In A Tale of Two Publishing Houses, Linda Martin tells an engaging and readable story of the establishment of two different publishers in WA, fifty years apart.
In Perth in the 1970s, Australian writers were isolated and struggling to get published, even in other Australian states. This state of affairs contributed to the 1976 establishment of the publisher now known as Fremantle Press. In 2019, a not dissimilar set of concerns led to the establishment of Night Parrot Press. Here, Linda Martin – who’s been involved with both – tells the story of the early years of each.
This is an anecdotal retelling, rather than one that strives to include all the facts. The advantage is that this is readable and interesting, rather than getting bogged down in lists of dates and names. On the other hand, the acknowledged weakness is that it relies largely on the memories of those who were there. Some have passed, and others are elderly and acknowledge their memories are not always sharp or complete.
Still, Martin tells a story that allows her to compare and contrast the two publishing houses. Although some of this is about editorial approach, much of it is more broadly about the challenges facing publishers in Australia and what has changed (or not) in the last half-century.
It’s not all about the problems. Martin also highlights some of the triumphs, notably the publication of some now-classic Australian works. And although much of her focus is on the publishers, the joys and pains writers encounter on the road to publication also get some attention.
This will be appealing to anyone interested in publishing in Australia, as a writer, reader or editor. It gives you a glimpse of what it takes to put a book in a reader’s hands, and of the advantages and disadvantages of small presses. It also gives a glimpse of what it takes to run a small business, although that’s not a primary focus by any means.
This engaging book provides a lot of insights and an entertaining look at what it took to get these publishing houses up and running. I found this absorbing and easy to read, and would recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in how small presses work in Australia.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading A Tale of Two Publishing Houses by Linda Martin. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and I love sharing that joy.
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, across all genres. There’s not much I won’t at least try. I’ve been an enthusiastic book reviewer for years. I particularly enjoy discovering writers new to me, and sharing good writing with others.
My career has included time spent writing and editing technical documents, but it’s fiction that really moves me. I’ve reviewed for a number of different outlets over the years, and have been a judge in literary competitions.
I’m now raising little bookworms of my own, which brings a whole new kind of joy to sharing books.
More of my reviews can be found on my review blog www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog .