Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

Image. Advertisement:

Spec-fic specialists IFWG expands as it seeks growth as ‘middle-tier independent publisher’

Spec-fiction specialists IFWG Publishing has signed a distribution deal with Dennis Jones & Associates (DJA), as it looks to entrench its brand in the industry ‘with an emphasis on quality fiction in our genre target markets’.

IFWG Australia publishes about a dozen books a year in Australia, and another ten through its IFWG International imprint. The company is also looking to expand its business in New Zealand, with at least three of its 2018 titles written by New Zealand authors, along with a warehousing and distribution presence in the country.

IFWG managing director Gerry Huntman told Books+Publishing its ultimate goal is ‘to grow into a viable middle-tier independent publisher, servicing the speculative fiction market’. ‘We are now having discussions on making a presence in the UK, as our Australian imprint has a few British authors,’ said Huntman. ‘North American penetration is more middle-term for our international imprint. The timing is linked to ensuring our maturity as a publisher will meet market expectations—this has always been a key tenet of our business model and work ethos.’

The IFWG International imprint was first created about eight years ago in the US, with Huntman as editor-in-chief. His partner bowed out several years ago, and Huntman bought him out and moved the headquarters to Melbourne. Huntman said he focused on ‘getting production and quality standards high’, and after IFWG titles, including The Smoking Mirror (David Bowles) and The Grief Hole (Kaaron Warren), picked up numerous awards, said they ‘had the credentials and catalogue to make the transition to DJA’.

IFWG’s next local title is Towards White by Zena Shapter, which will be launched at Conflux in Canberra on 29 September.

 

Category: Local news