The Spreadsheet of Dreams: Life in the Acquisitions Department
Behind every manuscript is a spreadsheet, a decision, and a dream waiting to be answered. In acquisitions, we don’t just read; we weigh potential, balance uncertainty, and decide which stories move forward.
Top 5 Book Recommendations for Teens aged 11 and upwards
Five unforgettable books every teen aged 11+ should read — from thrilling adventures to powerful coming-of-age stories.
Essay: Wait, This is Real? A look inside the Acquisitions Department
An essay detailing how a Curtin University student, feels about now being an acquisitions associate at Elelphant Page Publishing.
Book Review: The Valley by Chris Hammer
A gripping dive into Australian noir, The Valley blends tense small-town dynamics with Hammer’s trademark atmospheric storytelling. This review explores how the landscape, the characters, and the slow-burn mystery all come together to create a compelling, immersive read.
Book Review: Past & Parallel Lives by Kaya Ortiz
Past & Parallel Lives by Kaya Ortiz, published by UWA Publishing, is a collection of poems that embrace shame as a transformative emotion and grapples with the “what if’s” in life.
Helping Kids Navigate Grief Through Fiction
What happens when a child loses a parent? Grief can overwhelm and leave kids searching for ways to feel safe again.
We explore Running Tracks, a forthcoming novel where 12-year-old Anthony uses music and running to navigate life after his mum’s death.
Book Review: The Spirit Circle by Tara Calaby
The Spirit Circle by Tara Calaby published through Text Publishing in 2025, is a sapphic historical fiction novel set in late 19th century Melbourne. It explores themes of love, loss, and belonging.
Meet the Team
At Elephant Page Publishing, this semester looks a little different and, in fact, it’s a full-blown plot twist!
Festival of Writing at Curtin
Curtin celebrates 50 years of creative writing and 25 years of publishing on Saturday.
Book Review: We Saw What You Started by Carla Salmon
We Saw What You Started, Carla Salmon’s debut novel published through Pan Macmillan books in 2025, is a YA thriller about arson, community, and club sports.
Book Review: Everywhere We Look by Martine Kropkowski
Everywhere We Look is Martine Kropkowski’s debut novel, published by Ultimo Press in Sydney in 2024, that explores themes of female friendship and grief in the aftermath of a family tragedy caused by male violence.
The Imagined Past – Boundaries of Authenticating History in Historical Fiction
Henry James’ sharp, perspicuous, yet harsh rebuke of the genre of Historical Fiction encapsulates the caution that readers when presented with a piece of Historical Fiction must wonder: how authentic is what I am reading? Did this really happen?
5 Things I’ve Learned Working in a Publishing House
Truthfully, I didn’t know what to expect when starting in a student-run publishing house. We are one of only a few in all of Australia, or even in the world, and while I was eager to spread my wings and dip my toes into the industry – be a big girl, if you will – I had a lot to learn.
Book Review: Moonlight and Dust by Jasmin McGaughey
Jasmin McGaughey, a Torres Strait Islander and African American author from Queensland, uncovers belonging, identity, coming-of-age and magic in her young adult debut novel, Moonlight and Dust, releasing in July 2025 by Allen & Unwin.
The Power Of Yes And No: Imposter Syndrome in Publishing
There is a sense of imposter syndrome that comes with the responsibility of being an acquisitions associate. Before even entering the role, I had doubted my own ability to evaluate, accept, and even reject submissions from aspiring authors.
What It’s Like Working At Elephant Page
I had no idea what to expect when I started working at Elephant Page in March of 2025. I was halfway through my master's degree and had never had the pleasure of working in the publishing business before. I also knew Elephant Page was only a year old and still making a name for itself. Even though I was unsure how the semester would play out, I was still excited to get the experience of working for a real publishing house.
Book Review: Don’t Let The Forest In by C. G. Drews
Don’t Let The Forest In by C. G. Drews is a queer, dark academia, YA horror novel published in 2024 by Hodder Children’s Books, an imprint of Hachette.
The book follows Andrew Perrault’s return to boarding school, where he finds refuge in writing twisted fairytales for Thomas Rye
From Digital Book Tours to BookTok: The New Era of Publishing Marketing
There’s no doubt that the rise of social media has changed the marketing landscape and has had a significant impact on the way publishing houses market their books. Once, traditional publishing houses relied heavily on book tours, print advertisements and word-of-mouth to drive their book sales. Now, getting a number one bestseller can be as easy as having a TikTok go viral.
Reading Between the Lines: All About Elephant Page Publishing’s Editorial Team
Editing a manuscript is a complex and lengthy process that is split up into three main parts: structural editing, copyediting and proofreading.