AN ODE TO OUR FEMALE AUTHORS

It's International Women's Day and there's no better time to celebrate all of our incredible, talented and inspirational female authors, of which we are lucky to have so many. These women never stop fighting for the causes they believe in and are continually pushing the boundaries of society and gender to make positive changes for all. They are the reason we do and love our job, and in honour of IWD we've shined a spotlight on a select few.

Maria Katsonis, mental health advocate

It takes courage to bare all in a memoir, let alone a memoir that details the backlash you received coming out to your strict Greek parents and the subsequent depression in the years that followed. But that's Maria, she wrote her book The Good Greek Girl to de-stigmatise mental illness and continues to do so through numerous speaking events. She holds the first public service role in Australia exclusively focused on LGBTI reform, is a beyondblue ambassador and will publish the anthology Rebellious Daughters with Lee Kofman in August this year.

Connect with Maria on Twitter at @mariakatsonis, Facebook or her website.

Winsome Thomas, lifelong learner

Proving that age really is just a number, Winsome Thomas prides herself in being a lifelong learner and practitioner. At 71 she has had more careers than most of us have had in a lifetime - she became a psychologist in her fifties and recently became a Licensed Lay Minister in the Anglican Church. We first read about Winsome in Madness, a memoir, a searing account of mental illness written by her most recognisable client, Kate Richards, where she details Winsome's warm and intelligent client-central approach to therapy in the book. Kate openly credits Winsome with saving her life. Now adding 'published author' to her list of achievements, we are releasing Winsome's first book Heart Hungers in April. 

Jacqueline Dinan, female history advocate

It's not many women who could set themselves the task of interviewing over 300 women who served Australia in WW2, but Jacqueline Dinan's passion and persistance has ensured this time period for women has been preserved forever in Between the Dances. Spending countless hours travelling across Australia to share these stories and connect with women from this generation, Jacqueline is back writing her next book, a novel based on the true story of 'Granny' McDonald, the first woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner.

Connect with Jacqueline on Facebook or her website. 

Christine Durham, brain injury advocate

In 1992 the life of gifted teacher Christine Durham was turned upside down after she sustained a severe brain injury in a horrific car accident. Determind to return to teaching, after much perseverance and determination Christine was able to rebuild her life, becoming the inspirational leader she is today. Named 2014 Victorian Senior Australian of the Year, she continues to advocate for and empower people with brain injury.

Christine published Unlocking my Brain: Through the Labyrinth of Acquired Brain Injury in February 2014.

Angela Priestley, career motivator

The founding editor of Women's Agenda, the power-packed website for professionally-focused women, Angela spends her days empowering women by writing about careers, gender equality and leadership. She interviewed some of Australia's most successful women in her first book Women who Seize the Moment, and is a strong advocate for career opportunities for all women and men - no matter their life choices.

Connect with Angela on Twitter @angelapriestley

Benison O'Reilly, autism commentator

The go-to commentator on autism in Australia, Benison is a medical writer, pharmacist and autism mum who staunchly defends evidence-based therapy surrounding autism at every turn. Just read this intelligent takedown of a book providing misinformation to parents on The Guardian, impressed yet? Benison is the co-author of The Complete Autism Handbook and Beyond the Baby Blues, both books responsible for helping parents through some of their most tough and confusing times.

Connect with Benison on Twitter @BenisonAnne or her website.

The Women Who Influenced Me by Jane Curry

To celebrate being named a 100 Women of Influence by Westpac and Financial Review, and the solidarity of all women in business, Jane has written the below article to pay tribute to all the women who influenced her along the course of her career and gave her a leg up the ladder of success.

 

The place I call home is the picturesque cathedral city of Ripon in North Yorkshire. But thanks to a potent reading mix of Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch and my monthly delivery of Cosmopolitan which was full of glamorous women striding forth with their briefcases and high heels, I knew my life would only really start when I escaped and got myself to London.

And it did.  


First stop was university at the red brick red flag-flying Manchester. We raged against Thatcher’s Britain, staged sit-downs, held vigils for Nelson Mandela and supported the striking miners. We were engaged and passionate for a better world. I also realised that embracing feminism was the only logical way to live, which meant the obligatory Virginia Woolf poster, a full collection of Carmen Callil’s Virago paperbacks and a subscription to Spare Rib. 

So armed with an honours degree, a suitcase and an education in life, I set off to London and started my first job in publishing with Time-Life Books on Bond Street. My boss was the uber-stylish and inspirational Editor in Chief, Kit van Tulleken. Kit was Canadian, powerful, clever and awe inspiring to my 21 year old self. As a first boss I could not have asked for a better role model. Her two boys often came in after school so before the phrase ‘having it all’ was coined, she did indeed have it all.

Time-Life sent me on a placement to Sydney to work for dynamic American, Bonnie Boezeman, who headed up their Asia Pacific division. Bonnie was a whirlwind of energy and professionalism and ran the company with utmost flair and dedication.  

