Perentie Press

Perentie Press is an independent publisher of graphic novels for 5-17 year old readers. The publisher is seeking exciting mysteries, contemporary stories, humour and school-yard tales, as well as intergenerational, multicultural stories with heart. Not a good fit for toilet-humour, erotica, graphic horror or graphic violence.

Pitch Pro Sessions

GN/Illus

Author/Editor

Davina Bell is an award-winning writer for young people of many ages and a children’s book editor and publisher. Some of her most well-known picture books include All the Ways To Be Smart, All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors, Under the Love Umbrella, The Underwater Fancy-dress Parade, and What To Say When You Don't Know What To Say. Davina has also worked as an editor and publisher at Penguin Books, Affirm Press and Allen & Unwin.

Perfecting Picture-Book Rhythm and Rhyme

Find your picture-book rhythm and lift your rhyme game with award-winning author and editor, Davina Bell.

Author

Claire Saxby is the award-winning author of Volcano, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Tree, Great White Shark, Iceberg, Dingo, Emu and The Wearing of the Green. Claire takes daily walks on the beach and beachcombs for unusual finds thinking  ‘What if...?’ and ‘Why?’. The answer to these questions sometimes become the foundation for a poem or story that later become books.

The Final Cut

Our world is full of wonder. Join Claire Saxby as she shares many of the fascinating things she has discovered while researching, not all of which could be shoehorned into her stories. Discover how she makes decisions about what belongs and what has to be left out. And what she does with the bits that don’t fit.

Author

Miranda Luby is a YA author, journalist and copywriter living on the Surf Coast. Her short fiction has been published by Bloomsbury UK and Margaret River Press, and has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize. Her debut YA novel, Sadie Starr's Guide to Starting Over, was shortlisted for the Text Prize and The Edge of Everything, launches in May 2025.

Different Steps to Publication (panel)

Emerging writers and illustrators love seeing their work in print. This panel explores getting your work into different types of quality publications that are as exciting as a book deal.

Author

Heather Gallagher is a children’s author, book reviewer and award-winning journalist. She is a regular contributor to the CSIRO’s Double Helix magazine and the NSW-based School Magazine. Heather has a passion for children’s literacy, working as a writer-in-residence in primary schools and presenter for Geelong Regional Libraries.

Different Steps to Publication (panel)

Emerging writers and illustrators love seeing their work in print. This panel explores getting your work into different types of quality publications that are as exciting as a book deal.

MidnightSun Publishing

MidnightSun Publishing is a small press based in Adelaide dedicated to finding new and unknown voices.

The publisher is seeking stories that are unusual, especially about characters with diverse backgrounds. Also middle-grade adventure stories, YA addressing complex questions and picture books that cover historical non-fiction as well as books that are environmentally aware (and books that are plain fun).

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

UQP

UQP is an independent publisher of children's books based in Brisbane. They publish bold and inspiring literary books for children including award-winners Mina and the Whole Wide World (Sherryl Clark) and Three Dresses (Wanda Gibson).

Cathy Vallance is the children's publisher seeking picture books, chapter books, middle grade and YA. For picture books, no rhyming verse, no talking animals, and no looking for lost items please. For chapter books, MG and YA verse novels are welcomed as well as diverse/marginalised voices and unique stories that have something important to say and leave a lasting impression on the reader. No series or graphic novels.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA

Author

Stef Gemmill used to write music reviews about big kids in bands but swapped the mosh pit for toys and tantrums to write books for curious smaller kids. Stef is the Program Director and founder of the Sketch and Scribe Festival and also an advocate for children’s literacy and helping her kid lit tribe to get published. She lives on the Surf Coast with her family and sleepy cat, Luna, the star of her international award winning book, A Home for Luna.

Scrapbook Crafternoon

Progressing your writing or illustration craft means trying new things and getting out of your comfort zone. Join Stef to kickstart a new story seed or character illustration by getting crafty. Learn how to deep dive into character and plot while creating a keepsake scrapbook to help you progress a new project.

New Frontier Publishing

New Frontier Publishing is an independent publisher of children's books based in both London & Sydney. They publish high quality picture and board books for children that inspire, educate and uplift children. Many of their books have won CBCA awards including Don’t Worry Felix, Lionel and Me and Please Handle With Care.

Sophia is the children's publisher where her role involves both commissioning and editing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus

Windy Hollow Books

Windy Hollow Books is an independent publisher of children's books based in Melbourne. They publish high quality, literary picture books for children so that they have wonderful reading experiences.

Cristina is the children's publisher where her role involves everything from commissioning to editing and sales and marketing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB

Ford St Publishing

Ford St seek to maintain excellence as a publisher of high quality books for children and young adults. Their books explore themes of contemporary relevance, including childhood grief, ageing, interfaith issues, war, bullying and whaling. Ford Street have published award-winning books such as My Dog Socks, Country Town , Our Mob and I Need a Parrot.

Palmina is a senior editor at Ford St Publishing.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus

Wild Eyed Press

Wild Eyed Press publishes Children's Picture Books with an Australian natural environment focus - whether it be wildlife, bushland, nature play, humour or storytelling.

They also sell Australian art by Australian artists, available as Greeting Cards, Children's Books, Stationery, Mugs, Giftwrap at over 140+ retail stockists and pay quarterly royalties to artists.

They encourage public awareness and concern for Australian fauna and the sustainability of their fragile habitats.

Leanne White is the commissioning editor and art director.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus

Woodslane Press

Woodslane Press primarily publishes Australian fiction and non-fiction books with a growing children’s list by Australian authors. They mostly work collaboratively with authors under the traditional book publishing process as well as hybrid publishing, in some instances.

Virginia Greig is the commissioning editor interested in fiction and narrative/innovative non-fiction picture book author and illustrators and diverse voices.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus