New Narratives, New Structures: Fiction | The Stories We Tell Ourselves

If we were to tell the story of publishing in Australia and the UK right now, what would it look like? Would the landscape we described be an equitable one? In order to change the world of publishing, we need to change the story being told, which should be easy in an industry of storytelling professionals – right?

Part of The Stories We Tell Ourselves project, this panel discussion features writers, researchers and publishers from Australia and the UK, discussing urgent questions around representation and inclusion in contemporary fiction publishing, and taking an honest look at just how much progress the industry has made.

Host Joy Francis is joined by Sharon Duggal, author of The Handsworth Times and Should We Fall Behind and Maxine Beneba Clark, author of Foreign Soil and How Decent Folk Behave; Dr Anamik Saha and Dr Radhiah Chowdhury, researchers from the UK and Australia respectively; Valerie Brandes, Publisher at Jacaranda Books; and Robert Watkins, Publishing Director of Ultimo Press.

This event is captioned.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves series is presented by the Wheeler Centre, Spread the Word and the Melbourne City of Literature Office, and is supported by the UK/Australia Season Patrons Board, the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season.

Bringing together diverse children’s and adult fiction writers, publishers from inclusive independent presses and academics active in bringing about change in the publishing industry from Britain and Australia, The Stories We Tell Ourselves provides a space for reflection and challenge through opening up the conversation on equity and social justice and the stories we get to hear.