News + Articles
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Kavita Bedford
We had the most exciting opportunity to sit down with Kavita Bedford to ask about her debut novel, Friends & Dark Shapes, one of the shortlisted titles for the 2022 SPN Book of the Year Award.
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Anwen Crawford
No Document (Giramondo) is a grief-stricken book that tries to locate presence within the material layers of loss, finding hope in art, kinship and collective action. Anwen Crawford balances the emotional charge of the book with thoughtful experiments in how to use the field of the page to express and contain the way grief can […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Eleanor Jackson
Gravidity and Parity (Vagabond Press) is a poignant and intricate collection of poetry that guides the reader into the journey of motherhood, pulling no punches in how it addresses and details all that is often unsaid or unknown about pregnancy. The book is set during the COVID pandemic, and author Eleanor Jackson beautifully encapsulates this all-too-familiar […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Poppy Nwosu
‘Hometown Haunts (Wakefield Press) showcases some of the best voices Australian YA fiction has to offer in this sometimes strange, sometimes terrifying collection of short horror. This anthology acts as a reminder of how it feels to explore the unknown: unknown genre, unknown worlds, unknown lives. Editor Poppy Nwosu has compiled an anthology that celebrates and […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author SJ Norman
‘Permafrost (UQP) is a collection of stories that delve into uncomfortable spaces that lie beneath familiar experiences of travel, love and loss. SJ Norman’s work presents an exciting, unsettling and engaging new voice that explores the human diasporic experience, bringing a queer and unique take on the gothic romantic tradition.’ —BOTY 2022 judging panel We […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Patrick Lenton
‘Sexy Tales of Paleontology (Subbed In) is a laugh-out-loud delight. This anthology is full of surprises: stories that demonstrate a wicked sense of humour and a keen eye towards contemporary celebrity culture, and the performances that play out in our daily lives. Patrick Lenton uses the short story to experiment with the absurd realities of […]
The Book of the Year Award 2022: Shortlist Announcement
Sponsored by BookPeople and Ingram. The Small Press Network is honoured to announce the shortlist for the 2022 Book of the Year Award (formerly the Most Underrated Book of the Year Award). The award was first presented under its new name in 2020, marking a new direction for the Small Press Network and its membership. […]
Meet Associate Producer Ky Nolan
G’day! I’m Ky—I go by they/them and I’m thrilled to be your Associate Producer (Writing Lead) for Small Press Network’s 2022 Independent Publishing Conference. Australian indie literature is my first love, so the opportunity to work with SPN is a dream come true. A Naarm (Melbourne) local, I grew up riding my urban steed (push […]
Meet Associate Producer Fiona Wallace
My name’s Fiona (she/her) and I’m one of the new Associate Producers for the 2022 Independent Publishing Conference.
Meet Associate Producer Carla Di Maggio
I’m Carla (she/they) and I am so excited to be working with SPN as an Associate Producer for the IPC 2022!
BOTY 2022: Meet the Judges
We’ve received a varied and vibrant array of entries to the 2022 Book of the Year Award, covering nearly every genre we can think of and adding up to a record 93 titles submitted! Needless to say, the judges for this year’s award will be busy reading over the coming months. While you wait for […]
Call for Papers: Publishing Futures
Book publishing is a forward-thinking cultural sector. There is no shortage of articles, Twitter posts, and think pieces discussing emerging publishing trends and speculating about the future of publishing. Predictions over the eventual dominance of eBooks seemed to put the future of the print book at stake. Beyond the ‘format wars’, digital technologies and platforms […]
The Book of the Year Award 2021: Winner Announcement
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2021 SPN Book of the Year Award. That’s right, winners, the judges decided to award two BOTY winners this year! They are Echoes (2020) by Shu-Ling Chua and We are Speaking in Code (Brio Books 2020) by Tanya Vavilova. The judges said ‘both titles exhibit beautiful […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author: Kirsten Krauth
Holly from The Small Press Network recently chatted to Kirsten Krauth, author of the 2021 shortlisted BOTY title Almost a Mirror. Kirsten Krauth is a writer and podcaster based in Castlemaine. Almost a Mirror, published in 2020, was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize and named by The Guardian in ’The Best 20 Australian Books […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author: Poppy Nwosu
We had a chat with Poppy about her book Taking Down Evelyn Tait, one of this year’s shortlisted titles for the Book of the Year Award. Cordelia: Where did you get your inspiration from, and what was the most important thing you wanted to say with this story? Poppy: It really came with the main […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted contributing author: Elizabeth Flux
In the lead-up to the 2021 Book of The Year winner announcement on Friday 26 November, conference co-ordinator Chloe Hogan-Weihmann sat down with Elizabeth Flux to discuss the shortlisting of Collisions: A Liminal Anthology (Pantera 2020). Collisions is a collection of stories from the inaugural Liminal Fiction Prize longlist. The book has been described as […]
In Conversation with BOTY shortlisted author: Tanya Vavilova
“I think what I struggle with most is this question of fitting in, of belonging. If you find yourself on the outskirts of society and then on the outskirts of an already marginalized group in that society, what do you do?” Tanya Vavilova, We are Speaking in Code Tanya Vavilova is an award-winning writer, having […]
Judging the Book of the Year Award
In this episode of the Small Press Network’s Podcast, we had a chat to the Book of the Year Judges Penni Russon, Marina Sano and Jing Xuan Teo to discuss their experience of judging the award. The winner of the Book of the Year Award will be announced on Friday 26 November.
