From Asmara To The Yarra

'From Asmara to the Yarra' is a story about a typical Eritrean refugee family. When war breaks out, a widowed mother and her three young daughters are forced to abandon their homeland. This story traces their path from Eritrea to Sudan and beyond as they slowly drift apart to face their own painful challenges and grim fates. The eldest of the sisters, Miryam, finds herself in the Arab Gulf - a lowly housemaid working for a rich businessman with a sleazy and heinous agenda. The middle sister, Nadia, joins the armed struggle to [read more...]

My Friend the Bear

Follow the Bear through his busy day. What does he get up to?What does he like to eat?Can you keep up with him? Come along and enjoy reading this fun and friendly book and meet My Friend the Bear! Stuart came up with this idea, and we just thought to include a short questionnaire for the end of my story "My Friend the Bear". This will help with the interaction of parents and children as well as helping with some simple education and memory skills. Have Fun With Question Time? What number is on the Bear’s [read more...]

Delhi Calls: A Look at Publishing in India

Here is a great article on selling books into India, especially as ASPG has two new India distributors. When we attend the London book fair in April we already have Indian companies lined up to meet. "The first major trade book fair of any new year marks an important date in most publishers' calendars. The fairs allow publishers to generate business, cement existing relationships and explore new markets. Things get rolling this year in New Delhi. The New Delhi World Book Fair gets underway this weekend, running from February [read more...]

The State of Ebooks 2015

A LOOK AHEAD Although this article talks about the big 5 publishers, it is still great news for the self-publishing author. If an author gets their book out there, they have a great chance of competing with the big guys? Which is exactly what we have told authors many times, eBooks are a must nowadays, not an add on. “The large will become larger in 2015, as global competition drives more mergers and acquisitions in the publishing game. "Publishers are realizing that publishing physical books is, in a sense, only one aspect of [read more...]

Why you should have an eBook.

It has been reported lately that in Canada the growth of eBooks has skyrocketed with Canadian publishers, 90% of them now produce eBooks with their print version. As Canada is similar to us in Australia, authors here should follow their lead. eBooks are big business now around the world with 10% of all revenue derived from them. 10% may not sound much but when the large publishers are making many millions of dollars a year from selling books: this is huge. So where are these sales coming from? 93% of major publishers say they [read more...]

Report from International Publishers Association, and Australia Publishers Association.

What happens at a book fair? Book fairs come in all shapes and sizes, attracting a variety of publics and serving different purposes. Most book fairs in developing countries and many major fairs in developed countries are mainly consumer events. A major function of professional books fairs is to be a market place for trade professionals. Book rights are bought and sold, and agents pitch new titles to publishers. Generally, the people selling book rights at book fairs are located either on publishers’ stands or in a special [read more...]

Tom Culley – a Reflection

Throughout the history of the evolution of the Australian Merino, the creative efforts of the few impact studmasters has been critical. By any account Tom Culley is regarded as one of the greatest breeders of Merino sheep this country has seen. The genetic impact of the rams he bred upon the national flock has been enormous. The distinctive nature of his sheep is no less significant. With their terrific size, and long-stapled and soft medium-strong wool fleeces of great bulk, they were immediately recognisable. Whether on the catwalk, [read more...]

The Two Days in Your Life

Fear "All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are, the more they are frightened. The courageous man is the man who forces himself, in spite of his fear, to carry on. Discipline, pride, self respect, self confidence and love of glory are attributes which will make a man courageous even when he is afraid." General George S Patton Jr, US Army. It is 1917 and the Australian soldiers of the 3rd Signal Section are huddled together in a dugout close to the frontline in France. The next day they will be in action. They have one [read more...]

Sub-Heroes: Killervolt

Set on a similar but different world than we know, people with strange and powerful ability's have risen up to protect the 'normal' population. These people use their gifts for the greater good, Organised and controlled under a single banner. They are the Ultra Heroes. Most people with these Ulta Powers are initially unaware that they are gifted with this power as it lies dormant and undisturbed until it's needed or forced to the surface. This is the story of one such person who seeks answers to the tragedy that gave birth to [read more...]

A Wog Abroad

After taking a well earned holiday, for the first time in 6 years. Simon Sultana an accomplished Security Officer will get out of his comfort zone leaving his family and close friends behind for a month travelling alone halfway across the globe to the USA for his first ever solo overseas trip. From the bright lights of Las Vegas, the chilly snow peaked ridges of the Grand Canyon, the sleepy country towns of the Deep South, to the hustle and bustle of New York City with his new found travel buddies in tow, read as Simon navigates [read more...]