "Keep the Fire Burning. Blak, Loud and Proud." In her article Sandra asks the questions "What if Indigenous-authored literature in Australian schools had centrality? What if our pedagogies and teaching enabled such inter-cultural knowledge among students within Australia? Could this be a way to systematically and collectively advance Education for Indigenous Futures?"

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/what-education-for-indigenous-futures-could-look-like

19/07/2024

Secrets Hidden Below is the first book in The Adamson Adventures series, by Canberra author Sandra Bennett. It was longlisted for the Sisters in Crime 2019 Children’s Category, Davitt Awards and Shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards 2019!

"Let Zac, Clare and Luke draw your kids along on a learning journey they will never forget, to a place they might never have experienced before. A message in a bottle buried in the sand on Kuta beach leads the family and readers on a trail of secret clues in search of guardian snakes, mysterious temples and volcano spirits. Kids can’t resist a pirate treasure and readers will laugh at the antics as the trio uncover much more than they anticipate."

12/07/2024

We had an amazing time at the SHARP (Society for the History of Authorship, Reading, and Publishing) conference last week!

Alex Dane and Kim Wilkins both presented on some of our research findings from the fieldwork we have conducted so far. Alex’s presentation was “Against Placelessness: Publishing in and for the Community” and focused on the theoretical framework for our project; and Kim presented “In the Middle of Nowhere and Everywhere: Global Creative Communities.” They were also joined on their panel by Ellen Barth, whose presentation examined the proliferation of feminist cookbooks produced by grassroots feminist organisations.

04/07/2024

Riveted Press are an independent publisher based in Brisbane specialising in children's fiction! Formerly known as Yellow Brick Books, the covers of their books are whimsical and beautiful, and they publish junior fiction, middle fiction, YA, and graphic novels.

27/06/2024

We came across this delightful cover this week! Shiny is written by Jenny Ward and published by Perth-based Linellen Press.

Shiny tells the story of six-year-old Tim who has to write a story before the end of term, but has no idea what to write about. Then he comes across Shiny out in the bush. With dreams of being recycled, Shiny gives Tim some great ideas.

To be honest we aren’t entirely sure what kind of creature Shiny is – but we’re intrigued!

21/06/2024

Annie Seaton Author is a prolific award winning romance author based in regional NSW. She works to raise awareness of Australian rural fiction and administers a website which highlights many authors who live in regional Australia. https://www.australianruralfiction.com/

Annie publishes her novels with ASA and with HQ Books. They all sound incredible, but I was particularly intrigued by her Porter Sisters series, which starts with the novel ‘Kakadu Sunset’ “Helicopter pilot Ellie Porter loves her job. Soaring above the Kakadu National Park, she feels freed from the questions around her father’s su***de and the heavy loss of her beloved family farm. But when a search-and-rescue mission on the boundary of the old farm reveals unusual excavation works, Ellie vows to investigate. The last thing she needs is her bad-tempered copilot, Kane McLaren, interfering.”

13/06/2024

Charlotte Nash is a genre-crossing Queensland author!

Charlotte/Charlie’s books are published under the delightfully named “Flying Nun Publishers” and her books include The Horseman – “escape to the high country in this passionate love story of a young doctor and a legendary horseman whose lives become inextricably linked” and Men and Machines I – “A predatory ship of legend stalks an Earth-bound transport. A damaged corporate soldier battles hell on an alien planet – and in his head. A salvage crew goes hunting for profits and ends up in a desperate race for their lives – and everyone else’s.”

We love coming across these amazing authors as part of our research 😍

07/06/2024

Some highlights from the very successful launch of Beth's newest book What Readers Do at Readings earlier this week! The event was opened by Kim Wilkins who reflected on the themes of the book and her own life as a reader, followed by Beth speaking about the book and reading a short - and excellent - excerpt. The event was concluded by playing "Book Superfight!" and then with book signings and cupcakes.

30/05/2024

Today's author spotlight is on West Australian-based author and illustrator: Joan Whitehead!

Joan writes and illustrates children's books, her most recent featured here has the great name of "The Frogtastic Adventures of Chip and Pug." Other titles include "The Four Seasons of Sammy Snail" and "Not Green;" her books are published with Jumble self-publishing and editing services, and Austin Macauley Publishers.

