Walleah Press | Miscellany | Australian publishers

Miscellany | Publishers

Black Pepper is an Australian publishing house, described by the Herald-Sun as ‘one of Australia’s boldest’. Since its emergence in 1995, Black Pepper has published some of Australia’s most innovative works of prose and poetry, winning awards, critical acclaim, and a significant share of the Australian market for literature. Black Pepper has released nearly seventy titles to date. These publications have launched, developed or renewed the writing careers of an impressive list of novelists, poets and writers of short fiction. The maturity of these works is reflected in the high quality of book design under the artistic direction of Gail Hannah.

Bright South 'loves lutruwita-Tasmania and wants to see the artists of this island thrive'. It was established to offer practical, affordable and effective marketing solutions especially for artists, and support to those in the arts industry generally. Bright South is the creation of Daniela Brozek Cordier, who admits 'to being drawn to publishing through a simple desire to see good books out in the world, particularly books representative of Tasmanian literature'.

Brandl & Schlesinger has a reputation as one of Australia’s most renowned independent publishers. Established in 1994 and located in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Brandl & Schlesinger are celebrating 30 years of publishing. Its aim is to publish the best of Australian literature that reflects its diversity of voices. Establishing the career of numerous young authors, Brandl & Schlesinger's titles have won major literary awards, and features an innovative list of literary fiction and non-fiction, memoir and biography, works in translations, academic journals and a poetry list featuring some of Australia’s best poets. 'We are committed to quality and challenging works that retain an Australian flavour whilst appealing to both national and international markets.'

Collective Effort Press is an independent publisher of 40 years standing. Unusual Work is one of our publications, and is a magazine that has been running for 10 years of experimental poetry, prose, pictures, paintings, photographs, sketches, sculpture, art, ideas, politics, and anything else starting with abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Cordite Books is an Australian poetry publisher. (Note: unsolicited manuscripts not accepted at present). Series 5 (2024) will feature new works by Alicia Sometimes, Alex Creece, Zoe Sadokierski, Grace Yee, Louis Klee, Michelle Cahill and Corey Wakeling.

Dangerously Poetic Press focusses on writers and residents living in the Northern Rivers area of NSW bounded by Taree, Kyogle and the Queensland border. Over the years, the press has released books, and poetry collections, featuring the work of local writers; also offers workshops, and a newsletter of information and events.

Five Islands Press is now an imprint of Oystercatcher Enterprises Ltd. A new website is under development, and will be launched in 2024. Five Islands Press was founded in 1986 by Ron Pretty, who published over 230 books by Australian poets before retiring in 2007. A new chapter in the history of FIP began in 2007 when Robyn Rowland initiated a new publishing team together with Lyn Hatherly (who had been working closely with Ron Pretty since 2003), Kevin Brophy and Dan Disney. Robyn left the Press in 2008. From 2007 until 2019, the Press published a further 44 books by emerging and established poets. The Press published its last titles with Kevin Brophy, Eddie Paterson, Katial Ariel and Bella Li as managing co-editors in 2019.

Flying Islands Poetry Community is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the production and dissemination of poetry (and related art practices) from the Hunter Region of NSW and also from around the world. A safe local/global place for creative practice, Flying Islands’ emphasis is on fostering cooperation and collaboration among poets (and artists and translators) from the widest possible range of cultural backgrounds. Based physically in Australia, on the lands of the Worimi/Birpai people, Flying Islands is also a virtual and cosmopolitan entity, established on the principle that poetry and poets should not be divided by national or by language barriers. Flying Islands strives in all its activities to practise inclusiveness and to encourage diversity. Not a clique or cabal or a stable, rather this community is an expanding circle for poetry of many kinds – for an expanding circle of friends who share poetry. With the activity of art-making central to its efforts, Flying Islands particularly aims to bring experienced and new poets together on-and off-line, through mentoring, art events of various kinds, workshops, blogs, websites, readings, launches and, most importantly, through the ongoing publication of the Flying Islands Pocket Poets series.

