Highly recommend taking breaks from querying. I've just started again on my upper YA novel after a 2 month break and feel like I can describe my work better after a bit of distance from it. Feeling optimistic! #amquerying #yaauthor

When a high profile new book is announced with a near identical plot to the one you're querying, is it the kiss of death? Or an opportunity to jump onto a hot topic? Should I hold out hope or move on to the next manuscript? #amquerying

And yet so many children's publishers steer clear of rhyming texts. Yes, they're hard to do, but they are so wonderful when done well. (Also yes, all 3 of my published picture books rhyme. Translation rights be damned.) www.thebookseller.com/news/julia-d...

Very proud to have my article on publishing in the Blue Mountains in the debut issue of MTNS MADE magazine. Plus a bonus review of my artsy kids book "What Is It?"

My publishing company has a beautiful new book coming out soon: "Aunty's House" a story about kinship by two Aboriginal creators. Pre-order it here: loosepartspress.square.site/product/aunt...

It's very easy to get down about publishing industry news, but this made my day when I learned about it! Kids literacy programming is my jam. Looking forward to seeing what comes of it. www.penguin.com.au/articles/501...

A few months ago, two friends and I started a new group: Writing Mothers for anyone in the Blue Mtns area who identifies as a mum to come together to write and chat. It's been such a great space to commiserate, laugh and lift each other up: www.instagram.com/writingmothe...

Sometimes I envy people who just went to college then got 9-5 jobs that they stuck with for years. My career is so all over the place it feels like an identity crisis every time I have to distill it down into a cover letter or bio. I'm getting better at embracing that though.

LinkedIn sent me another alert for a job it thinks I'd be great at - an UNPAID graphic designer role at a publishing company. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

Today I sent my 50th agent query. It's where I told myself I was going to stop. More than 50 seemed delusional. But then you always wonder, what if #51 is the one who says 'yes.' #amquerying

“The industry is in such serious shit at the moment … what with the takeover of Text and Affirm, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. I spoke to [a publishing colleague] and he said to me, ‘You know, we’re dead. You know, it’s just going down the toilet.’” www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

When the world feels as fucked as it does, continuing to make books, create content for and educate kids feels like an act of both hope and resistance.

The latest picture book I've designed and published is now available for pre-sales! Order your copy here: www.bluemtnsbooks.com.au/product/my-i...

Tourist on my train speaking Italian on the phone. Oh boy, I though, I can put my Duolingo skills to test! But this lady did not order one salad or appetiser or describe anyone as a tall father or a shy girlfriend. I feel cheated!

I've got a couple new publishing projects in the works I'm very excited about. Have had my head down in book design mode and can't wait to share. New creative projects are a life raft in the ocean of rejection. 😂🌊

"All I want is to write my books, buy other authors’ books, and enjoy art. So please, I’m begging you, don’t make me use Facebook, Instagram or Twitter just to see or buy your books and art." #indiepublishing

Description for a job paying $50K/year (AUD - that's $31K USD and less than I was making 12 years ago) has 12 selection criteria and wants you to provide 2 "case studies" for each. You want me to write a dissertation for a job paying barely above minimum wage?

If Trump is calling you a "very fine man" you might not be on the right side of history 🤔 Something to consider in the next election. Luckily in Australia we don't have a two-party system. #auspol www.sbs.com.au/news/article...

A great website tracking all the companies that have bent the knee to Trump and eliminated their DEI programs, and all the companies that have stood strong. www.dei.watch

"Marshmallows are for team players" is the new "coffee is for closers" #severance

The world's richest man is taking food and medicine from the world's poorest children www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...

Well known Aussies children's publisher emailed me to let me know if I take their $300 course I might then qualify to take their $4800 course which might get me closer to being published by them. This is a trad publisher that's been nominated for publisher of the year multiple times.

Who can talk to me about community publishing as a model? As a small traditional publisher I'm finding my current model unsustainable in the long-term and self-publishing is not respected. But given my background in the nonprofit world, there's a lot that appeals about a more collaborative approach.

Dear ALP / Greens / Inds, If there’s 1 overwhelming conclusion you can draw from the US election, it is that people are tired of Inaction. I do believe our hyperstimulated brains expect the same fireworks from Governments too. It almost doesn’t matter if they are good actions or bad! #auspol 1/

Australia isn't going down this path too, right? ... RIGHT???

If you're interested in supporting independent publishing in Australia several of us in the Blue Mountains have banded together and are distributing under Blue Mtns Books: www.bluemtnsbooks.com.au #australianpublishing #independentpublishing #indiepublishing #australianauthors

Another one bites the dust. For indie publishers it seems the best we can ever hope for is acquisition, but it's not good for readers or creatives, which is ultimately not good for Australian culture.

I've always smugly thought "I could never get sucked into a cult" but watching this video on Neil Gaiman reminded me how much cults are just coercive control, grooming, power imbalances (esp age gap) in relationships but on a larger scale. And oops, yeah, been there. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id1B...

#WIP #SelfPublishing #WritingGoals #WriteMore #Storytelling

Why is it that when filmmakers self-finance projects they're scrappy? Mavericks. People say "look what they did on this budget." But when authors self-publish they're delusional. Amateurs. Other authors tell you to avoid their books. #selfpublishing

I need to be sure everybody caught this... “No more funding for illegal DEI programs… no more funding for the green new scam… no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness across our federal bureaucracy and agencies.” Trump froze federal grants & loans just to target BIPOC & marginalized groups.

Would love to connect with other #ADHDauthor pals, especially those who deal with RSD - what coping strategies do you use? My other current struggle is having my kids at home for the last six weeks of school holidays. My focus is nonexistent and I remember why I barely wrote anything in my 30s.

I only recently learned about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria as a link to ADHD and my life makes so much more sense. It's still a challenge in a field that is literally daily rejection. But I've learned to savour the little morsels of dopamine - the tiniest line in a rejection letter can make my day.

Sometimes I wonder if I've missed my window for the novel I'm currently querying to be considered "timely" because a lot of books with similar themes are now getting to be 5+ years old. And yet, the issue hasn't gone away and I see a lot of pitches using the same comps I use. 🧐 #amquerying

I'm currently looking for freelance work to supplement my publishing work and LinkedIn sent me an ad for an unpaid Event Coordinator role, minimum 15 hours/week, requiring a BA and 2+ years experience, and informs me I may be a top candidate. 😐 Guess this is what my career has come to.

Glad to see people talking about this. I've often felt my only shot at ever making money as an indie publisher is to be acquired. The economics of this industry are just bonkers. theconversation.com/the-acquisit...

What else would you add to this list? #australianpublishing #australianauthors www.artshub.com.au/news/feature...

As a publisher, I regularly have to send rejection emails for books that are well-written and full of heart. Yet, as a writer, receiving rejection emails still stings every time - no matter how much I know it's not necessarily a reflection on my talent. It feels bad on both sides.

Just an elder millennial trying to stay on top of social media and yelling into the void about the state of the world while also maybe promoting my creative work.