'The past few months have seen our industry undergo serious changes in terms of book distribution. In August Melbourne-based distributor Dennis Jones & Associates (DJA) ceased trading and entered voluntary liquidation. The human face of this news is that, sadly, Dennis Jones - a man who book-industry professionals refer to with praise and respect - has lost his business of 27 years. For more than 800 small publishers and self-publishers in Australia, DJA provided a vital service: offering those publishers distribution into bricks-and-mortar bookshops when other distributors weren't able to take them on. A lot of stock was left in the warehouse after the liquidation, but the Australian Society of Authors and the Small Press Network stepped in to help publishers pick up the pieces, and the Weekly Book Newsletter has since been filled with agency change announcements from distributors such as Woodslane, NewSouth, TL Distribution, Beribo and Booktopia Publisher Services. (Andrew Wrathall, Editorial introduction)
Contents indexed selectively.
'Publishing debut fiction in Australia is worith the risk, argues Affirm Press publisher Martin Hughes.'
Melbourne-based book distributor Dennis Jones & Associates (DJA) ceased trading and entered voluntary liquidation on 16 August.'
Finch Publishing announced in August that it will cease publishing in late December this year and owner Rex Finch will retire.'
'In August Michelle Scott Tucker commenced as executive director of the Stella Prize.'
'Kelsey Oldham investigates the role played by younger readers editions in the growth of children's nonfiction.'
'Aaron Blabey is the creator to the 'Pig the Pug' and 'The Bad Guys' series. Kelsey Oldham asks the author about his success.'
'While the UK remains a tough market for Australian publishers to break into, UK indies are showing an interest in Australian voices, reports Catherine Moller. '
'African and African-Australian writers are finding a voice in Australian literature, but they continue to face many challenges. Marisa Wikramanayake investigates. Stories from people of African descent are ‘largely missing from Australian writing’ said a call for submissions for Black Inc.’s Growing up African in Australia anthology. Edited by Maxine Beneba Clarke, the anthology is due to be published in 2019.' (Introduction)
'Emma Grey’s Tilly Maguire and the Royal Wedding Mess (HarperCollins, December) follows an 18-year-old aspiring writer who wins a six-week internship at a top London PR firm, and somehow gets wrapped up in an unexpected scandal involving the Royal Family. Reviewer Lorien Kaye spoke to the author.'
'Books + Publishing surveyed over 300 readers to create a detailed picture of employment in the book Industry. Jessica Harvie and Andrew Wrathall checked the stats.'
'Trade publishing consultant Julie Gibbs shares her career journey.'
'Kate Richards' Fusion tells the story of conjoined twins, their carer, and an injured stranger who is brought into their isolated bush home. Reviewer Jacqui Davies described it as 'part fairytale, part Australian Gothic thriller'. She spoke to the author.'
'Minnie Darke's Star-Crossed follows an aspiring journalist who begins to tinker with her paper's astrology section after learning that her crush consults his horoscope whenever he's faced with making big life decisions. Reviewer Kat Mayo praises Star-Crossed as 'a charming rom-com [and] a solid summer read'. She spoke to the author.'
