Writers: how long since you went to a writers/readers/literary festival? I've just returned from one and have popped up the first of a series of blog posts about the experience. This one is about all the benefits writers receive from attending. The next post will be about how to get the most from attending. And then one on what you can do to get an invite to one! Plus I'll do a highlights post as the festival was fantastic and the impact on me/for me next level. https://annafeatherstone.com/what-are-the-benefits-for-writers-who-attend-writers-festivals/

#Australia #WritersFestival #LiteraryFestival #Author #WritingCommunity #NSW #ByronBay #AustralianWriters #AusWrites #AusAuthors #AustralianAuthors #Publishing #ByronWF2023 #ByronWritersFestival #Bangalow #BundjalungCountry

I'm back in a farm-lit reading phase. I needed some space after writing/living in the genre - but so glad to have picked up two of the latest books by Australian authors. One hilarious, the other hauntingly thoughtful and beautiful. What are your favourite farmlit books? Are they funny or sobering?

#farmlit #farm-lit #FarmBooks #farmMemoir #authors #farmingbooks #Australia #Tasmania #Victoria #BooksOnFarming #AustralianAuthors #writingcommunity @bookstodon

Australasian authors of historical fiction:

Entries close June 14, 2023 for the $100,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize. Run by the Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) categories include Adult and CYA and are open to traditional and self-published authors.

https://annafeatherstone.com/historical-novel-society-australasia-100k-ara-historical-novel-prize/

#Australia #NewZealand #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalFiction Author #CreativeAustralia #AustralianAuthors #AustralianWriters #BoldAuthors #HNS #HNSA #BookPrize #AuthorPrizes #WritingCompetition #WritingCommunity #AuthorsofMastodon
#AmWriting
#selfPublishing #IndieAuthor #IndieAuthors

Authors: want to know how to give your book the best chance of being chosen by Australian libraries? One of my favourite places is my local library. Not just because of all the wonderful librarians and the books I get to borrow, but I also get the buzz of seeing my own books on the recently returned shelf, or hear that my farm memoir is being enjoyed or dissected by another bookclub. This week too, Australian authors received our Lending Rights notification (the annual payment AU authors receive if there are at least 50 copies of your book available in AU libraries). There are many reasons why it's important for authors (trad and indie!) to work on building library demand for our books, and for all the writers who have asked me how to go about it, I've created a handy online course with all the info, tips, links, registration pages, list of distributors, marketing ideas and downloads you need to give you and your book the best chance at Australian library success. You can access the course at www.boldauthors.com - hope it helps you achieve your goals!

https://www.boldauthors.com/courses/howtogetyourbookintoaustralianlibraries

#authors #writingcommunity #libraries #Australia #author #amwriting #authortips #library #authorbusiness #BoldAuthors #CreativeAustralia #WritersAustralia #indieauthor #indieauthors #literarycommunity #AuthorsAustralia
#AustralianAuthors #AustralianAuthor

Authors: want to know how to give your book the best chance of being chosen by Australian libraries? One of my favourite places is my local library. Not just because of all the wonderful librarians and the books I get to borrow, but I also get the buzz of seeing my own books on the recently returned shelf, or hear that my farm memoir is being enjoyed or dissected by another bookclub. This week too, Australian authors received our Lending Rights notification (the annual payment AU authors receive if there are at least 50 copies of your book available in AU libraries). There are many reasons why it's important for authors (trad and indie!) to work on building library demand for our books, and for all the writers who have asked me how to go about it, I've created a handy online course with all the info, tips, links, registration pages, list of distributors, marketing ideas and downloads you need to give you and your book the best chance at Australian library success. You can access the course at www.boldauthors.com - hope it helps you achieve your goals!

https://www.boldauthors.com/courses/howtogetyourbookintoaustralianlibraries

#authors #writingcommunity #libraries #Australia #author #amwriting #authortips #library #authorbusiness #BoldAuthors #CreativeAustralia #WritersAustralia #indieauthor #indieauthors #literarycommunity #AuthorsAustralia
#AustralianAuthors #AustralianAuthor

