Local publisher looking for manuscripts

BUDDING writers are being invited to submit their fiction, non-fiction or children’s book manuscripts to the Rural Publishing Company.

Owners, Sarah Walkerden and Toby Billing, are based on a property near Ballarat and in 2024 the pair are aiming to publish 100 works.

“We have a couple of other businesses focusing on the regional market and a couple of years ago I decided to put together a book with 15 other regional women in business,” said Ms Walkerden.

“I enjoyed the process so much we decided that it would be a good idea to start a publishing company top provide that support specifically to regional authors because we felt it was an underrepresented sector.”

The organisation works to a hybrid model meaning authors pay an upfront cost for the book to be published but get to keep the rights to their work and book sale profits.

If the book contains solid writing authors can get a contract with the company and books are usually published within three or four months.

“In traditional publishing the author is paid in advance for their book sale profits but then they only get paid about 10 per cent profits in the end and the publisher is in control of how the book is produced,” said Ms Walkerden

“With a hybrid model the author pays us a package fee but the author retains full control, and they guide us.”

Ms Walkerden encouraged members of the community to step out of their comfort zone and submit their work.

“We really love to encourage authors to give it a go and submit anything they might have lying around,” she said.

“When we look at a manuscript, we don’t charge anything at that point, it’s just free feedback and we like to be as encouraging as possible.

To find out more visit theruralpublishingcompany.com.au.