We knew we were good but now it’s official!

Today is our last day at Ventura for 2017 and champagne is at the ready to celebrate our brilliant year.

We end the year being named an Indie Heatseeker by Nielsen BookScan for most improved sales in the sector.

So, what did we do in 2017?

We published engaging diverse stories from the very best Australian authors. Think Dr Simon Longstaff’s Everyday Ethics, Lisa Dempster’s Neon Pilgrim, Professor Gordon Parker’s In Two Minds and ended the year with a new B-format edition of Katherine Johnson’s wonderful The Better Son.

A highlight for me was the launch of Peter Bishop Books in May – curated by the national living treasure Peter Bishop (ex-Varuna). It is an absolute honour to know Peter and to publish Caroline van de Pol and Nick Gleeson, our first two authors published on the new imprint. Charlotte Wood launched the list for us at Gleebooks with a very moving speech. A PB for me.

After a soft launch in 2016 we launched our new imprint Impact Press – which showcases start up authors and diverse stories. The launch title Escape from Berlin by Peter Nash sold out on release.

Booksellers loved our beautiful covers and the media engaged with our authors in authentic and meaningful ways. Our inaugural trip to the Beijing Book Fair was a parenting-book sell out and Amazon’s Audible loved our list and bought up big.

Add the professionalism of our distribution partner Simon and Schuster Australia and you have independent publishing at its best.

So take a break now to enjoy Christmas and the long shimmering days of summer in Sydney.

We will be back on 8 January to see our 2018 list go out into the world. Watch out for Paul Harris’ Odd Boy Out – an intimate family history bridging England and the Antipodes, the arresting memoir Girl Over The Edge by Kim Hodges and Angela Meyer’s stunning debut novel A Superior Spectre. Oh and don’t miss out on the colonial family history Convicted by Peter Bradley for Father’s Day.

So that’s a wrap from Ventura.

We wish you all a happy Christmas - see you in the new year.

Jane