Ford Street authors and illustrators appeared at Angus & Robertson (Victoria Gardens) and Dymocks Southland en masse for a signing on July 17. Much fun was had by all, and many books sold!

This is Grant - he does this website, among other things. Now you can see why we don't let him out in public very often.

For all the latest goss check out our latest newsletter: http://lekaiproduction.com/nl3.html

Paul Collins speaks briefly on the genesis of Gamers' Quest. To his left are Carole Wilkinson who launched the book, and author George Ivanoff

George Ivanoff reads from Gamers' Quest while an appreciative audience hangs on every word. He's a GREAT speaker!

The lovely Kate and Nikeeta wait for the buy-frenzy hordes to descend.

Ford Street has sold German rights to Dianne Bates' Crossing the Line (short-listed for the NSW Premier's Award 2009). Pool by Justin D’Ath has also sold to Actes Sud (France).

Ford Street has also signed up with educational supplier, Int Books.

Publisher Paul Collins has collaborated with Danny Willis on the World of Grrym trilogy. The last book, Morgassa’s Folly, was released in August. Paul Collins’ next book is The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler, due from Celapene Press in November. View the trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lclytl3DB-4

Doug MacLeod’s MELAD reviewed on The Book Chook: http://thebookchook.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-review-my-extraordinary-life-and.html

Visit our first newsletter. It includes give-away posters and bookmarks to booksellers and libraries. STUDENTS: ask your school librarian to email us for free posters and stickers: info@fordstreetpublishing.com:

http://www.lekaiproduction.com/newsletterfinal.html

Shane Thamm gets a mention on the QUT website: http://www.creativeindustries.qut.edu.au/news/news-event.jsp?news-event-id=29696

Shane’s launch reviewed by Lynn Priestley: http://networkedblogs.com/p12490894

Shane’s book reviewed at The Reading Stack: http://thereadingstack.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-private-pectus.html

Shane interviewed on ABC – Brisbane: http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/09/boys-and-body-image.html

Check out Shane’s latest website: http://www.pectusexcavatum.biz/

George Ivanoff and Gamers' Quest gets mentioned:

http://narrelle.livejournal.com/92250.html

http://persnicketysnark.blogspot.com/2009/08/waiting-on-wednesday-gamer-quest.html

George Ivanoff’s Gamers’ Quest teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quwISlnzQBI

Gamers' Quest review: http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://suebursztynski.blogspot.com/2009/09/gamers-quest-by-george-ivanoff.html&ct=ga&cd=W3MmNzfjTSM&usg=AFQjCNGUnBQW0RVETUkGJ5-Gy3hQY_fdJA

Di Bates gets another great review: http://thebookchook.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-crossing-line.html

Doug MacLeod gets a great review at: http://thebookchook.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-review-my-extraordinary-life-and.html

Great article on Kim Miller and They Told Me I Had To Write This in GetAheadKids. Also a good review of The Gimlet Eye by James Roy: http://www.getaheadkids.com.au/issues/2009/5/GAK5.html

Kim's book is also reviewed in Insights: http://insights.uca.org.au/index.htm

The team gets together working on a picture book called The Lost Toys.
Back, L-R: Sean McMullen (author), Paul Collins (publisher), Ruth Chapman (intern)
Front, L-R: Suzanne Wilson (editor), Grant Gittus (illustrator).

2009 has been a busy year for Ford Street. Titles published already are:

Crime Time by Sue Bursztynski with illustrations by Louise Prout

The Gimlet Eye ;by James Roy with illustrations by Louise Prout

My Extraordinary Life and Death by Doug MacLeod.

The rest of the year is similarly packed. These are forthcoming titles:

They Told Me I Had To Write This by Kim Miller

Gamers’ Quest by George Ivanoff

My Private Pectus by Shane Thamm

Finding Home by Gary Crew with illustrations by Susy Boyer

Rufus Numbat by David Miller.

Let us know if you would like merchandise for these titles (book marks/posters).

