Category: News

Bologna 2023 Children’s Highlights Whether it’s first books for babies and toddlers, stunningly original picture books and graphic novels, or challenging and thought-provoking stories for young adults, Fremantle Press works with a rich and diverse range of authors to bring important stories to life for readers of all ages. Stellarphant, our multi-award-winning White Ravens book […]

Stars in Their Eyes creators Aśka and Jessica Walton, and Stellarphant creator James Foley are over the moon about their latest news. All three celebrated their books making it onto the Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book list. Plus, all three are thrilled to announce American publications. Stellarphant will be published in the USA […]

Based on the award-winning book by novelist Holden Sheppard, Stan and Screenwest have announced that the television series Invisible Boys is the successful recipient of their joint development initiative. Sheppard said it was a dream come true to hear the project now had the financial backing of both organisations, and he was heartened by their […]

Two gripping new productions will provide theatre audiences with a powerful fusion of great Fremantle Press books, live theatre and cinema. Based on Dianne Wolfer’s award-winning quartet of picture books for older readers, The Lighthouse Girl Saga will open at Albany’s Princess Royal Theatre (Albany Entertainment Centre) on 23 February before playing in Busselton on […]

The role of Office and Customer Service Coordinator (part-time, 9 am to 2.30 pm) would suit someone who is highly organised and capable of multi-tasking in a busy environment. Working in a small independent publishing house, the successful applicant will coordinate the management of the office, facilities and IT and provide central administrative support to […]

I first met Wendy Jenkins sometime in the late 90s. I had submitted a manuscript to Fremantle Press, and Wendy called me in for a chat. She said my writing was lovely but there were a couple of problems: my novel had no plot, and as for the parts that tried to tell the history […]

Cristy Burne’s book, Off the Track, has been voted WA’s favourite book by the state’s young readers. Cristy beat out the Wimpy Kid, David Walliams, Tom Gates and Ahn Do to take the 2022 West Australian Young Readers Book Award for Younger Readers. Some 26,000 votes were cast by WA readers across four categories. Cristy […]

It is with deep regret that Fremantle Press acknowledges Wendy Jenkins AM, who passed away suddenly late last week at the age of 70. She is survived by her sister Lois and brother John. Wendy’s career at Fremantle Press spanned four decades as a manuscript assessor and mentor, editor and writer. We were proud to […]

Beneath the trees and scenic lighting of the Fremantle Arts Centre, we awaited the announcement of the winner of the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, while hearing from 18 Fremantle Press authors pitching their newly published books. Our witty MCs and authors, Helen Milroy and Holden Sheppard, opened the evening followed by an Acknowledgement […]

One of my favourite features of novels – and one that makes the art form different to many others – is their ability to take on the perspectives, words and thoughts of a fictional character. As readers, we feel the intimacy of being told a story and enjoy the benign voyeurism of having a window […]

A showcase of WA comedy, featuring twenty-five shows over four venues across Perth, is taking place this November. Some of WA’s funniest ever are performing at WA Comedy Week to remind us all where they came from. Jon Doust – who will not be in the showcase as he is way too old, no longer […]

Stellarphant by James Foley is one of just five Australian titles to make the 2022 White Ravens list. Compiled by the team of experts at the International Youth Library, the list features 200 titles in 37 languages from 53 countries. All are recently published books that they consider especially noteworthy and of international interest, and […]

Fremantle author Molly Schmidt has won the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award for her manuscript Salt River Road. She takes home a $15,000 cash prize and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press. Judged anonymously, the biennial prize is in its 32nd year and is presented to an emerging West Australian writer for their first […]

We invite all transgender and gender diverse storytellers and readers to join us for Trans Stories Matter: a publishing industry panel discussion about transgender stories and representation. Hosted by editor and founder of Get YA Words Out, Seth Malacari (he/they), guests will include Nat Latter (they/them) from Rabble Books & Games and Fremantle Press publishers Georgia Richter […]

The Ghost of Gracie Flynn is part of a long tradition of novels with otherworldly narrators. I gave Gracie the reins because I felt that the various points of view I’d created in early drafts needed a compelling, omniscient perspective to pull them all together. And I’m glad I did that because it turned out […]

On leaving home When I left Melbourne at the age of twenty-one, I left behind the squelching autumn leaves that fell from the big European trees along the Yarra. I left behind bracing clifftop walks on Phillip Island with my two best partners-in-writing, and the salami we placed where the phone handset should be. I […]

Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She has always had a passionate interest in health and wellbeing, especially for children, which is why she became a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. In this Q&A the talented writer and illustrator tells us about her latest book. Tell […]

On the surface, it seems as though Chemutai Glasheen’s short story ‘The Debt’, in Unlimited Futures, and Maria Papas’ award-winning novel Skimming Stones, don’t have much in common. However, as the second panel at Fremantle Press’s Great Big Book Club got underway, it became clear that Chemutai’s and Maria’s stories and writing processes share quite […]

It is with much regret that Fremantle Press acknowledges the death of Errol Broome who was 85 years old when she passed away on 14 September 2022. Errol grew up in Perth, studying Arts at the University of Western Australia and working as a journalist at the West Australian. Even before her first book with Fremantle […]

Dark Tales from the Long River: A Bloody History of Australia’s North-West Frontier by David Price and The Petticoat Parade: Madam Monnier and the Roe Street Brothels by Leigh Straw are in the running for the Margaret Medcalf Award. Eight books made the shortlist for the award, which recognises excellence in research and the use […]

I live on a rural bush retreat in Western Australia’s Great Southern region, and have been writing stories obsessively since childhood. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing at Curtin University, my short fiction began to win or be placed in writing competitions, with a number being published in various journals and anthologies […]

Gerard McCann grew up in Cottesloe in the 1950s and 60s, the second of five boys. Staunch Catholicism had the boys on their knees at night and Sunday mornings, but otherwise running free, exploring and adventuring in the streets and neighbouring gardens. He studied Architecture at the Perth Tech and UWA, and specialised in heritage […]

Molly Schmidt is a writer and journalist, currently undertaking the Four Centres Emerging Writers Program with Fremantle Press. By day, she works as a radio producer and reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where her passion for storytelling is put to good use. While writing her first manuscript, Molly has been collaborating with Noongar Elders […]

Joy Kilian-Essert, Gerard McCann, Marie O’Rourke and Molly Schmidt are in the running for $15,000 in prize money from the City of Fremantle and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press. All four Western Australian writers were shortlisted for the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, which is in its 32nd year. Fremantle Press Publisher Georgia […]