A Tale of Two Publishing Houses (Linda Martin, Fremantle)

Linda Martin’s A Tale of Two Publishing Houses traces her role in shaping Western Australia’s publishing landscape across two distinct eras. The memoir brings together the story of Fremantle Arts Centre Press, established in the 1970s, and Night Parrot Press (NPP), the independent publisher Martin co-founded with US colleague Laura Keenan in 2019 to support non-traditional writers. Set over a period of increased international interest in Australian stories and publishing experimentation, the book draws on interviews conducted between 2017 and 2025. Martin structures the memoir into four clear sections. ‘Beginnings’ charts the early days of both presses, while ‘Practices’ offers a practical and informative account of the publishing process, from editing and design to marketing and distribution. The ‘Books’ section provides a cultural analysis of salient books in Australian publishing history and a fascinating exploration of flash fiction. Particularly engaging are the genesis stories of Elizabeth Jolley and Sally Morgan, which illuminate the role of editors and publishers in shaping literary careers. The ‘Conclusions’ section allows Martin’s gentle and reflective voice to shine as she celebrates the ongoing development of NPP and her Western Australian literary community. A Tale of Two Publishing Houses is aptly described as a love letter to the world of books and conveys Martin’s genuine passion for publishing and its people. It will appeal to bibliophiles and anyone curious about how books come into being.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Michelle Atkins is a communications professional and published educational author. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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