The Jane Curry Edit
After three decades of publishing experience in Australia and overseas, Jane shares her insights into the book world, from analysing the current fiction trends to how the Frankfurt Book Fair works. The knowledge she shares with aspiring and established authors is unparalleled.
A July new release, five years in the making.
As soon as I read the opening pages, I loved the character Valerie. She was exactly the woman I wanted to read about. A mix of Helen Garner and Emma Thompson, and her social justice warrior mode was perfect for the times. It was Lessons in Chemistry combined with The Assistant. Humorous and chilling.1970s London and modern day Perth.
Locked out of Instagram? Meta Care Factor Zero
When the Ventura Press Instagram account was hacked in September, we were instantly locked out of our own account and unable to gain any access. We trawled through Meta’s labyrinthine ‘help page’ death loop, and always ended up exactly where we started. With a chillingly passive message essentially saying, ‘if all the above doesn’t work there is nothing we can do”.
An Audible Romantasy in Frankfurt?
Throughout my long career in the book business there has been one constant; being at the Frankfurt Book Fair. For starry-eyed newbies to the publishing industry, which was me back in the 1980s, going to the Frankfurt Book Fair marked your arrival into the ranks of the privileged few. You had made it. That, and having your first business card.
Recent acquisitions have changed the Australian publishing landscape, so what does that say about the industry?
Just last month, I recorded an episode for my podcast The Publisher and The Writer outlining all the publishers operating in Australia from the large international houses to small indies.
Since then, two award-winning Australian owned presses Affirm Press and Pantera Press have been bought out by larger companies. Why?
A Publisher and a Writer make a Podcast.
A ten-episode podcast series available on Spotify and Apple with the aim to demystify the publishing industry.
What went wrong at Booktopia?
Today I filed my statement of claim with the receivers McGrathNicol for monies owed to my publishing company, Ventura Press, by the now defunct Booktopia.
Ask the Publisher: How do I get my book into my local bookshop?
A common question I hear from authors after their book is published, is “Why isn’t my book in my local bookshop?”. There are many reasons why that might be the case.
What makes a bestseller?
I believe for all authors, framing the terms reference of what a bestseller means is an important exercise. You can and should value your work by other measures.
Everything I’ve learned in my 30+ years of publishing
Publishing is at an inflexion point. From within, as it grapples with a workforce that demands a living wage and better conditions, and from without as it is finally exposed to the power of digital transformation.