02/07/2024
Shortlisted for the Australian publishing industry’s Rising Star award in 2024, Allen & Unwin Associate Publisher Tessa Feggans is ‘revolutionising acquisitions as she deliberately seeks out books with cutting-edge subject matter, and brings in non-literary authors with a story to tell’. Learn more about Tessa as she shares insights into her career, reflects on the changing world of publishing, and offers advice for newcomers to the industry.
What achievements are you proudest of in your career so far?
I have built a very eclectic list that serves different communities in different ways, and I’m proud of all the books I’ve worked on for their unique individual impacts – whether that’s the commercial success of books like Bec and Justin Lorrimer’s
The Complete Trip in a Van Guide to Australia, Ruth Wilson’s
The Jane Austen Remedy, and Toni Lodge’s
I Don’t Need Therapy, or the social and cultural impact of books like Penny Moodie’s
The Joy Thief, Kath Koschel’s
Kindness
and Chloe Dalton’s
Girls Don’t Play Sport, to name just a few.
This year’s BookUp program has a strong focus on innovation and adaptation. How do you think the publishing industry will change in the coming years? And what excites you about those changes?
There are more ways than ever to connect books and authors to readers, so harnessing the power of social media as new forms emerge is critical (BookTok is a great recent example of this). It also impacts the coalface of non-fiction publishing, because many authors-to-be already have powerful online communities for publishers to tap into. I think this kind of publishing provides an exciting opportunity to share stories and information that established communities want to hear, and I’ve seen firsthand the special impact a book can have on an existing social media or podcast community.
What surprised you about the industry when you first joined, or still surprises you now?
The resilience of the book industry. Despite huge changes over the years, from the advent of ebooks and audiobooks to our diminishing attention spans to a global pandemic, ultimately people are still hungry to get lost in a physical book. It gives me great confidence that books will endure, regardless of what comes next.
What advice do you have for newcomers who want to build a career in publishing? What has helped you along the way?
Say yes to every opportunity and speak up when you think you can add to the conversation. Publishing is a subjective business, and many voices are required to make a book and a company successful. Make sure the people around you know what you’re interested in (if you’re lucky, they’ll be your greatest assets in helping build your career) and be proactive in offering help and asking questions that will expand your experience.
The winner of the Rising Star award will be announced at the BookUp conference networking drinks in Melbourne on 7 August. You can learn more about the BookUp program and discover the full Rising Star shortlist here.
The Rising Star award is proudly supported by Media Super, the super fund dedicated to those who publish, inform, entertain, create and inspire.