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Entranced by the power of words from birth, Marie O’Rourke spent many years reading, analysing and teaching the stories of others before working up the nerve to start shaping her own. Her writing pushes against the tradition of first-person, past-tense, chronological, narrative memoir, hoping to capture the shape-shifting nature of memory and identity. Marie’s essays […]

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 […]

Speaking to host Brooke Dunnell on the Fremantle Press podcast, novelist David Whish-Wilson said the main problem he sees from his students as a Creative Writing teacher is ‘overcoming the fear of the known; overcoming this fear that your life is somehow not authentic and your life is not as interesting as other people’s.’ David’s […]

Calling all storytellers! Join Joanna Morrison at the Open Book for a three-part creative writing course to unlock your creativity, hone your skills, and workshop your own short story in a fun and constructive environment.

Eleven Western Australian writers are longlisted and in the running for the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award. Judged anonymously, the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award is a biennial prize awarded to an unpublished manuscript by a Western Australian author for a work of fiction, narrative non-fiction or young adult fiction. The winner receives a cash […]

Fremantle Press is delighted to announce that Alex Allan has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. An experienced publishing professional and business leader, Alex will commence on Monday 17 October 2022, replacing outgoing CEO Jane Fraser. Prior to her current role in higher education, Alex was Group Publisher for Welbeck Children’s Books in the United […]

The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin is the whopper doorstop of never-ending educational resources and inspiration for students ages 8–13. Here some activities for the classroom. Real-life issues/themes The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin is a supernatural fantasy of epic proportions, but wrapped up in all the haunting, high jinks and history lies an earnest and […]

What went into space first, the chicken or the egg?

Fremantle Press commenced its reconciliation journey in August with a formal Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. Over the last six months, I have been working with fellow RAP Working Group member Kirsty Horton and Reconciliation Australia to build the framework of our first action plan. Designed to enable our organisation to sustainably […]

Tyrown Waigana joins the podcast to chat to Helen Milroy about the importance of learning the Noongar language and believes his collaborative book with Jayden Boundry, Noongar Boodja Waangkan, could change how we interact as a culture. Tyrown says, ‘It would be cool if this book influences everyone around here and we start talking Noongar […]

Ninni Yabini is a dual language picture book – in Noongar and English – by Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Tyrown Waigana. We asked Cheryl to tell us more about why she wrote the book and why wants you to read this story with the kids in your life. Why did you write the picture book? I […]

Jayden Boundry has been hard at work behind the scenes recording an online pronunciation guide to support readers of Noongar Boodja Waangkan: First Noongar Words. Launched to coincide with the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages, the book was co-created by Jayden, a Wadjak Ballardong Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji man, and Tyrown Waigana, a […]

If you’re like me when you enjoy a thing, you want others to share that joy. The drunk bellowing over your shoulder at the football game might be irksome, but doesn’t it beat being an audience of one? This is particularly so if you’re a writer. Sure, we should write for ourselves (goes the advice), […]

Speaking to Brooke Dunnell on the Fremantle Press podcast, novelist Karen Herbert says she didn’t know how the narrative was going to pan out until the end of her writing. Karen says, ‘The story started with chapter four … It was really one of those stories that evolved as you write them. I didn’t know […]

Come along to hear travel writer Tim Richards talk about his 7000 kilometre rail journey around Australia, from the tropics to the desert and big cities to ghost towns, and his book, Heading South.

Stellarphant has won Picture Book of the Year in the inaugural Children’s Book Council of Australia Sun Project Shadowers’ Choice Awards. A week to the day from being named a CBCA Honour Book, the little elephant that could has rocketed into the top spot as voted by young readers. James Foley thanked the CBCA for […]

Kaya! In this first episode, Jayden Boundry introduces the pronunciation guide and his new book with Tyrown Waigana: Noongar Boodja Waangkan: First Noongar Words He introduces himself, his language and why it’s important to share language on Country. Recorded and produced by Ryan Gibson. This guide was produced in Walyalup in Wadjuk Boodja, on the […]

In this episode, Jayden Boundry shares the Noongar words for Moort — the members of a family and the people around us, including mother, child, and friend. Get your copy of Noongar Boodja Waangkan and read along as you learn the Noongar words for: Mother Father Sister Daughter Son Brother Grandfather Grandmother Cousin Aunty Uncle […]

In this episode, Jayden Boundry shares the Noongar words for Ngany and Moolymari — the parts of our body and face, including the head, cheeks, and teeth. Get your copy of Noongar Boodja Waangkan and read along as you learn the Noongar words for: Hair Head Heart Arm Hand Stomach Bum Knee Leg Foot Eye […]

In this episode, Jayden Boundry shares the Noongar words for Boodja — the country and landscape, including tree, moon and ocean. Get your copy of Noongar Boodja Waangkan and read along as you learn the Noongar words for: Sky River Rock Earth Sun Moon Star Ocean Cloud Tree Wind Rain Hills Rainbow Waterhole Flower Recorded […]

In this episode, Jayden Boundry shares the Noongar words for Boorn wer djet — the trees and flowers, including banksia, she-oak, and kangaroo paw. Get your copy of Noongar Boodja Waangkan and read along as you learn the Noongar words for: Karri Marri Jarrah Peppermint tree Grass tree Paperbark tree She-Oak Banksia Zamia palm Bull […]