Anna Featherstone

Writing in 2026: What GenreCon Revealed About Creativity, Readers, AI and the Future for Authors ‘If you were guaranteed your next book would be published…would you produce the same book or would it be different?’ This was just one of the cut-through comments about being true to yourself as a cre...

Full takeaways from Genrecon here: Writing in 2026 - What GenreCon revealed about creativity, readers, AI and the future for authors.

annafeatherstone.com/writing-in-2...

'If you were guaranteed your next book would be published…would you produce the same book or would it be different?' (Richard Yaxley at GenreCon)

When you go to a writing conference and there's way too many great takeaways so you pop it all into a blog to share with other authors.

ALLi’s New Book Store: Global visibility for indie authors and fresh reads for book lovers The Alliance of Independent Authors, the global membership organisation for self-publishing authors and authorpreneurs (and the team that bring you the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast and so much mo...

From an Australian perspective — where we’re often publishing far from the biggest book-buying populations — tools that increase discoverability matter. More here: annafeatherstone.com/allis-new-bo...

For readers, librarians, festival programmers and reviewers, it’s now much easier to browse indie books in one place. And for ALLi members, it's a free service.

As ALLi’s non-fiction advisor, I’ve watched this move from idea to reality, and what I like most is its simplicity.
Authors choose their own buy links (retail or direct).
It doesn’t replace platforms or stores.
It adds visibility.

The Alliance of Independent Authors has launched the Indie Author Bookstore — a global discovery hub for independently published books across all genres. 📚

For some reason Test match cricket on in the background makes book editing soooo much easier.

This is a great list for authors as many festivals also offer satellite workshops and are a great way to spend time with your people AND improve your craft.

List of Australian Writers Festivals and Writers Conferences updated for 2026 If you’re a writer or reader planning a holiday, make it one for your creative spirit by planning it around a writers festival or writers conference! Australia has so many wonderful writers festivals,...

The 2026 list of Australian Writers Festivals is here! All the latest dates, new festivals and your old favourites! Famous, debut and local authors to discover In glorious locations near and far. Which are your faves?
annafeatherstone.com/writing-reso...

From The Beatles to Taylor Swift: How music marketing became a beast Remember when artists used to simply play on the radio and tour after releasing a new album? Oh, how times have changed.

So many parallels between musicians and authors when it comes to the demands of marketing www.smh.com.au/culture/musi...

Your new book is out! (And now you feel like a ‘first-class numpty’) The long-awaited moment of publication can bring emptiness, anxiety and a surprising lack of fanfare.

How did you feel after your book launch? @micwink.bsky.social shares… www.smh.com.au/culture/book...

The Australian Book Market August 2025: What Writers, Publishers and Literary Agents are Talking About L-o-n-g blog post ahead with current (as at August 2025) insights on the Australian book market, book marketing, writing craft, AI, and what literary agents are looking for right now and how to approa...

It's taken me a while to get this post together, but hopefully lots of food for thought on the current state of the book market in Australia. Some brilliant tips from literary agents and more for aspiring authors out there. #author #books

annafeatherstone.com/the-australi...

Poets, Authors and a Day in Castlemaine Enjoyed a literary feast today at a mini writers festival curated beautifully by Kristin and Graham from Northern Books at Buda Historic Home, Castlemaine. How did I end up in Central Vic? I’ve been o...

Have you or would you get a tattoo to celebrate the launch of your book? Spotted another author with a gorgeous one at this week's mini-writers festival in Castlemaine. annafeatherstone.com/poets-author...

So great to see! A win for writers and the community at large.

Joint statement on Gaza from AFP, AP, BBC News and Reuters

ASA updates recommended rates of pay for public appearances - Australian Society of Authors The ASA has conducted a review of recommended rates of pay for public appearances including festivals, libraries, and community groups.

The Australian Society of Authors has updated its recommended rates of pay for authors at events www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-upd...

What nonfiction trend excites (or worries) you most right now?

The Future for Non-Fiction: Trends, Tidbits & Tactics for Indie Authors As the Alliance of Independent Authors’ Non-Fiction Advisor, I recently sat down (across the world via Zoom) for one of my regular catch up sessions with ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple. We wer...

