Giramondo

Since 2005 the Writing and Society Research Centre has been home to the Giramondo Publishing Company, an independent literary publisher of award-winning poetry, fiction and non-fiction, renowned for the quality of its writing, editing and book design.

Giramondo was established by Centre member Ivor Indyk in 1995 in order to publish innovative and adventurous literary work, that might not otherwise find publication because of its subtle commercial appeal; to stimulate exchange between Australian writers and readers and their counterparts overseas; and to build a common ground between the academy and the marketplace.

Initially these aims were expressed through the publication of the acclaimed literary journal HEAT, which established a national and international reputation as a showcase for contemporary writing from Australia, and from overseas, often in translation. After a ten-year hiatus, HEAT returned for a third series in 2022.

In 2002 Giramondo began the publication of literary works by individual authors in its book imprint. Giramondo titles have won or been shortlisted for all the major Australian literary prizes, including the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, the Miles Franklin Literary Award, the Stella Prize, the National Biography Award and various state Premier’s Awards. Centre Adjunct Professor Alexis Wright’s ARC funded research on Aboriginal storytelling resulted in the publication with Giramondo of Tracker, a collective memoir that was awarded the 2018 Stella Prize.

Giramondo is committed to publishing literary works from overseas in translation. Many of the translations appear in the Southern Latitudes imprint, which is devoted to writers from the Southern Hemisphere. In 2020 Giramondo launched the Novel Prize, a biennial award for a book-length work of literary fiction written in English, in collaboration with Fitzcarraldo Editions (UK) and New Directions (US).

Giramondo initiated a workshop for young writers from Western Sydney. This commitment to providing opportunities for writers from the region has developed into a distinctive literary movement, with authors – including WSRC alumni Mohammed Ahmad, Felicity Castagna, Luke Carman and Fiona Wright – publishing award-winning books with Giramondo. Over the years Giramondo has developed and published work by writers from the WSRC community including Kate Fagan, Chris Fleming, Hazel Smith and postgraduates and alumni such as Luke Beesley, Martin Edmond, Tom Lee, Kate Middleton and Louise Carter. Giramondo continues to champion writers from the region including Eunice Andrada, Maryam Azam, Max Easton, Yumna Kassab, Shaun Prescott and Rawah Arja.

Giramondo also supports the Centre through publication collaborations with the Sydney Review of Books and mentorships with The Writing Zone. The publisher is based in Western Sydney University’s Parramatta City campus at 6 Hassall Street.

Find out more at the Giramondo Publishing website