The Small Press Network is dedicated to supporting independent publishers and broadening the diversity of work available in the Australian literary landscape. To celebrate the return of their Book of the Year Award, join the Small Press Network and the Wheeler Centre for an evening of readings from this year’s shortlisted works by Kavita Bedford, Anwen Crawford, Eleanor Jackson, Patrick Lenton, Bella Li, SJ Norman and Poppy Nwosu, followed by the announcement of the winning book. Hosted by Esther Anatolitis. Anwen Crawford and Poppy Nwosu will appear virtually at this event.
Presented in partnership with the Small Press Network
The Next Big Thing takes place every month at the Moat and is a cherished Melbourne institution. It’s the place to be if you want to hear great emerging writers read from new and adventurous work.
Wheelchair accessible
Accessible toilets available
Esther Anatolitis is the Editor of Meanjin and one of Australia’s most influential advocates for arts and culture. She is Hon A/Prof at RMIT School of Art and a member of the National Gallery of Australia Governing Council ...
Kavita Bedford is an Australian-Indian writer with a background in journalism, anthropology and literature. Her writing has appeared in Guernica, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper and she was a recent Churchill Fellow exploring ...
Anwen Crawford is the author of No Document (2021), shortlisted for the 2022 Stella Prize, and Live Through This (2015). Her essays and criticism have appeared in publications including The New Yorker, The White Review and ...
Eleanor Jackson is a Filipino Australian poet, performer, arts producer and sometimes community radio broadcaster. She is the author of Gravidity and Parity, winner of Small Press Network’s Book of the Year (2022), ...
Patrick Lenton is a writer, journalist, and editor living in Melbourne. He is the author of the short story collection Sexy Tales of Paleontology, as well as the books Uncle Hercules and Other Lies, and A Man Made Entirely of Bats ...
Bella Li is the author of Argosy (2017), Lost Lake (2018), and Theory of Colours (2021), published by Vagabond Press. Her books have won the Victorian and NSW premiers awards for poetry, and an ABDA award for book design.
SJ Norman is an artist, writer and curator. Their career has so far spanned 17 years and has embraced a diversity of disciplines, including solo and ensemble performance, installation, sculpture, text, video and sound. Their work has ...
Poppy Nwosu has published multiple young adult fiction books and been shortlisted for many awards, including the Readings YA Book Prize, SPN Book of the Year Award and the Aurealis Awards. Her latest novel was a CBCA Notable ...