Second edition of Arelhekenhe Angkentye features in The Weekend Australian Review for 30th anniversary of Mabo decision 4-5 June 2022

It was a huge honour for Running Water Community Press and our authors published in the second edition of ‘Arelhekenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk; Poems of Lyapirtneme from Arrernte Women in Central Australia’ to be featured in The Weekend Australian Review magazine to mark 30 years since the Mabo decision. In this special edition, a selection of fourteen poems by First Nations poets across the continent appear alongside the beautiful cover artwork of ‘Arelhekenhe Angkentye’, painted by Sharon Ampetyane Alice and called ‘Lyapirtneme’. Among the fourteen poems selected are five from ‘Arelhekenhe Angkentye’ including Buffel Grass by Pat Perurrle Ansell Dodds, Birds of Sound and Saturday Night by Amelia Kngwarraye Turner, Guava by Sylvia Perrurle Neale and A Day at the Healing Centre by Magdelena Perrurle Marshall.
Literary Editor of The Australian, Caroline Overington, writes “I found the reading of these works a beautiful experience. I hope you do to”.
To order a copy of the second edition, please visit this link.
Jennifer Mills is shortlisted for Miles Franklin Literary Award 2019

Gretel Bull is awarded Varuna Fellowship 2019
Congratulations to Gretel Bull, one of our first-time-to-be-published authors in ‘Campfire Satellites’, who has been awarded the NT Varuna Residential Fellowship 2019!
In this interview with Nadine Maloney on ABC Alice Springs, Gretel talks about her writing practice and recites from her stunning poem, ‘Highway to Utopia’.
Inland Anthology to be launched at NT Writers Festival 19 May 2019
ILF honours Living In Hope on anniversary of apology
Wednesday 13 February marks the anniversary of the National Apology to Stolen Generations.
Eleven years ago Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s official Parliamentary apology to the Stolen Generations of Indigenous Australians acknowledged our nation’s history and the profound pain, suffering, grief and indignity that was inflicted.
Today, the future and legacy he so strongly articulated – for our Parliament and all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to work together to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity, remains our biggest challenge.
What legacy will our generation leave behind? This is a sombre question, but in 2019 this date marks one of the most solemn anniversaries in Australia’s history.
Frank Byrne’s Living in Hope is an incredibly moving story of a boy, Goodarrie, taken away from his mother and family when he was just six years old. That was forever. He had no say in it. His family had no say in it. As Bruce Pascoe writes, Goodarrie’s story is an incredible testament to survival and ‘the toughness and determination of our people’.
In Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia (edited by Anita Heiss) Doreen Nelson talks about the importance of story, and for elders to write about their experiences and how they have come to terms with the past. As she says, by ‘recording our stories we leave behind a rich and important legacy for future generations’.
May our stories reflect a legacy of hope and reconciliation.
2018 highlights & 2019 horizons!
Looking back on the #2018highlights is like tending to seeds that have been planted, seeing how they’re growing and blossoming into #2019horizons. Over the next week, we will be posting what is being cultivated by Ptilotus Press for the year ahead.
Ptilotus Press signed by NewSouth Books for national distribution
Ptilotus Press is ecstatic to announce that as of 22 November 2018, NewSouth Books is managing the sales and distribution of our titles across Australia and New Zealand.
“NewSouth Books is an Australian general and specialist sales, marketing and distribution force. NewSouth Books is wholly owned by UNSW Press Ltd. NewSouth Books represents agencies from Australasia, the USA, Canada, and the UK. A list of agencies, can be found here.” – www.newsouthbooks.com.au
NewSouth have begun representation of the Inland Writers Series by Ptilotus Press which includes the titles ‘Living In Hope’ by Frank Byrne and ‘Summary of Small Things’ by Carol Adams.
To see the NewSouth announcement of our partnership, see links below:
28 November 2018: ‘Living In Hope’ available from NewSouth Books. Books & Publishing.
28 November 2018: Change for Ptilotus Press. Books & Publishing.
Media Highlights of MUBA Win!
Past News
Media Release: Living In Hope wins Most Underrated Book Award 2018!
MUBAwinnerpressreleaseSmall Press Network profiles Living In Hope for #MUBA18
Small Press Network publishes a spotlight on ‘Living In Hope’ in the lead up to the announcement of the winner of #MUBA18 on 22 November 2018. The judges comment, “Told in simple but powerful language, the story is one that all Australians should read to understand the impact of the Stolen Generations on individual lives. Byrne writes: “I still have memories of my life at Christmas Creek before I was taken away.” He writes fondly about his time with his extended family in the Kimberley, hunting kangaroos with his stepfather, visiting his mother’s family at Fitzroy Crossing and hiding in a cave during World War 2. But then he was taken from his parents and left to fend for himself. It is heartbreaking to read his words: “I was only six years old and had to survive the best way I could.”” To read more, click here.
Vale Frank Byrne: 20 July 1937 – 20 October 2017
Small Press Network Shortlists ‘Living In Hope’ for Most Underrated Book Award 2018
Ptilotus Press title ‘Living In Hope’ by Frank Byrne has been shortlisted for the Most Underrated Book Award 2018 (#MUBA2018). The winner of the award will be announced by the Small Press Network (SPN) at their Independent Publishing Conference in Melbourne on 22 November 2018. Members of the Byrne family, co-authors Gerard Waterford & Frances Coughlan along with Ptilotus Press will travel from Mparntwe/Alice Springs to attend the MUBA 2018 ceremony.
Earlier this year, ‘Living In Hope’ won Best Non-Fiction Territory Read Award 2018. It is a powerful childhood memoir and story of resilience by a survivor of the Stolen Generations.
Ptilotus Press is a community publisher based in Mparntwe/Alice Springs managed by a collective of local writers. To learn more, see the SPN announcement here or visit www.ptilotuspress.com
For media enquiries, contact Olivia Nigro: 0405 406 731 | olivia.nigro@runningwatercommunitypress.com
October: Launch of Social Media for Ptilotus Press
Ptilotus Press is now live on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud.
Click below to follow.
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Off the Leash – review
Review of ‘Living in Hope’ titled ‘Off The Shelf: August’ by Kate Rendell for Off The Leash.
August 2018.
Alice Springs News – review
Review of ‘Living in Hope’ titled ‘‘A memoir of finding things, not just losing them’ by Tim Rowse for Alice Springs News Online.
8 August 2018.
Click here to read more.
Interview with winners
Interview with Trevor Byrne (son of author Frank Byrne) and Frances Coughlan (co-author) about ‘Living In Hope’ winning ‘Best Non-Fiction’ in 2018 Territory Read Award‘.
31 July 2018.
Announcement of winner
Announcement of Living In Hope as the winner of the ‘Best Non-Fiction’ category of the 2018 Territory Read Award.
To read more, click here. 30 July 2018.
Best Non-Fiction award for ‘Living In Hope’
Trevor Byrne and Delphene Byrne (pictured centre) accept ‘Best Non-Fiction’ award for ‘Living In Hope’ on behalf of their father and grandfather Frank Byrne at the 2018 Territory Read Awards in Darwin on 29 July 2018. Photo: NT Writer’s Centre.