Fremantle Press is a not-for-profit team of publishers, authors and artists who bring uniquely Australian stories to the world. Established in 1976, Fremantle Press is renowned for producing quality works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s literature. Fremantle Press' core purpose is to identify talented new and emerging Western Australian writers and artists, and to publish and distribute their work to the widest possible audience. The press welcomes unsolicited manuscripts from new and emerging Western Australian poets.

Gazebo Books is an independent publisher of contemporary literature from Australia and beyond. Fuelled by a sense of discovery, Gazebo seeks out the most original of Australian and world literature, sharing timeless stories that transport readers across cultures. Based in Sydney, Gazebo has been publishing works of literary fiction and non-fiction since 2018, and launched its poetry imprint, Life Before Man, in 2020. Gazebo publications are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by NewSouth Books through Alliance Distribution Services (ADS).

Ginninderra Press accepts submissions from writers resident within Australia. All Ginninderra Press titles go through an editorial selection and review process; only a small proportion of titles is accepted for publication. The press doesn't accept electronic submissions, only hard-copy. Neither novels nor children's books are being accepted at present (as at 11th January, 2024). Picaro Poets Submissions for the Picaro Poets chapbook series are invited from all poets. (Details are available on request).

Giramondo Publishing is an independent, Australian, university-based literary publisher of award-winning poetry, fiction and non-fiction, renowned for the quality of its writing, editing and book design. Giramondo was established in December 1995 in order to publish innovative and adventurous literary work, that might not otherwise find publication because of its subtle commercial appeal; to stimulate exchange between Australian writers and readers and their counterparts overseas; and to build a common ground between the academy and the marketplace. In 2002 the Giramondo Publishing Company began the publication of literary works by individual authors in its Giramondo book imprint, alongside HEAT magazine. Giramondo is also committed to publishing literary works from overseas in translation. Many of the translations appear in Giramondo's Southern Latitudes imprint, which is devoted to writers from the Southern Hemisphere – but the press also ventures further afield, to include writers from our region, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines and India, or those whose works are of special relevance to Australian concerns.

Hunter Publishers (no open call currently, as at 11th Jan 2024) is an independent publisher founded in Melbourne and based in Brisbane. Hunter Publishers publish a singular blend of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and graphic novels whose titles and authors over the years have won or been shortlisted for most of the major literary awards in Australia.

Ingram Spark isn't a publisher as such, but offers print and distribution opportunities for authors willing to invest time and money into self-publication. Not for the faint-hearted – it's quite the process, involving an initial account setup with Ingram Spark along with the purchase of (or subscription to) a decent software package (coupled with coming to grips with learning how to use it). Indesign is an excellent choice, perhaps easier to come to terms with than Affinity, but more expensive as it operates on an annual subscription fee. Affinity Publisher is purchased outright, often at a sale price of less than Aus $100 which'll serve through to the software package's next major upgrade. At the end of the day, it's an entirely feasible way to set up an inexpensive book-publishing venture. (The set-up cost of a poetry collection of a hundred pages, for example, with colour cover and the ability to use black and white images throughout the book, would set a self-publisher back perhaps $5 to $7 for the cost of the print production. (Ingram Spark uses courier services, which for an initial proof copy adds $15–$25 across Australia — but for larger orders, the courier delivery fee drops back to scale). Offers excellent possibilites for the publication of fiction, non-fiction and poetry titles, but don't underestimate the software learning curve!

Interactive Publications (IP) has been in business since 1994 and now publishes 20+ titles per year globally, making it the second largest publisher of literary titles in Queensland. A hybrid publisher, Interactive Publications offers royalty contracts to high quality work, but also uses its expertise to assist corporate clients and individuals who want to publish material in print and/or digital form. All submissions to IP are subject to an initial reading fee of AU$99 (GST-inclusive) / US$59 (GST-exclusive). This initial fee can be waived if you've been invited to submit, or you have at least one title released by a publisher with national distribution (“self-published” work may or may not qualify).

