Riveted Press

24/11/2025

We are taking a look back at the year that was Riveted Press, 2025! Join us as we share the books that made an unforgettable mark in the world.
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Our seventh book for the year was the gripping war tale of Anna's War by DJ Taylor.
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Holland, 1943: In the last eighteen months of World War II, 14-year-old Anna’s life becomes a perilous world of secrets and danger. Her town in German-occupied southern Holland is transformed into a war zone , where trust is rare, and courage and resistance are everything. When the N***s begin arresting local men and deporting them to work in German factories, Anna’s father hides in a cramped, secret cellar beneath their home. Even the youngest of his children don’t know he is there. Then Anna meets Karl, a young German translator, and his piercing gaze and unexpected kindness leave her conflicted. Against her better judgement, she is drawn to Karl and begins to believe he can be trusted - especially when he keeps her father’s hiding place a secret from Horst, the ruthless N**i officer he translates for. But as her feelings deepen, so do the risks. One misstep could unravel everything Anna and her family have fought to protect. Anna’s War is a gripping tale of resilience, forbidden connection, family loyalties and the growing bravery of a young girl thrust into the deep shadows of war. Can Anna protect her family or will the cost of trust prove too great in a world torn apart?

Anna's War is available at bookshops, libraries and Riveted Press.
https://rivetedpress.com.au/bookshop/anna-s-war

20/11/2025

A Light on the Rocks will be Riveted Press's first book for 2026! Coming on 28th January.

A Light on the Rocks is just 8 weeks away from arrival into port!

We are trimming the sails and hauling in the lines, preparing for the journey ahead.

Here are the dates for the first launch events for 2026!

Save the dates! Booking links coming soon.

1. Wednesday 3rd February at the State Library of South Australia from 5.30-7pm
2. Saturday 14th February at the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse Kingston SE from 4.30-5.30 pm, including the chance to tour the lighthouse!
3. Sunday 15th February at the Port MacDonnell Maritime Museum and library from 11am-12.30pm
4. Tuesday 17th February at the Portland Maritime Museum from 6.30-8pm.

I have been deeply immersed in this story and can't wait to share it with you.

Pre-orders are open via bookshops, Riveted Press and www.helenedwardswrites.com

20/11/2025

This is an insightful review of SoXiety by Tamlyn Teow, from Lily Pearson at Children's Book Council of Australia's Reading Time website.

"SoXiety is a gripping, creatively illustrated tale from the mind of Tamlyn Teow. The book is immediately striking for its distinct, harsh and almost gruesome art style, which is well suited to its storyline. In a dystopian, far too familiar society, people slip into depression as work and screens dominate their time and lives. One man, perhaps slipping too far, enters an underworld where he is metamorphosised and begins to hope for a better future for himself and others. The book thus provides a representation of how our society may look, should we continue to prioritise screens over community. I found it to be a powerful reflection.

SoXiety’s art style is intricate and subtle, each time I flick through the pages I notice something different. I believe this allows for it to make a powerful tool in education and would not be surprised to see it used in classrooms. A teaching resource is now available. SoXiety is the first in a collection of books, ‘The Book of Kin’, which draws attention to deep-rooted societal issues."

Full review here https://readingtime.cbca.org.au/soxiety-the-book-of-kin-1/

19/11/2025

"... I made the decision to prioritise my own dreams. I realised that if I didn’t, there’d be no chance of them becoming a reality"

19/11/2025

Congratulations everyone!

Just Write For Kids Australia’s annual Pitch It! Competition for Australian writers of picture books, non-fiction picture books, junior fiction, and middle grade was held in September this year, and WOW, what an outstanding result! The competition was honestly so tough with SO many brilliant entri...

18/11/2025

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Thank you so much to .loves.books on Instagram for a beautiful and insightful review of On Gallant Wings 😊🙏

"I love how Helen brought this moment in history to life through Ava's eyes, raw, honest and still gentle enough for young readers. It's emotional, gripping, and beautifully written, with the perfect balance of history and heart."

18/11/2025

We are taking a look back at the year that was Riveted Press, 2025! Join us as we share the books that made an unforgettable mark in the world.
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Our sixth book for 2025 was a special one indeed - the final book in the award-winning Aster series by Kate Gordon - Aster's Next, Good Thing.
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Things have changed in Aster’s life, and she’s really not okay. Her dad is the one person who has always been there for her, but now Aster feels like she’s being pushed out—like the space that used to be hers is getting smaller and smaller. The good, right things – she did them because she was scared of not being seen, of being left, but they don’t work anymore. Instead of waiting for someone else to do the leaving—like her mum did—Aster decides she’ll be the one to make that change. Overwhelmed, she makes a decision that could have awful ramifications for two families, not just hers. Facing up to what she’s done is hard—but doing the right thing is very different to doing the easy thing. Change can be scary and family life can be tough. But as Aster discovers, the very thing you fear may actually be the gift that brings love and light into your world …

Aster's Next, Good Thing is available in bookshops, libraries and at https://rivetedpress.com.au/bookshop/aster-s-next-good-thing

