Hello Children’s Writers and Friends,

It was difficult to write this month’s blog because for the first time in a while I actually have more ideas than posts available. I have things to say that people actually want to hear, so although I know followers would like to know a little more about my exciting news of the last month and my actual journey to publication, I will instead be informing you of some more Australian Children’s Publishers open to submissions. This is peak unsolicited submission season after all, while writers and editors for that matter, are fresh from the Christmas Break. Yes, it wasn’t actually that long ago even though Easter is just around the corner.

Conferences will also begin soon when editors may find authors and works they are interested in. These can then become solicited mss and the ‘slush’ will become deeper and more dense so I would recommend getting your unsolicited mss in now. That is, unless you happen to have secured a consultation or assessment with a publisher during a conference or festival and are waiting to hear what said editor recommends you do to enhance your manuscript’s chances, or better still loves your ms and takes it to an acquisitions meeting. For the rest of us, I’ve listed some interesting new sites on the road to publication. These smaller boutique publishing houses are serving to open up, to widen the road to publication for new and emerging authors. As always read carefully to ensure they are the sort of publishing house you are looking for/willing to work with. Enjoy perusing and good luck with finding a publisher who is the perfect fit for your ms.

Berbay Publishing (www.berbaybooks.com) Winner of the Children’s Publisher of the Year Bologna Prize 2017. Publishes poignant and imaginative Picture Books which help shape the way we see the world. (paraphrased from their website. Not accepting submissions at present

Christmas Press (christmaspresspicturebooks.com) Open occasionally to unsolicited mss and usually linked to a competition to be part of one of their Anthologies.

Harbour Publishing House (harbourpublishing.com.au) Open to unsolicited submissions from 1st of February – 31st of October every year for the publishing of digital books only at this stage

Indij Readers (indijreaders.com.au) contact for further details regarding the sharing of traditional and contemporary Indigenous stories with the aim of ‘promoting understanding and concern for all humanity’

Lakewater Press (lakewaterpress.com) publish ebooks and Print on Demand (POD) initially with print runs considered depending on sales figures, which will be achieved through both the House’s and the author’s efforts.

Odyssey Books (odysseybooks.com.au) accepting unsolicited mss except PBs and several adult genres which do not fit their ethos. They publish ebooks and POD traditionally ie with no cost to the author, but also offer assistance for authors who wish to self publish.

Hopefully you can find your home with one of these relatively new kids on the block.

It’s worth noting that, Prints Charming Books by Sally Odgers, Zinewest by West Words and Birdcatcher Books edited by Lyn Fowler- run competitions and/or offer publication in Anthologies on a regular basis.

Farewell fellow travellers,

Savour the quest,

Journeygirl

PS Update: I have heard and seen online questions being posed about illustrators breaking into publishing and how they can submit their work to publishers. At the recent Cteative Kids Tales Festival I was able to ask Clare Hallifax of Scholastic Australia how she found her illustrators and what was the norm in the industry at present. Her answer follows- Illustrators Website as well as SCBWI and Conferences where there is an opportunity to display your portfolios are the places she looks for her illustrators. As far as she is aware there are very few publishers who request illustrators to submit via their websites and the aforementioned is the norm.