Magabala Books is Australia’s leading Indigenous publishing house. Aboriginal owned and led, the press celebrates and nurtures the talent and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. Based in Broome, Western Australia, Magabala publishes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, artists and illustrators from all over Australia. An independent, not-for-profit Indigenous Corporation, Magabala is governed by a dedicated Board of Kimberley Aboriginal educators, business professionals and creative practitioners. Magabala publishes up to 18 new titles annually across a range of genres: children’s picture books, memoir, fiction (junior, YA and adult), non-fiction, graphic novels, social history and poetry. It also keeps a substantial backlist in print and our earliest titles stand strong alongside new releases in the trade and are of significant cultural importance.

Melbourne Poets Union is a self-funded, incorporated not for profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of poets and poetry. MPU hosts monthly events in different venues around Melbourne and Victoria, runs an annual international poetry competition, publishes chapbooks, maintains an increasing web presence and is always looking for new opportunities for its members. MPU is staffed by a volunteer committee and has a fund-raising body overseen by a Trust Fund Board. Its membership is mostly based in and around Melbourne, with a number of members in regional Victoria, and others scattered throughout the states and territories.

no more poetry has – since 2020 – edited, published and publicly launched upward of 20 debut poetry, or art collections, from both local and international emerging authors, as well as more than 10 articles of printed ephemera featuring over 250 local and international authors. no more poetry curates with a focus on Lesbian, Gay and Transgender literature, and releases a poetry or art collection bi-monthly and twelve journals every year. no more poetry’s publications are stocked internationally, and the press has received generous endowment from Yarra City Council annual funding which has partially supported the production of twelve publications.

Puncher & Wattman is a publisher of 'shit-hot writing' based in Newcastle, Muloobinba, NSW on land unceded by the Awabakal and Worimi people. Since 2005, Puncher & Wattmann have published over 200 titles: poetry, fiction, life writing, poetry anthologies and critical non-fiction. The publisher's current proprietors are founder David Musgrave and Ed Wright, with an advisory panel is comprised of writers Kerri Shying, Tiffany Tsao, David Kelly, Chris Brown, MTC Cronin and Ursula Robinson Shaw. Puncher and Wattmann books have won or been shortlisted for a number of literary awards including the Miles Franklin, Prime Minister’s awards and various state and Premiers’ literary awards. Their titles treasure eclecticism, wit and iconoclasm. Puncher & Wattmann also publish the Slow Loris chapbook imprint curated by Chris Brown. Puncher and Wattmann's First Poetry Book Prize is helping some of Australia’s best young poets on the path to publication. They are also the co-publisher of World Poetry, an international, bilingual journal in English and Mandarin.

Recent Work Press is a small press imprint based in the ACT, Australia, founded in 2015. Recent Work Press publishes mainly poetry and other short-form textual work, publishing a diverse range of authors from Australia and internationally, aiming to make all their work available in attractive, paperback editions. Recent Work Press' submission window for poetry manuscripts (as at 14th January, 2024) is currently closed, follow the press via social media or their newsletter for information on future open submission windows.

Rochford Press is one of the longest running, independent literary small presses in Australia. Initially established by Mark Roberts in 1983 as Rochford Street Press whilst living in Erskineville NSW, as a vehicle to publish the now-collectible, gestetner-printed, silkscreened early issues of P76 Magazine, it went on to publish the sole collection by poet Dipti Saravanamuttu Statistic for the New World and seven issues of P76. Rochford Press is now based in Rochford Cottage in Leura in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Like any survivor, the press has evolved over time but its mission remains, an unwavering commitment to Australian writing which pushes the boundaries and stands out from the mainstream and everyday to tell stories that would otherwise not be told. Since 2019 publisher/editor Linda Adair has coordinated the production of four professionally designed and locally printed books in the upper Blue Mountains.

