About
Founded in 2019, Night Parrot Press is an independent, not-for-profit publisher of non-traditional works of fiction and non-fiction, where experimental forms and genres outside the mainstream can find a home. Inspired by our namesake, the elusive Australian night parrot, we seek to uncover writing that exists on the periphery, in obscurity, and give it a platform for recognition with a broader audience.
We are particularly fond of flash fiction, micro memoir, creative non-fiction, hybrid works and stories that leave a strong, colourful, and unforgettable impression.
We especially like working with rising writers who can torch new light upon our world.
Night Parrot Press is based in Perth, Western Australia.
Laura Keenan and Linda Martin are the co-publishers and editors of Night Parrot Press. They met in 2010 when they worked as editors at UWA Publishing in Crawley, Western Australia. Sharing a room in the Press library, during their lunch break they would wheel their office chairs between the rows of bookshelves to swap stories about writing, editing, literature and language.
Our Team
Laura Keenan, Co-publisher
Before relocating to Perth, Laura worked as a senior editor for the Perseus Books Group in Boulder, Colorado, where she managed the publication of a diverse range of books across multiple imprints. Since then, she has worked as an editor at UWA Publishing and as a freelance editor and consultant for various publishers, academia and emerging and established writers. She has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Western Australia. Laura has been reading and writing flash fiction since 2002 and enjoys teaching children and adults the joys and challenges of writing small, intense stories.
Linda Martin, Co-publisher
Linda brings to Night Parrot Press her love of reading, writing and editing flash fiction, creative nonfiction and hybrid forms. She has held positions of senior in-house editor at UWA Publishing, and freelance editor for Fremantle Press and Magabala Books. Linda has lectured in writing, publishing and editing at Curtin University and for several years was unit coordinator and lecturer (creative writing) at the School of Indigenous Studies at UWA. She currently teaches editing and publishing at Edith Cowan University. Linda particularly enjoys working with and mentoring new and rising writers.
Casey Mulder, Editor
Casey is a Ballardong Noongar woman from Western Australia with a keen interest in First Nations storytelling in all its forms. She is First Nations Editor for Westerly Magazine and works in a variety of education roles. She facilitates the First Nations Write Night at the Centre for Stories with Luisa Mitchell and is currently working on a creative non-fiction manuscript with the support of the Centre for Stories, Magabala Books and Australian Indigenous Coffee. She recently taught at the School of Indigenous Studies (UWA) where she was also Coordinator of Teaching and Learning, and holds a Master of Leadership and Management in Education from the University of Newcastle.
Our Board Members
Meelee Soorkia, Chair
Meelee has several years of experience in managing creative projects and teams. Meelee worked as a book editor in Melbourne for more than a decade. In 2019 she joined Community Arts Network in Perth, where, as General Manager she contributed her professional learning and lived experience to the cultural change being implemented at the organisation.
Casey Mulder, Deputy Chair
Casey is a Ballardong Noongar woman from Western Australia. She has a keen interest in First Nations storytelling in all its forms. She is First Nations Editor for Westerly Magazine in addition to recipient of a Creative Development Scholarship from Magabala Books (with Night Parrot Press) and a Writing Fellowship from the Centre for Stories. She recently taught at the School of Indigenous Studies (UWA) where she was also Coordinator of Teaching and Learning, and holds a Master of Leadership and Management in Education from the University of Newcastle.
Brendan Martin, Treasurer
Brendan is a Chartered Accountant and Assistant Manager at Dyson Advisory Group with experience in providing taxation advice and business advisory services to a wide range of clients from small businesses to large proprietary companies to high net wealth individuals. Brendan has worked with clients across varying industries including not-for-profit, pharmaceutical, hospitality, professional services and property development.
Cliff Allison, Secretary
Cliff has over 40 years of experience in the finance industry and recently retired after a 35-year career with Wesfarmers. For the last 20 years he was Group Treasurer and was responsible for cash, debt and foreign exchange management for the Wesfarmers Group. He was a director of the not for profit Retail Employees Superannuation Trust (REST) Board from 2012 to 2014 and was elected to the Wesfarmers Superannuation committee as an employee representative for the Wesfarmers Superannuation Fund from 2015 to 2018.
Mabel Gibson, General Member
Mabel is a Yamatji writer. She spent her childhood in Albany and moved to Geraldton as a teenager, before becoming a student at the University of Western Australia. Her flash and micro pieces have been published in Once: A selection of short short stories, Twice Not Shy: One hundred short short stories and Three Can Keep a Secret by Night Parrot Press, and maar bidi: next generation black writing by Magabala Books.
Bianca Breen, General Member
Bianca is an emerging children’s and YA writer. She works at The Literature Centre in Fremantle and is passionate about community, founding YA for WA in 2021 and previously held the position of Communications Director of #LoveOzYA. Her short works have been published by Night Parrot Press, Fremantle Press, and more. In 2021 she was the winner of the ASA Award Mentorship and has won several residencies with KSP Writers’ Centre and Vancouver Arts Centre in Albany. She holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Writing) from La Trobe University.
Jess Gately, General Member
Jess is a freelance publishing professional with a keen interest in speculative fiction and experience working across the WA arts scene. She teaches at Curtin University in the Professional Writing and Publishing major, sits on the board of the Small Press Network of Australia, and is the President of Editors WA (a branch of the Institute of Professional Editors).
Night Parrot Press Annual Reports