Debut Books
A creative studio for writers
The door is open, the lights are on - come in.
You belong here.
Where stories matter
Debut Books is a creative studio that integrates the GRACE framework with personalised mentorship to create a flexible, relational ecosystem that meets you at your point of need, adapts as your writing life evolves, and normalises imperfect progress.
Together, they provide context to the Australian publishing landscape, a structured and sustainable process for writing your book, and the conditions where writing can actually happen.
The Little Black Book of Publishing
Big-hearted. No-nonsense. Writing and publishing, demystified.
Become the writer who can carry a book from idea to publication with this go‑to guide that finally answers what it actually takes to publish a book in Australia. The Little Black Book of Publishing offers a clear understanding of the rules, pathways, expectations, timelines, and industry norms you need to write, pitch, and publish your book with confidence.
The Little Black Book of Publishing is your go‑to guide for everything you need to write, pitch, and publish a book in Australia.
It’s the culmination of more than a decade of knowledge and experience, designed to help you write your debut book and embark on the publishing journey with confidence.
Inside, you’ll find practical steps, insider knowledge, and industry truths that are usually kept behind closed doors — what’s really happening behind publishing’s walls, not what people assume happens.
This book offers a clear understanding of the rules, pathways, expectations, timelines, and industry norms — finally answering the question: “What does it actually take to publish a book in Australia?”
It’s your first step toward becoming the writer who can carry a book from idea to publication.
“Katherine’s book is a bible for anyone who wants to get published in Australia. It’s full of integrity and practical advice. I recommend!”
~ Katherine Collette, Australian author
Penpals
Mentorship in letter form, from me to you.
Penpals answers the questions you most often ask about writing and publishing — while normalising your experience of the writing and publishing journey.
Together, we’ll explore writing practice, craft, creative resilience, and the realities of the publishing path.
I’m Katherine —debut author, fantasy reader, pink-chocolate eater and the sunshine to publishing’s grump!
After more than a decade working in the publishing industry, I know how books are made from the inside out. Storytelling is essential to the human experience, yet not everyone has the same access to contribute stories that become the norm.
My mission is simple: to make writing and publishing knowledge clear, compassionate, and accessible — while protecting the magic that makes books matter.
Writing brings us home to ourselves. Stories bring us home to each other.
The Mini Collection
Little books. Big conversations.
Studio Statement
Traditional publishing has mostly failed to tell the varied and unique stories of people across humanity — marginalising, misrepresenting, overwriting, and excluding the voices of Indigenous, queer, migrant, disabled, trans, and people of colour, to name a few.
Every writer deserves access to the knowledge and support required to bring their stories into the world — stories that express the fullness and complexity of their humanity. I believe in your right to choose what you write about, how you write it, and why it matters.
All writers are welcome here.