$50,000 for 1,000 to 2,500 words? That's a great $ per word rate! Entries are now open for the richest short story prize in the world... and it's being run right here in Australia. Competition website here: https://bestaustralianyarn.com.au

Story in The West Australian here:
https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/best-australian-yarn/2023-best-australian-yarn-are-you-sitting-on-australias-next-greatest-short-story--c-10440941

#Australia #WritingCommunity #ShortStory #AmWriting #WritingCompetition #ShortStoryWriter #AustralianWriters #AustralianAuthors #CreativeAustralia #WA #WesternAustralia

Interested in book cover design?
Check out the 2023 shortlist from The Australian Book Design Awards for inspiration, and also Thuy On's article for ArtsHub where authors speak about the cover design process. Two links below.

ArtsHub article: https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/who-judges-book-covers-we-all-do-2629546/

2023 Australian Book Design Awards Shortlist:
https://abda.com.au/2023-australian-book-design-awards-shortlist-announced/

#writingcommunity #bookcover #bookcoverdesign #Australia #AustralianWriters #AustralianAuthors #AustralianDesigners #design #bookstodon #Author

Gold Coast/Queensland authors - and tourists travelling through: Have you heard about 'Writing Sunday'? According to the Gold Coast Writers' Association, it's "a volunteer led space for writers of all levels to come and work on their own projects. This is a great chance for busy weekday people to connect with your local writing community and finish writing your story.
Held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.
Writing Sundays is a Queensland Writers Centre initiative, following the Pomodoro Technique of 25-minute blocks and 5-minute breaks. Every third 'Pomodoro', there is a 15-minute break to relax and recharge, while having a lunch break too. The idea behind the method is to train the mind into working effectively to reach smaller targets, improving the overall writing time and productivity.
Southport Library, Corner Garden and Lawson Streets, Southport.

Bookings: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/libraries/Whats-on?trumbaEmbed=filter1%3D_1668455_#tr_header

#PomodoroTechnique #GoldCoast #Queensland #GoldCoastLibraries #QueenslandWritersCentre #Libraries #WritingCommunity
#Southport #AustralianWriters #AustralianAuthors

Enjoyed interviewing indie fiction author Philippa Nefri Clark on her decision to use a well known Australian actor to record her audiobook 'Lest We Forgive' rather than to do it herself, use AI or employ a regular audiobook narrator.

https://annafeatherstone.com/would-you-have-the-courage-or-foresight-to-approach-a-big-name-talent-to-record-your-audiobook/

#audiobook #audiobooknarrator #indieauthor #bookmarketing #AustralianAuthor #AustralianAuthors #policeprocedural #publishing #publishingtips #Australia #Actor

It's been fascinating learning from author Amra Pajalic as to how she's used writing and small business grants to propel her writing career in both fiction and non-fiction. It's also been fun diving into her creative works - love the anthologies she's been a part of too.

Has anyone else had literary/creative/small biz success by pursuing grants? would be great to hear from you.

https://annafeatherstone.com/how-winning-creative-literary-small-business-grants-has-helped-one-australian-writer-her-author-business-and-how-grants-could-help-you-too/

#Australia #Australianauthors #CreativeAustralia #writinggrants #writingcommunity #literary #literarygrants #CreativeVic #CreativeVictoria #ArtsCouncil #BoldAuthors #amwriting #anthology #anthologies #memoir

Australian authors: Guess what opens for applications today? The EMDG Grant program! Have you ever applied for a creative, SME or book marketing grant before? I've been working with Amra Pajalic on a new course all about how to successfully find & apply.

https://annafeatherstone.com/grants-for-australian-writers-for-writing-and-creative-projects-book-marketing-author-business/

#Australia #AustralianWriters #AustralianAuthors #EMDG #writinggrants #writingcommunity #AuthorsofMastodon #AmraPajalic #literarygrants #AusLit #OzLit #AusWrites #AusWriters #amwriting #ampublishing #indieauthors #indieauthor #bookmarketing

Congrats to everyone on the Aurealis Awards shortlist, including @spacerookie tanaudel@wandering.shop @garthnix @AlanBaxter @ScottSteensma @Fordwalker !