23/05/2024

Come join research team members Beth Driscoll and Kim Wilkins for the exciting launch of Beth's newest book: What Readers Do!

What Readers Do is the product of nearly two decades of qualitative research into readers and reading culture. It examines reading through three dimensions - aesthetic conduct, moral conduct, and self-care - to show how readers intertwine private and social behaviors, and both reinforce and oppose the structures of capitalism. The launch will be Monday 3rd June, 6.30pm, at Readings in Carlton.

The event is free but registration is required - click the link to book your place now!

Join us to celebrate the launch of Dr Beth Driscoll's What Readers Do. The product of nearly two decades of qualitative research into readers and reading culture, What Readers Do examines reading through three dimensions - aesthetic conduct, moral conduct, and self-care - to show how readers intertw...

16/05/2024

A spotlight on an interesting self-published book! Double Cross, a crime novel by self-published author Tania Park, tells the story of Research Scientist Shane Douglas, who has just discovered a cure for pancreatic cancer.

"He is about to release his final report when strange things occur and Shane figures someone is after his discovery. He goes to great pains to hide his research while his adversary goes to equally great pains to find it. Investigating his suspects leads him to realise he doesn't know the men he has worked with for the past ten years as well as he thought. The only person he can trust is himself."

09/05/2024

It's been a while since our last publisher spotlight! Meet Hendrix & Faust Publishers, an independent publisher based in the Victorian High Country, publishing books in the science fiction and fantasy genres "for both the young and the young at heart." Their featured author is Belinda Crawford, Author, "a science fiction and fantasy author for readers who like their stories action-packed, with diverse characters, butt-kicking heroines and complex worlds."

02/05/2024

While in Broken Hill we had the pleasure of meeting Christine Adams, a local historian who has authored multiple books about Broken Hill including: Sharing the Lode: the Broken Hill Migrant Story, and A Monumental History: Stories of the Broken Hill cemetery

Sharing the Lode was published by the Broken Hill Migrant Heritage Committee in partnership with the Broken Hill Migrant Museum, the NSW Migration Heritage Centre and was supported by the Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW.

30/04/2024

Guess what, friends. We have another writing competition for you! Head to the link below for all the details. Entries close on 20th May, but don't worry - it's only 100 words, so there's plenty of time to put pen to paper.

Details here: https://backroompress.com.au/index.php/writing-opportunities/

24/04/2024

Team members Kim Wilkins and Alex Dane have recently returned from their research trip to Winton! The third of four fieldwork trips we have planned for this project.

Winton is thought to be the first place Banjo Patterson performed Walzing Matilda, having written the song while visiting nearby Dagworth Station, and the town now pays homage to their literary history with locations such as Waltzing Matilda Centre, Banjo's Bar, and book and coffee store, The Lost Poet!

More recently it was discovered that Winton is home to some significant dinosaur fossils, including Australia's largest dinosaur fossil, and the only known location of a fossilised dinosaur stampede! The Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum in Winton publish many of their own resources and materials on Australia's dinosaur history.

18/04/2024

Read all about our recent fieldwork trip to Broken Hill in the latest issue of our newsletter! Also featured: a link to our latest publication, and a publishing tip highlighting the different types of edits you should do on your manuscript 🤓

Make sure to subscribe to receive future updates, and please share with your networks!

Fieldwork in Broken Hill, a new publication, and a publishing tip!

11/04/2024

While in Broken Hill we were able to visit three of Broken Hill's four bookshops!

Under the Silver Tree was founded as a cooperative bookstore in 2016 and works to provide the region with opportunities to engage in reading and writing through, among other things, a donation program and writing competitions. They stock donated second hand books, and new books that are of interest to the local community.

Next up was The Broken Hill Bookshop! The Broken Hill Bookshop specialises in new releases, Alison Lester products, travel and camping books, prints, cards and gifts.

And finally we stopped by the One More Page Book Emporium, which is the bookselling arm of Big Sky Stories and specialise in children's books. Big Sky Stories aims to provide the children and families of the NSW outback a place to gather and be inspired through sharing the world of books, storytelling and the creative arts.

Stay tuned for an upcoming newsletter post where we will share more about our time in Broken Hill! Subscribe here: https://substack.com/

05/04/2024

We're getting excited!!