Riverina Writing House is a publishing house and centre for writers and writing, in rural New South Wales, Australia. The brainchild of Australian poet and writer and Leeton writer-in-residence Sarah Tiffen, Riverina Writing House will showcase stories of place and a powerful Riverina aesthetic, uncover and mentor new writers, make books and run workshops and be a lightning rod for change. Riverina Writing House builds on the long historical literary legacy of the area, and will be a local institution with regional, national and global reach. Everyone has a story that has a right to be told.

Spinifex Press was established in March 1991 by Susan Hawthorne and Renate Klein. Over 30 years later and with well over 200 titles in print and most available as eBooks, Spinifex Press continues to produce award-winning, innovative and controversial feminist books. For Spinifex, publishing is a political act as well as an opportunity to engage in creative ways of producing good quality books. Spinifex titles on pornography, globalisation and ecology engage with debates in these fields, while writers of fiction and poetry, experiment with text, cross genres and produce high quality books which are useful class texts. Spinifex has developed a number of strong specialist lists including Indigenous, writing from Asia and Africa, lesbian books as well as women’s health, violence against women, racism and cultural opportunism, ecology and economics, war and exile, prostitution and pornography.

Subbed In is an independent literary organisation and small publisher which kicked off in Sydney in 2015 as a backyard reading series organised by a small group of working-class queer and First Nations people. Since 2015, Subbed In has organised workshops, performance events, and published books. Today, Subbed In is focused on publishing new books, and finding new audiences for its existing catalogue. Subbed In seeks to provide a platform to amplify underrepresented voices, facilitating grassroots support for marginalised voices and writers whose work is too often alienated by the literary establishment. Since beginning in 2015, Subbed In has hosted over 200 writers and collaborated with a number of organisations including: Writing NSW, City of Sydney, National Young Writers’ Festival, Underbelly Arts Festival, Unspoken Word, and Sweatshop.

Upswell Publishing was launched in mid-2021 by Terri-anne White, who has spent her working life around books and ideas: as a bookseller, writer, publisher and organiser of public events involving literature and writing. Upswell publishes a small number of distinctive books each year in, broadly, the areas of narrative nonfiction, fiction and poetry – 'books that elude easy categorising and work somewhat against the grain of current trends. They are books that may have trouble finding a home in the contemporary Australian publishing sector'.

University Queensland Press (UQP) is one of Australia’s leading publishing houses. Established in 1948 as a wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Queensland, UQP has consistently produced culturally significant works across genres such as fiction, non-fiction and poetry, as well as children's and young adult books. UQP is known for publishing literary works, poetry and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories. 'We create books that enrich and inspire readers and make a major contribution to the fabric of arts and literature in Australia and the world. We proudly connect artists, readers, writers and arts organisations and passionately advocate for the value of books to the human experience. UQP is also Queensland’s only major publishing house with domestic and international distribution.'

Vagabond Press is an independent literary press that was established in 1999. For two decades the press has published a range of established and emerging poets from Australia and more recently Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Its books have won many of the major literary prizes in Australia, been praised by critics and taught at universities around the world. Vagabond Press aims to build a transnational context for its writers and to continue to support the production and promotion of innovative new writing and literature in translation.

Wakefield Press is a leading independent publishing company based in Adelaide, South Australia. Its motto is 'We love good stories and publish beautiful books'. The press publishes around 40 titles each year on a diverse range of topics, including literary and popular fiction, young adult fiction, history, biography, art, poetry, food, wine, the environment, education and true life (ordinary people in extraordinary situations). Wakefield Press's quality backlist is currently around 500, with a growing ebook list. Wakefield Press accepts submissions during specified periods.

WA Poets Inc was established in 2006 as an incorporated, not-for-profit organisation managed and operated by volunteers. WAPI is dedicated to the promotion, presentation and professional development of poets and poetry in Western Australia, and presenting Western Australian poetry to local, national and global audiences. WAPI has a strong commitment to promote poetry in new and innovative ways, to increase poetry audiences and to raise public awareness of the contemporary relevance of poetry. WAPI aims to strengthen and build relationships between local, national and global arts communities. Prominent among its listed objectives is to continue to produce quality books and anthologies that feature W.A. poets.

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