The How to Be an Author in Australia Facebook group is now live, and Q&As with CEO Jane Fraser and industry expert Tim Coronel are set for March

In the wake of releasing the book she co-wrote with Deborah Hunn, How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia, Fremantle Press publisher Georgia Richter has been busy chatting to writers in a new Facebook group aimed at making the Australian publishing industry more accessible.

In her introduction to the group, which is growing fast, Richter said she thought having a page where writers could gather, chat and ask questions would be a dynamic addition to the book and podcast and a great way for writers to find their squad and chat about the ins and outs of the business of being a writer. Here’s what we’ve planned for the How to Be an Author in Australia Facebook group in March 2021:

Throughout March: Jane Fraser, Fremantle Press CEO

Georgia will hand over to Fremantle Press CEO Jane Fraser, who is full bottle on the ins and outs of running a small publishing company, as well as anything to do with rights, contracts, non-fiction and trade fiction publishing. She will be jumping in to answer any questions you might have anytime throughout the month.

Nandi Chinna on Author Business Live
3.30 pm WST / 6.30 pm AEDT to8.30 pm WST/ 11.30 pm AEDT Wednesday 17March

We’ll be starting an Author Business Live thread for our night with the wonderful poet and environmental activist Nandi Chinna. Nandi’s latest poetry collection, The Future Keepers, was shortlisted in the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and highly commended in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, and Nandi was the inaugural Writer in Residence at Kings Park. Nandi is an experienced performer who regularly facilitates workshops as well as writing labs on ‘poepatetics’ – the art of walking and writing. Nandi is keen to answer questions about what a mentor does and how to find one, writing poetry, the importance of being a reader, where inspiration comes from, and a writer’s moral and ethical obligations. To get Nandi’s take on these topics, just add your questions to the thread at the top of the group, then be in the group between 3.30 pm and 8.30 pm WA time on 17 March while Nandi answers them to the best of her prodigious abilities.

Tim Coronel for Publishing Chat Live
6 pm WST / 8 pm AEDT for one hour on Wednesday 24 March

Tim Coronel is the general manager of the Small Press Network and an industry adjunct lecturer in publishing and communications at the University of Melbourne. Tim will be our guest on Facebook Live for a session on building your audience, establishing your author brand, pitching your work and building relationships with key industry contacts. He’s also happy to talk about self-publishing and will answer all your questions about the publishing process from manuscript assessment to working with an editor and the marketing team. Tim has been in the book trade for 30 years working as a bookseller, reviewer, journalist, editor, publisher, publicist and publishing consultant. Get your brain picks ready and start putting your questions into the thread at the top of the How to Be an Author in Australia Facebook group.

So, lots to do and talk about. Here’s the link again to the How to Be an Author in Australia Facebook group. Don’t forget, if you request to join, you must answer our three questions agreeing to abide by the group rules.

We hope to see you all there!