Introducing industry research: “A sacred duty” by Jodie Lea Martire Part 1
In her Masters research thesis, Jodie Lea Martire explores the strategies small presses have long been using to diversify the publishing industry, turning this into the basis of a roadmap for the broader Australian publishing industry to follow in their footsteps. The following extract provides an insight into the research and results Martire has discovered […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author: Shu-Ling Chua
Shu-Ling Chua is a is Melbourne-based essayist, poet and critic whose work has appeared in Peril Magazine, Lindsay, Meanjin, Triangle House Review, and Asian American Writers’ Workshop, among others. Her debut essay collection, Echoes, was published in 2020. Echoes is a collection of personal essays that reference art and literature, pop culture and nostalgia. The book […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author: Sreedhevi Iyer
In the lead up to the 2021 Book of The Year winner announcement on Friday 26 November, Associate Producer Emma Kellaway sat down with Sreedhevi Iyer to discuss the shortlisting of her novel The Tiniest House of Time (Wild Dingo Press 2020). Critically acclaimed for its brilliantly complex style, research and storytelling, The Tiniest House […]
The Small Press Network Interviews: Anita Heiss
As she finalises her keynote address for the 2021 SPN Independent Publishing Conference, Dr Anita Heiss talks to Emma Kellaway about learning language, challenges within the publishing industry and having confronting conversations. A multi award-winning author of nonfiction, historical fiction, women’s fiction, children’s novels and poetry, Heiss is currently a Professor of Communications at the […]
Meet the sponsor: Copyright Agency Cultural Fund
Introducing Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, a major sponsor of the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference taking place from Thurs 25–Sat 27 November. Copyright Agency is a non-for-profit organisation that supports over 38,000 members to ensure fair payment to creators over the reuse of copyright-protected work. For over 40 years, the agency has served to connect their […]
The 2021 Academic Day: In Conversation with Alexandra Dane and Claire Parnell
In this episode, we chat to Alexandra Dane and Claire Parnell to discuss this year’s Academic Day for the Independent Publishing Conference 2021. This year’s theme is Publishing and the Environment.
The Book of the Year Award 2021: Shortlist Announcement
The shortlist for the Small Press Network 2021 Book of the Year Award is in! Formerly the Most Underrated Book of the Year Award, the BOTY award was first presented under its new name in 2020, marking a new direction for the Small Press Network and its membership. BOTY aims to recognise and award some […]
Meet the sponsor: Ingram Content Group
Introducing Ingram Content Group, one of the sponsors of the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference taking place from Thurs 25–Sat 27 November. Ingram is a global service provider to the book publishing industry, with a catalogue of 19 million print and digital titles that are available worldwide. The company offers print-on-demand services, international distribution, and sales […]
The Small Press Network Interviews: Terri-ann White, Upswell publishing (part two!)