Note that earthborn@smartchat.net.au is no longer used.

We also now have a fax number (03) 9481 1123.

Our April 2009 release is James Roy's The Gimlet Eye, book #3 in the new Quentaris Chronicles. There's an early review at: http://www.suebursztynski.blogspot.com

Congratulations to Dianne Bates! Her YA novel, Crossing the Line, has been short-listed in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. The judges had this to say about the book:

“The subject matter of Crossing the Line is confronting, even gruelling. Sophie, as main character and narrator, moves in and out of therapy, in and out of relationships, craving affection and intimacy, yet simultaneously bristling, defensive and distrustful. Her strong presence dominates the novel. Sophie falls into a transference relationship with her therapist, which leads to emotional obsession and stalking behaviour even more extreme than her acts of self-mutilation. What makes the story believable is the raw intensity of her voice and point of view. Sophie is a troubling and uncomfortable character, yet undeniably, overpoweringly real. Dianne Bates’s book will be a valuable text to stimulate discussion, especially among teenage girls”. 

To see the full results go to: http://www.pla.nsw.gov.au/awards-shortlists

Ford Street’s first contracted book, Pool, by Justin D’Ath, has been short-listed for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. The other short-listed books are Solo by Alyssa Brugman (Ford Street just published her latest book, The Equen Queen) and Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful by Brigid Lowry.

It’s been quite a year, and of course we’re nowhere near the end of it. But right now, Crossing the Line by Dianne Bates has arrived from the printer, and is due for release August 1. David Miller’s picture book, Big and Me, is being printed in Singapore as I write this. One would think that all our “work” is done for the year, but it’s far from over. The publicity, marketing, accounts, reading unsolicited manuscripts and a host of other odds and ends really do chew up the time.

During the past year - yes, Ford Street is now a one-year-old - we’ve been ably assisted by many people. Notable among these were in-house editor, Saralinda Turner, who unfortunately has left for full-time employment; Meredith Costain, who proofreads, edits and is usually available to answer many queries; Nancy Mortimer, who has taken on a marketing role; Lisa Dowsley, who works the FaceBook page; Grant Gittus, who does most of Ford Street’s graphic design work; Louis de Vries and Anna Blay at Hybrid Publishers, who are kept busy with CiP data, ISBNs, typesetting and author royalty payments; the Macmillan reps who represent Ford Street to booksellers and librarians across the country.

Successes during the year include selling most of Ford Street’s titles to ASO, a major supplier of books to schools; Trust Me! receiving runaway success with many reviews in major magazines and newspapers (Google “Ford Street Publishing” and you will see stacks of fantastic reviews of our books); many books selling in most of their print runs; Pool by Justin D’Ath receiving a Notable Book in the Older Readers section of the CBCA awards ? the only small press represented on that list.

The main challenge Ford Street has faced is getting its market share - becoming known to the librarians, booksellers and the reading public. We’re gradually chipping away at this problem via the reviews and numerous mentions in magazines and newspapers. Rachel Power from the AEU (Vic Branch) called last week to interview Ford Street’s publisher, Paul Collins, re the “gritty books that Ford Street is publishing”. It’s via such mentions that I’m sure Ford Street will become an important player in Australian children’s publishing.

Our first YA title, Before the Storm by Sean McMullen, is a time-slip novel set in 1901 (the time of Federation). To celebrate Ford Street’s first year anniversary, we’d like to extend a special offer. Email or post an order before the end of August and instead of the RRP of $19.95, we will give you a 50% discount, post free. Signed copies available on request. Address your order to me at fordstr@intenode.on.net or 2 Ford Street, Clifton Hill, VIC 3068, Australia

Our authors give workshops and talks and are available for book signings, interviews and children’s festivals. Simply contact us and we will pass you on to the relevant author.

2009 is shaping up to be a good one. We already have titles from Gary Crew and Susy Boyer (illustrator), James Roy, Sue Bursztynski and George Ivanoff.

Author Justin D'Ath visits the home of Ford Street Publishing