Non-fiction authors: between AI, short reads and global opportunities there's plenty on the horizon. I had a great convo with Matty Dalrymple from ALLi about non-fiction trends and an indie author approach.
👉 annafeatherstone.com/the-future-f...

a green, black and white graphic poster inviting people to an online event for Exploring Bluesky with Dr Annetta Mallon. There is an inset picture of a smiling woman with white curly hair, a big smaile and a denim jacket to the lower left.

Got plans today at lunchtime?
Join me today at 1pm AEST to learn what works for me and how to maximise your presence on this platform.
FRIDAY 13 June, 1PM AEST – “Exploring Bluesky”

Facebook link is here: lnkd.in/gX46ETtU
On Zoom:
Meeting ID 893 7026 9599
Invite Link lnkd.in/gmUteBgS
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We're Not Going to Colonize Mars On Adam Becker's new book and the people who are going to destroy the universe in the name of saving "humanity."

As @adambecker.bsky.social makes clear in his new book, More Everything Forever, we’re not going to colonize Mars. What’s underneath the desire of tech oligarchs to take us there is deeply disturbing. open.substack.com/pub/bibliora...

Two to Avoid: Book Order Scams and Fake Reviews - Writer Beware Scammers are nothing if not inventive. As writers become wise to their techniques, they invent new ones. Here are two newish frauds that appear to be on the rise. As with most writing scams these days...

"Authors shouldn’t have to always be so suspicious of unexpected outreach...That gushing out-of-the-blue review or fan letter may be exactly the day-brightening surprise it appears to be…but there’s also a non-zero possibility that it’s a prelude to a scam." writerbeware.blog/2025/05/09/t...

Crochet reading blanket, handmade by Hannah Kent, PLUS signed copy of any of her published books Award-winning, best-selling author Hannah Kent will make you a crochet reading blanket in your colour preference PLUS send a personalised, signed copy of one of her books: Burial Rites, The Good Peopl...

Writers - there are some incredible pitching sessions, literary agent one-on-ones, signed books, manuscript appraisals & more up for auction today from the auslit and kidlit community…even a crocheted reading blanket by Hannah Kent airauctioneer.com/authors-and-...

Can Writers, Authors, Readers, Bookstores and Librarians Save the Planet...or Have We Shelved the Future? Why what we choose to read or write might be having a WAY bigger impact on the state of the world than we realise. What can you do as a writer, reader, publisher, librarian or bookseller about the sta...

For a post about 'Can Writers, Authors, Readers, Bookstores and Librarians Save the Planet…or Have We Shelved the Future?' this might be of interest too! annafeatherstone.com/can-writers-...

What screenwriters can teach authors about writing to inspire action on sustainability Have you ever wondered how what you put to page, might positively alter the future? As writers, we hold the power to shape perceptions, inspire action, and create change. And attending Sustainable Scr...

For more on albert and the Sustainable Screens Australia workshop: annafeatherstone.com/what-screenw...

In a park-like setting with lots of trees, a writer in yellow lies on a picnic blanket and taps away on a computer

Sustainability doesn't necessarily need to be the plot in our books-it can live in the margins, and still make a difference.

We can help the future through how we write our characters, settings and plot lines – and even by choosing what genre to write in.

Tessa de Josselin who led the workshop quoted: "the future isn't this distant place; it's a verb." i.e. the future doesn’t exist yet, the future is what WE create. She urged us to portray sustainability not as a far-off goal but as an active, present-day endeavour.

Setting: we can weave sustainability principles into the setting without directly addressing climate by including descriptive elements such as solar panels, community gardens, bike paths or electric vehicles to normalise sustainable living.

Does one of your characters shop at op shops, mend things, use public transport, have a herb pot on the balcony, volunteer, wear grandma's old jumpers, guerrilla garden etc

Narrative: screenwriters may use a climate related theme as the basis of their production, or just to drive a story arc or a particular episode. Likewise, we can do this with our books too, so that a scene, character arc or a chapter may be driven by a climate related theme–or the entire book.