Holly Hendry-Saunders recently interviewed Terri-ann White on launching Upswell Publishing during a pandemic. They continued their conversation and discussed topics such as acquiring authors; navigating the world of marketing; publishing titles that have substance; the importance of community within independent publishing; and how independent publishing can survive these turbulent times. Terri-ann’s process of acquiring an […]
The Small Press Network Interviews: Laura Jean McKay
As she works on her keynote address for the 2021 SPN Independent Publishing Conference, award-winning author Laura Jean McKay talks to Emma Kellaway on animal superpowers, humans’ relationship with them, and why now is a better time than ever to address publishing and the environment. McKay’s debut novel The Animals in That Country (Scribe 2020), […]
Meet Associate Producer Emma Kellaway
Hi all. As an Associate Producer for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference, I’d like to introduce myself. I typically respond to Emma or Em! I study Master of International Relations (IR) and Journalism at Monash University. You may be wondering how an IR student found herself here but the truth is I have a long-standing […]
Meet Associate Producer Cordelia Egerton-Warburton
Hello friends! My name is Cordelia, and I am SPN’s Operations Associate Producer for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference. I’m so excited to be a part of this year’s team and I can’t wait to jump in!
Meet Associate Producer Chloe Agius
Hiya! I’m Chloe (she/her), and I am so excited to be one of this year’s Associate Producers for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference. I’ve moved to Melbourne from Tasmania—the land of savoury toast, scallop pies, and winters worse than Melbourne but at least we’re gratified with actual snow and the prettiest landscapes in the country […]
Meet Associate Producer Holly Hendry-Saunders
Hello! I am Holly, one of the Associate Producers for the 2021 Independent Publishing Conference. I’m from Adelaide and moved to Melbourne two months ago to pursue my passion for publishing. I drove over in my trusty hatchback containing all my possessions (mainly books), unsure of what I was getting myself into, knowing only a […]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 18
- Next Page »
Content collection:
Book of the Year Award
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Kavita Bedford
We had the most exciting opportunity to sit down with Kavita Bedford to ask about her debut novel, Friends & Dark Shapes, one of the shortlisted titles for the 2022 SPN Book of the Year Award.
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Eleanor Jackson
Gravidity and Parity (Vagabond Press) is a poignant and intricate collection of poetry that guides the reader into the journey of motherhood, pulling no punches in how it addresses and details all that is often unsaid or unknown about pregnancy. The book is set during the COVID pandemic, and author Eleanor Jackson beautifully encapsulates this all-too-familiar […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author Poppy Nwosu
‘Hometown Haunts (Wakefield Press) showcases some of the best voices Australian YA fiction has to offer in this sometimes strange, sometimes terrifying collection of short horror. This anthology acts as a reminder of how it feels to explore the unknown: unknown genre, unknown worlds, unknown lives. Editor Poppy Nwosu has compiled an anthology that celebrates and […]
In conversation with BOTY shortlisted author SJ Norman
‘Permafrost (UQP) is a collection of stories that delve into uncomfortable spaces that lie beneath familiar experiences of travel, love and loss. SJ Norman’s work presents an exciting, unsettling and engaging new voice that explores the human diasporic experience, bringing a queer and unique take on the gothic romantic tradition.’ —BOTY 2022 judging panel We […]
Content collection:
Meet the Publisher
The Small Press Network Interviews: Terri-ann White, Upswell Publishing
As she prepares for her keynote speech for this year’s 2021 SPN Independent Publishing Conference workshop day, Terri-ann White speaks to Holly Hendry-Saunders on launching Perth-based publishing house Upswell Publishing during a pandemic. Her life before Upswell’s inception White, a veteran in the book industry, began her career as a bookseller at eighteen, and at […]
Meet the Publisher: Duncan Felton, Grapple Publishing
When and how were you established? After many years of semi-organised pondering and planning, Grapple Publishing started late in 2013, making itself known to the world with a call-out for submissions to The Grapple Annual No. 1. At that point it was just me sitting at my computer with some ideas, some savings and a […]
MEET THE PUBLISHER – Lacuna Publishing
Linda Nix, Publisher and Editor, Lacuna When and how were you established? I have a long-standing fascination with how words and ideas are disseminated and become part of society’s cultural fabric. After years working in the industry, I realised my dream was to run a small press. In 2010 I set up a freelance editing, […]
Meet the Publisher – coeur de lion
When and how were you established? As with all good ideas, coeur de lion was born in a pub. The speculative fiction scene goes through boom and bust cycles and at the time there weren’t a lot of local independent presses catering to a sci-fi, horror, fantasy audience. Myself and fellow author Andrew Macrae were […]