30/07/2024

Shortlisted for the Australian publishing industry’s Rising Star award in 2024, Murdoch Books Editorial Manager Justin Wolfers is 'emerging as a publishing pioneer in his exploration of the intersection of food, culture, sustainability, and storytelling’. Learn more about Justin as he shares insights into his 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?

As an editor, I’m proud to have contributed to some pretty exceptional books, that are navigational stars for what’s possible if all the pieces fall into place. A book like Durkhanai Ayubi’s Parwana, a perfect marriage of deliciousness, intricate narrative and expansive cultural work, which the reading public really took to beyond what you’d ever imagine for a ‘regional cuisine’ book, is one example. As a budding commissioning editor, I’m particularly excited about Mindy Woods’ upcoming book Karkalla At Home, which offers those same values with immense generosity sharing Bundjalung culture. Beyond that, the real work that makes up a career is teamwork – I value that more than any particular project or outcome.

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?

The relationship between the publishing industry and what’s hot online still feels nascent and mysterious – sometimes we hop on trends successfully, sometimes we miss out on them, sometimes something was never meant to be a book but we try to do it anyway... I feel like we will continue to learn about it in the next ten years and it’ll begin to feel more aligned, less reactive.

What surprised you about the industry when you first joined, or still surprises you now?

It’s been a high-prestige, low-wage industry for a long time, which as we know favours a level of privilege. But leaving that aside, and without sounding clichéd, I think it also survives on an immense, unstoppable amount of care, which is not normal in every industry and is worth appreciating.

What advice do you have for newcomers who want to build a career in publishing? What has helped you along the way?

I’d suggest not to be too particular about departments early on. You can learn a lot about the book cycle from the mail room, from IT, from publishing assistant work… There’s a benefit in seeing different sides to the company; each department values particular skills and temperaments and you can surprise yourself with what you take to. A very useful spreadsheet can be just as gratifying as a deftly edited paragraph.

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.