The ASA offers members access to a Publishing Consultancy Service, a one-on-one consultation with an industry expert who can provide you with tailored advice about any aspect of the publishing industry. This service is ideal for those who are looking for someone to help guide them through key career decisions, taking into account all of their unique circumstances as a creator. By way of example:
ASA members may request a consultation with one of the ASA's recommended publishing experts. The individual consultation may take place over the telephone, Zoom or email. The fee for a one hour consultation is $302.50 (GST inclusive).
The consultation may be extended beyond one hour at a cost of $302.50 per hour, if both you and the consultant agree on the need for extra time.
This service is only open to ASA members. Not a member? Join here.
For common questions or if you are seeking a general overview of the Australian publishing industry, see our FAQs here. If you have a specific question you need answered, use the ASA’s free members-only Advice service here. For in-depth consideration of your circumstances and tailored advice, we recommend the Consultancy service.
The ASA engages consultants highly experienced in the Australian publishing industry with extensive understanding of author concerns, who are not currently aligned with any publishing companies.
The ASA will allocate a consultant to you based on the nature of your query and the availability of our consultants, however, we will also take into account any preference you may have.
Bernadette Foley
Bernadette Foley is a publisher and editor with over 30 years’ experience in the book industry. Across her career she has worked in-house and freelance for many of Australia’s leading publishing companies, including in the role of fiction and non-fiction publisher at Hachette Australia and Pan Macmillan. She has edited and published leading authors and helped many emerging writers to build their careers.
For the past five years Bernadette has run her own business, Broadcast Books, working directly with writers, assisting and encouraging them to develop their writing skills through individual mentoring and group workshops. As well, she works with authors to publish their books independently to a professional standard.
Bernadette tutors and runs online workshops for the Australian Writers Centre, and she established and lectured in the UTS Graduate Certificate in Editing and Publishing for many years. She received the George Robertson Award for services to the publishing industry.
As an experienced publishing professional, Bernadette believes it is important to share her knowledge of the industry with writers, so they can fully understand the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in creating good books. She loves stories – real and imagined – and enjoys working with people to broadcast and share their stories effectively.
Debbie Lee
Debbie Lee is a senior publishing professional with extensive experience across all aspects of the industry. She commenced her career as a sales rep in mainstream trade selling literary fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and artbooks throughout Sydney and the ACT. The volatility of company mergers precipitated a move into vocational education as an Acquisitions Editor, before becoming Publishing Manager in academic and professional markets. She has worked with various companies including UNSW Press, Elsevier and Cambridge, and has published across a vast array of subject areas, with a primary focus on health, education, law and the social sciences.
Debbie joined Ingram Content Group promoting print-on-demand and global distribution to publishers of all shapes and sizes, including multinationals, scholarly presses, not-for-profits, Australian-based publishers and Author Service Providers, as well as indie (self-publishing) authors.
Debbie has established ‘The Book Maven’ to specifically assist authors with advice and guidance on market insights, print and distribution information, and/or general self-publishing support.
Alexandra Payne
Alexandra Payne is a freelance publisher, editor and publishing consultant who has been in the book industry for over 25 years. She has worked inhouse at both multinational and independent houses, including Penguin Books Australia and Hardie Grant. From 2007 to 2018 she was the Non-fiction Publisher (Trade) at the University of Queensland Press (UQP). She has commissioned books that have won awards such as the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the Qld Literary Awards Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for History and has worked with authors such as Charles Massy, Jane Caro, Christine Milne, John Bell, Patti Miller, Joe Gorman and Mark Tredinnick.
Alexandra’s area of expertise is non-fiction publishing, in all its fascinating variations, and she loves supporting authors through their publishing journey from initial idea to publication and beyond. Publishing can seem an opaque business at times, so Alexandra uses her insider experience and understanding of the publishing industry to help authors navigate the best path for them and their work.
To book a publishing consultation, please pay the consultation fee online and then submit your information via our online form. Members are able to provide a detailed description of their query with specific questions (up to 500 words) and relevant links and documents to assist the consultant in understanding your situation.
1. Pay the consultation service fee.
2. SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION VIA OUR ONLINE FORM.
If you have any questions about the Publishing Consultancy Service, please contact the ASA on 02 9211 1004 or email programs@asauthors.org
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