Georgia Richter & Deborah Hunn
How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia
Fremantle Press
Non-fiction
RRP $34.99
This new release from Fremantle Press, authored by publisher/editor Georgia Richter and writer/lecturer Deborah Hunn, is an essential guide for new, emerging and established authors in Australia on the business aspects of authorship. There are countless books out there on how to write—the one thing this one does not cover—but none that I know of that deal so comprehensively, and in a specifically Australian context, with the dizzying array of other things that writers need to know, whether they want to or not.
The cover displays some of the subjects the book tackles, although there are many more. There’s plenty of solid industry advice, lists of dos and don’ts, and answers to the kinds of questions that Richter and Hunn routinely field in the course of their professional lives.
The authors also canvassed a group of authors and industry professionals, across a range of genres and specialisations, for tips, experiences and practical advice on particular subjects. I’m proud to be included in this stellar group:
Liz Byrski, Alan Carter, Nandi Chinna, Tim Coronel, Amanda Curtin, Daniel de Lorne, Deb Fitzpatrick, James Foley, Alecia Hancock, Stephen Kinnane, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Natasha Lester, Brigid Lowry, Caitlin Maling, Meg McKinlay, Claire Miller, Brendan Ritchie, Rachel Robertson, Holden Sheppard, Sasha Wasley, David Whish-Wilson and Anne-Louise Willoughby.
The book is entertaining, well written, well designed and easy to navigate, and includes a great section on resources and a useful index.
It’s the kind of book that I wish had been around when I was starting out—and even now I know I’ll be consulting it again and again!
looking up/looking down 