It is only writing this now I realise that my first two bosses were such influential women. They inspired me from the start to love the numbers side as much as the creative. Power always resides where the money is made and so I have been fortunate to be mentored into financial literacy very early in my career. 

Book publishing is a wonderful convergence of my love of the political and cultural together with my passion for business. So thank you Germaine, Carmen, Kit and Bonnie for all your influence on my formative years. And of course thank you to Cosmo for showing me the world beyond Ripon. 

If you would like to congratulate Jane, share tales from your own rebellious university years or tell us about the people who influenced you, come and have a chat on Facebook and Twitter.

Photos from Writers in the Park Festival at Centennial Park, Sydney

Rainy morning weather couldn't stop our local writer's festival, Writers in the Park, from launching with a bang at Centennial Park in Sydney this past Sunday 27 September.

Ventura authors were there in force, including The Good Greek Girl's Maria Katsonis, Icing on the Cake's Annabel Morley and Talk with your Kid's Michael Parker. Our managing director Jane Curry even shared her book tips on a killer publishing panel. 

You can read an in depth recap of the event from the wonderful Nicole Melanson, editor of WordMothers.

Annabel Morley and Maria Katsonis enjoying their memoir panel. Photo by John Grant.

Annabel Morley and Maria Katsonis enjoying their memoir panel. Photo by John Grant.

Annabel Morley, author of Icing on the Cake. Photo by John Grant.

Annabel Morley, author of Icing on the Cake. Photo by John Grant.

Publisher Jane Curry with Annabel Morley and Maria Katsonis. Photo by John Grant.

Publisher Jane Curry with Annabel Morley and Maria Katsonis. Photo by John Grant.

Maria Katsonis, author of The Good Greek Girl. Photo by John Grant.

Maria Katsonis, author of The Good Greek Girl. Photo by John Grant.

Between the Dances launches in Sydney with Fran Kelly and Imogen Clark

Between the Dances, a collection of stories from WW2 women, was launched to great success in Sydney on 14 August - a day before the 70th anniversary of VP Day.

RN Breakfast's Fran Kelly officially launched the book, while folk singer Imogen Clark rounded out the event by singing her beautifully poignant song about women in war, While Women Wait.

Author Jacqueline Dinan has been travelling across Australia since the launch of the book in March sharing the stories of these women - two of whom were in attendance to celebrate their contributions to the book.

Peggy Williams was working at a citrus farm in Leeton, Victoria when the war ended. She was interviewed by Fran for RN Breakfast to share her memories from that joyous day. Listen to the audio here.

Imogen Clark, Fran Kelly, Jacqueline Dinan and Publisher Jane Curry

Imogen Clark, Fran Kelly, Jacqueline Dinan and Publisher Jane Curry

Jacqueline Dinan, City of Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Robyn Kemmis, Jane Curry

Jacqueline Dinan, City of Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Robyn Kemmis, Jane Curry

Jacqueline Dinan signs books at the Sydney launch of Between the Dances

Jacqueline Dinan signs books at the Sydney launch of Between the Dances

Meg Green, State President of the War Widows Guild assisting one of her widows, Peggy Williams, while also meeting Edna Petfield and Fran Kelly

Meg Green, State President of the War Widows Guild assisting one of her widows, Peggy Williams, while also meeting Edna Petfield and Fran Kelly


Honey Brown goes to Byron Bay Writers Festival

Beautiful Byron Bay with the host to the Byron Bay Writers Festival on 7 - 9 August and author of Six Degrees Honey Brown was thrilled to be speaking on two panels.

The Green Room was buzzing, and charismatic attendees and authors were in abundance, says Honey.

Her first time at the festival, Honey spoke at Romance: Escapism or Relationship Hotline with fellow authors Krissy Kneen and Jennifer St George, and Crime Scene with Mathew Condon and Michael Robotham.

Here's cheers to a wonderful festival, and to an even better 2016!

 

Ventura Press launches with Simon & Schuster

After 12 years of successful publishing, we are delighted to announce the launch of Ventura Press from 1 August 2015.

The launch of Ventura Press celebrates a new trade sales and distribution partnership with Simon & Schuster Australia, which will ensure the continued growth of our company across Australia and New Zealand.

The first title to be published under Ventura will be Six Degrees by award-winning author Honey Brown, one of Australia’s best contemporary fiction writers.

“This is a wonderful opportunity... to join forces with the trade strength of Simon & Schuster,” said Jane Curry, managing director of Ventura Press. “Ventura will continue to publish our signature brand of strong Australian non-fiction, health, and high-end fiction titles to complement the excellent Simon & Schuster list.”

Dan Ruffino, managing director of Simon & Schuster Australia, said he is thrilled to welcome Jane Curry, one of Australia’s most well respected independent publishers, to the company.

“The experience that Jane and her team bring coupled with her passion and innovative approach both complements and enhances the values we have here,” he said. “We are looking forward to growing the sales and presence of Jane’s books across Australia New Zealand from 1 August.”