Pilyara Press comprises a small team of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience. It plans to expand its network in the future.
Scroll down to meet the team.
JENNIFER SCOULLAR
PUBLISHER
Bestselling Aussie author Jennifer Scoullar writes page-turning fiction about the land, people and wildlife that she loves. Jennifer is a lapsed lawyer who harbours a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world.
Jennifer is the font of all publishing knowledge. A former lawyer, Jen is a rocket when it comes to delivering on the technicalities of book production.
KATE BELLE
PROJECT MANAGER
Kate Belle is a lover: of words, people, life and coffee. Her quest to understand love, in all its darkness and light, leads her to ask readers some tough questions. She writes to connect – to you, to herself and to the mess of dots that make up the universe. The kitchen is her favourite dance floor.
Kate is our engine. She keeps us focused and helps direct the juggernaut that is Pilyara Press, balancing ruthless determination with infectious enthusiasm.
DESNEY KING
PROOFREADER
Desney King is a retired book editor and survivor of multiple strokes. She writes about love, death, grief, rivers, interconnectedness and living life to the full. A passionate activist, she also relishes outings in her wheelchair, time spent in nature, the exhilaration and deep satisfaction of writing – and time spent with her young adult children.
Desney is the pedant and editorial mentor. She has decades of traditional publishing experience, and an arcane fascination with style sheets, stylistic consistency, typography and beautifully produced books.
OLWYN CONRAU
PUBLICITY | SOCIAL MEDIA
Olwyn Conrau is an award-winning writer, visual artist and author of the autobiographical novel, The Importance of Being Cool which will be re-released in the near future. She is a fiction writer who leans towards gritty realism. In a previous life she was a gogo dancer, public relations guru and journalist who came to her senses after too many long, boozy lunches. And yes, she still holds the record for the world’s longest lunch break.
Olwyn spends most of her life on Facebook so helps out with Pilyara’s social media as well as promotions and traditional media.
SHELLEY KENIGSBERG
EDITING/MENTOR
Shelley Kenigsberg has been in publishing as editor and publisher for over 35 years and was head of Macleay College’s Editing and Publishing Diploma for 24 years. She has taught editing and writing in Bali, Singapore and Australia. In 2009, her writing/editing retreats — Editing in Paradise — began. Now, though the paradisal settings are mere imagination, the joy of creating with a community of writers still happens via Writers’ Salons and Writing in Paradise online.
Shelley is the industry veteran and festival guru. She is inspired by the power of stories beautifully told, to help us recognise ourselves, move us, change us, entertain and inform us and help us see our lives in new ways. Her memoir is on its way.
MARCIA BATTON
BETA READER / EDITOR
Marcia Batton lives on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia with her husband, two dogs and a cat. She spent 27 years in the Commonwealth Public Sector and has a Master of Policy and Administration from Flinders University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants (FIPA).
A stickler for authors getting their facts right, she set up a proofreading and editing business after retiring. She is currently working on her first book.
GREG SHOEMARK
MEDIA MANAGER
Greg Shoemark is a writer and PR professional who is devoted to earning Pilyara Press a profile in keeping with our great work, not just our small size. He is also our “car guy” who picks up on any automotive improbabilities while enthusiastically critiquing our manuscripts.