Bookshop Bestseller Lists Stamp Hawkeye as a Publisher to Watch
Everyone loves an underdog tale, and this one centres on Brisbane-based publishing house Hawkeye Publishing.
Despite a period of uncertainty following the collapse of distribution giant Booktopia Publisher Services in July, 2024 closed out as a boon year for the independent trade publisher, with a total of 13 title releases, a shiny new distribution deal, and two of its debut authors ranking on bookshop bestseller lists.
Sarah Todman’s quirky outback fiction novel New Year’s Eve came in at #3 on The Mad Hatters Bookshop’s TOP 10 ADULT FICTION & NON-FICTION OF 2024 bestseller list, while Jo Skinner’s gripping family saga The Truth About My Daughter also ranked 3rd, over on iconic Brisbane bookshop Books@Stones’ bestselling fiction list.
Both titles beat out big-name authors for their coveted top 10 bestseller spots.
Director of Hawkeye Publishing Carolyn Martinez said the results were confirmation of a voracious appetite from readers for quality Australian fiction.
“At Hawkeye, we love discovering exciting new Australian voices and in 2024 we released some real gems by debut and established authors,” she said.
Established in 2002, Hawkeye Publishing remains a relatively new player on the Aussie publishing scene.
However, in just over a decade the small, but mighty publishing house has built a stable of 38 authors, writing across a range of genres, and has produced a number of award-winning titles.
In August 2024 Hawkeye signed on with trusted Australian distributor Woodslane, after its previous distributor Booktopia Publisher Services went into voluntary liquidation.
Ms Martinez said securing a new distribution deal, with Woodslane no less, had felt like divine intervention. “In the wake of the Booktopia collapse, we found ourselves in make or break territory,” she said.
“The financial loss for us was deep. Our stock was unrecoverable and we were suddenly without a distributor. For a small trade publisher, running on the smell of an oily rag like we do, it was the stuff of nightmares — I lost plenty of sleep worrying about my authors and how I was going to tell them Hawkeye might have to call it a day.’
‘But, the reputation we’ve been building over the past 12 years saved us, because Woodslane did not hesitate to take us on, and we haven’t looked back since.”
Ms Martinez said signing on with the highly respected Woodslane had been a game changer for Hawkeye.
“Our sales into bookstores have tripled. Everyone connected to Hawkeye lives and breathes quality literature and this growth in our reach is so affirming,” she said.
“The wider industry has also rallied behind us, our Rights Agent just secured a world-wide audio and large print deal for our upcoming title, The Woman in the Waves by Camille Booker with one of the world’s biggest audiobook publishers. Exciting times for Hawkeye’s evolution and the team of volunteers and staff who’ve made it happen.
“We strongly believe that the arts, including quality literature, provides the drumbeats that keep communities and cultures connected and strong. The Australian authors we support, and the Australian stories we produce are authentic and important.”
“I am thrilled to see our extraordinary and hard-working authors being recognised on bestseller lists. 2025 looks very promising.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Publicist Rikki Stevens
e: team@hawkeyepublishing.com.au