Against stiff competition from all around Australia, Central Queensland University Press has won two publishing grants from the Literature Board of the Australia Council.

The first grant is for $4000 to assist with publishing of a national anthology of short stories, Travellers’ Tales, edited by Michael Wilding and David Myers. Contributors include Di Morrissey, Carmel Bird, Nigel Krauth, Laurie Clancy, winners of various national literary awards, professors of literature from almost all states and High Court Justice Ian Callinan. This is volume 2 of the very successful Best Stories Under the Sun, published in 2004.

The second grant, also for $4000, is to assist with the publication of Michael Wilding’s new novel, Wild Amazement. Michael’s previous novel, Acadamia Nuts, won a rave review from the Times Educational Supplement. Michael is a retired professor of literature from the University of Sydney and former publisher with Wild and Woolley.

It is planned to launch both books at CQU-Sydney late in 2005.

In a further breakthrough, CQU Press Director Professor David Myers announced that CQU Press had won a joint venture contract with ABC Local Radio for the new title, The Wild West in Australia and America. The book will be launched by the Queensland Leader of the Opposition, Lawrence Springborg, on July 22 in his electorate at Stanthorpe. There will be professional ABC promos for this book, arranged by CQU Honorary Professor Ross Quinn, which will be broadcast throughout Queensland and NSW in late July.

For further details, contact Prof. David Myers on 07 5552 4960 or d.myers@cqu.edu.au