https://aurealisawards.org/2023/03/09/2022-aurealis-awards-shortlist-announcement/

#AurealisAwards #OzLit #AusLit #AustralianAuthors #ScienceFiction #Fantasy #SFF #Books #Bookstodon

Great reminder from the Australian Society of Authors today about PLR & ELR 31 March deadline:

"Have you had a book published in the last 5 years? Is your print book held in public or educational libraries? Do not forget to submit your title claims to the Public and Educational Lending Right schemes via the Office for the Arts to have eligible books registered for inclusion before the 31 March deadline. Details about how to register your e-books and audiobooks will be released by the Office for the Arts shortly."

#Australia #AustralianWriters #AustralianAuthors #AusWrites #AusLit #WritingCommunity #PLR #ELR #CreativeAustralia

Approximately 15% of books are returned to publishers by booksellers. Some useful information shared in Irma Gold's latest 'Inside The Green Room' podcast. The ep is titled: Booksellers.

https://annafeatherstone.com/inside-tips-for-authors-from-three-australian-booksellers/

#publishingtips #authortips #amwriting #writingcommunity #AustralianWriters #AustralianAuthors #bookstore #bookseller #IrmaGold #InsideTheGreenRoom #Podcastforwriters #Australia #author

This memoir! 'Unknown'. An important, well written, inspiring, challenging, change-inducing gift to Australia and the world from Akuch Kuol Anyieth. From war-torn South Sudan, to Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp, to Australia this 📕 will break your heart but also make it beat. It throws out a challenge to all Australians (and people of other nations) to think about how we can better support and welcome people who have experienced inter-generational trauma. It also throws out another challenge: how to finish it in one sitting because you won’t want to put it down. Real people, real places and experiences, a really worthwhile read. Published by Text Publishing.

#Australia #BookRecommendation #BookReview #refugeeexperience
#Melbourne #books #memoir #SouthSudan #Kenya #AkuchKuolAnyieth #AustralianWriters #AustralianAuthors #AusLit #AustralianPublishers #OzLit #memoirwriting @bookstodon

Are you an author or writer? The Australian Society of Authors has a number of online presentations/courses/ workshops for authors coming up on topics including:
- Literary Speed Dating
- All about Editing
- Creative Non-Fiction
- Self-Publishing Strategy & Timelines (I'll be presenting this one)
- What to do after typing THE END

You can see the full list here: https://www.asauthors.org/events/category/Events

#AustralianSocietyofAuthors #ASA #writingcourses #writingcommunity #publishingtips #Australianauthors #AustralianWriters

Great to see the creation of 'Writers Australia' within 'Creative Australia' the rebranded & refocussed 'The Australia Council for the Arts'.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/29/music-literature-and-first-nations-at-the-forefront-of-a-300m-boost-to-the-arts-labor-to-announce

#writingcommunity #writers #Australia #Australianauthors #amwriting #CreativeAustralia #WritersAustralia

This is huge news! For readers what it means is that you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library and know that the author is receiving some financial gain for it (just as with print books). Given the average earnings for Australian writers falls well below the poverty line (see the 2022 National Survey of Australian Book Authors), this change can make a very big difference.
#asauthors #australiansocietyofauthors #australianauthors #australianwriters #aussieauthors

Just reached the end of proofreading The Magpie’s Sister. Still have the author’s note and acknowledgments to go, but feeling a bit emotional. I’m going to miss these characters when they’re sent out into the world! (May 2023 - not long now!) #historicalfiction #2023books #2023bookrelease #newbook #amWriting #writinglife #australianauthors

The winner of the 2022 'Australian Book of the Year Award' is announced tonight. Here's the shortlist. This award is for books published by small presses in Australia (ie: not the Big 5 publishing houses). The BOTYA was formerly known as 'the Most Underrated Book of the Year Award'.

https://smallpressnetwork.com.au/book-of-the-year-award/book-of-the-year-award-2022-shortlist/

#bookish #bookstodon #WritingCommunity #AustralianAuthors #AusLit #AusWriters #literature #publishing #Smallpress #SmallPressNetwork #authors #writers #writing