We also now have details about our drop-in session! If you want to just pop-by and ask Alex and Kim a few questions or have a chat, come by the Neighbourhood Centre in Winton 11th April between 11am and 1pm 🥳

28/03/2024

We're just back from Broken Hill and already knee deep in preparations for our next fieldwork trip to Winton! If you know anyone in Central West Qld who wants to publish a book 📚, make sure you tell them about our upcoming workshop!

We have a two-hour workshop on independent publishing, lead by publishing experts Kim Wilkins and Alexandra Dane on 10th April 11am -1pm. Topics covered include: editing, cover design, and typesetting for print and ebooks. We will look at what you can do yourself on easy-to-use websites, and where to find help if you need it. We will also discuss different strategies for getting your book out into the world, online or through bricks-and-mortar stores.

We will also have a drop-in session where you can come and ask all of your burning questions! Keep your eyes peeled for more details 👀

Our fieldwork trip to Winton is being organised in partnership with Winton Shire Council

27/03/2024

If you're in the Winton area and have experience publishing your own book, we want to interview you!

Researchers from the Community Publishing in Regional Australia project will be in Winton 8th to 12th April and are seeking interview participants.

We are looking for:
- Any genre (including romance, poetry, non-fiction, history)
- Self-published / community group published
- Other involvement in publishing / book selling

If you have experience in publishing your own book please get in touch with Alexandra Dane at [email protected]

20/03/2024

Some great photos from the Blak & Bright Writers Festival this past weekend! Research team member Sandra Phillips was in attendance, along with Tisha Perrurle Carter and Marie Elene Ellis from Running Water Community Press - who we were able to visit last year during our fieldwork trip to Mparntwe / Alice Springs! They spoke on the Language Lives and the Blak Imprints panels.

19/03/2024

Exciting news!

Tune in to the Bigger, Brighter Brekkie Show with Mike Herd on 2BH radio tomorrow morning at 7.30am to hear Beth Driscoll and Alexandra Dane chat about our research project, the Independent Publishing Workshop (also tomorrow!), and how their fieldwork trip to Broken Hill has been so far!

18/03/2024

Entries for Publishable 2024, Queensland Writers Centre's 15th annual national manuscript development program for emerging writers are now open.

Check out the entry guidelines, polish your manuscript and get in it to win it! https://queenslandwriters.org.au/competitions

14/03/2024

Our publisher spotlight this week is Halo & Claws Publishing! Halo & Claws Publishing publishes romance novels by Milly Rose and Emily Bourne: Author .

Milly Rose describes herself as the quintessential shy girl, who can be contacted via her mailing list and monthly email blasts. She spends her days vying for her cat’s affection, dreaming up her next book boyfriend, and writing a fun meet-cute under candlelight with a lovely brewed cup of tea.

Emily Bourne is an author from central west NSW. She writes books about self-discovery and finding love. Believing, you can't have a romantic relationship that works until you truly love yourself. She specialises in teen and young adult novels about social issues, layered with romantic suspense.

07/03/2024

The Andrew McMillan Memorial Retreat 2024 is open. Andrew McMillan (Strict Rules; Catalina Dreaming; An Intruder’s Guide to Arnhem Land),…

07/03/2024

Independent Publishing Workshop
Join Dr Alexandra Dane and A/Prof Beth Driscoll to gain insights on the processes of editing, designing, marketing, and distributing print, eBooks, and audiobooks at the Aged Persons Rest Centre on Blende Street on 20th March 2024 from 12pm to 2pm. For additional details, please visit: https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/school-of-culture-and-communication/our-research/research-projects/community-publishing-in-regional-australia

07/03/2024

The Thermopylae Bound series is written and published by Wangaratta based Belinda Harrison. This is an epic fantasy series set in Greece between 510BC and 480BC. And it certaintly sounds epic!

The first novel follows the characters Skylar and Alexis, Skylar has spent the past six winters travelling throughout Attica and the Peloponnese assisting those who requested aid, her father her only companion. Princess Alexis of Trachis has spent the past five winters with the fearsome tribe of Molossians in Epirus, honouring the alliance her betrothal formed. Two women with nothing in common. But when Skylar saves Alexis' life, an invisible bond is formed, igniting an undeniable attraction.

The books can be purchased online, as well as from local bookstores in Wangaratta and Violet Town.