17/11/2025

We are taking a look back at the year that was Riveted Press, 2025! Join us as we share the books that made an unforgettable mark in the world.
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Rounding off a busy April, was the first in a new junior fiction series by award-winning Kate Gordon - The Secret Detectives Club - The Haunting of Hindmarsh Hall.
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In the small town of Table Cape Bay, Rocko Jarvis is the least cool kid there is, while his 15-year-old sister Pen is the exact opposite. With his best friend Cosmo he has tried everything to turn that around. A movie club, a Chinese Checkers club, a Lego club – even a pink polo shirt club. In a last-ditch effort to attract somebody – anybody – to join them, they decide to launch a Scrabble Club. At the ‘launch event’—which involves the two boys sitting at a table in the local café next to a handmade sign, hoping someone will show interest—they are shocked to the core when Mingus Reid turns up. What on earth could the second coolest kid in town want with them? Mingus, Rocko and Cosmo soon discover they are all keen fans of the Trio of Sleuths books. It’s a shame there aren’t any mysteries in a quiet little place like Table Cape Bay, otherwise they could become detectives instead of Scrabble players. A tired looking man takes up residence at their club table and starts madly typing, before introducing himself as PD Watkins. The renowned author is staying at Hindmarsh Hall—referred to by the locals as ‘the haunted house on the hill’—to write his next book, and overhears the boys talking in the café. Watkins is a frightened man. Instead of the quiet writing retreat he anticipated, he has barely been able to work or sleep. There have been weird noises, things rearranged, strange messages carved on the walls … how is he supposed to write another bestseller with all of that going on? The boys vow to help him uncover what is going on—he is one of their favourite authors after all! They soon discover that there is a lot more going on at Hindmarsh Hall than they ever imagined ... As they unravel the mystery of who is scaring Watkins—and why—The Secret Detectives Club is born. It won’t be long before they have more mysteries than they can handle … The first in a fun new detective series from award-winning author, Kate Gordon, perfect for fans of adventurous detective stories like The Hardy Boys, The Three Investigators, Nancy Drew or Scooby Doo!

The Haunting of Hindmarsh Hall is available from bookshops, libraries and https://rivetedpress.com.au/bookshop/the-haunting-of-hindmarsh-hill-the-secret-detectives-club

16/11/2025

We are taking a look back at the year that was Riveted Press, 2025! Join us as we share the books that made an unforgettable mark in the world.
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The next fabulous book was Escape From Marigold Manor by Rachel Jackson.
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You are the greatest detective in the land and you’re facing your biggest mystery yet. After receiving an anonymous invitation, you discover that—along with all the other guests—you are locked inside the iron gates of an opulent mansion. Who has trapped you there, and why? You’ll need to solve the mystery in order to receive the key to the gates and escape from Marigold Manor. There are whispers from the dining hall, and you overhear a furtive conversation between Miss Marigold and one of the other guests. Just at that moment, there’s a crash and a bang as the maid drops a stack of plates. She stares at you and gasps, then flees the room. Will you follow, or will you stay and interview Miss Marigold? Every decision you make will lead you through the twisty corridors of Marigold Manor to your mystery. You might be called upon to crack the case of the stolen tiara, or enlisted to find Captain Marigold who has disappeared. Then there are thieves afoot – but they don’t stand a chance with a detective like you on the case! There will be a scream – the butler has met with an unfortunate demise! Could one of your companions really be to blame? Along another path, a message written in invisible ink warns you that Miss Marigold is an imposter… And in a dusty room, down a forgotten hallway, a lost journal holds a secret about the bewitching truth of Marigold Manor. If you can solve it, you’ll be free of Marigold Manor once and for all. But beware the cats that roam the grounds … They have their own agenda and if you don’t take care, you might find yourself turned into a cat or—even worse—a mouse! But even when you’re deep undercover there are mysteries to be found, and solved. It turns out there is more than one way to leave Marigold Manor… You’ll find thirty-two unique endings in Escape from Marigold Manor. Each mystery requires you to complete a series of interviews and brainteasers in order to identify the culprit. The challenges include puzzles that you must crack in order to unlock safes, read secret messages and locate hidden clues. The casefiles at the back of the book will help you keep track of which cases you’ve sold, and which cases still await you in the mansion. Can you solve them all? Your reputation as the greatest detective in the land depends on it!

Escape From Marigold Manor is available at bookshops, libraries and https://rivetedpress.com.au/bookshop/escape-from-marigold-manor-solve-it-your-way

14/11/2025

We are taking a look back at the year that was Riveted Press, 2025! Join us as we share the books that made an unforgettable mark in the world.
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Our third book for 2025, released in April, was On Gallant Wings by Dr Helen Edwards Writes. This book is a sweeping WWII adventure that shines a spotlight on many little-known aspects of the war's impact on Australians at home. It was longlisted in the ARA Historical Novel Prize in 2025.
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Thirteen-year-old Ava lives in Darwin with her family and their homing pigeons, of which Essie is Ava’s favourite. A Japanese family live next door and their son, Kazuo, is Ava’s best and only real friend. Her father is serving overseas.

While Essie is taking her first flight, Ava overhears an argument between her mother, and her brother Fred, who has lied about his age to join the militia. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he trains in Darwin and later helps set up a pigeon service in Townsville. When most civilians are sent to safety down south, Ava remains in Darwin because her mother (who works in the post office) is essential to the war effort.

Later that day, military police take Kazuo and his family away in a truck to a holding camp—much to Ava’s distress—along with many other Japanese people who call Australia home.

On February 19, 1942, Darwin is bombed, and Ava and her mother are evacuated in a cattle train with the remaining women and children. After a very difficult journey, they arrive, exhausted, at her grandparent’s home in Lake Boga, where they discover the extent of the damage to Darwin is being concealed from the population. Even those who were actually there know only part of the truth.

Desperate to do something to contribute to the war effort, Ava’s mother joins the WAAAF and begins work at the secret Catalina Flying Boat Base. In the meantime, the authorities decide to transfer Kazuo to the men’s camp, separating him from his parents and siblings.

Living by rules and rituals has always been how Ava has felt safe, but when Kazuo escapes, she is faced with the hardest decision of all—whether to report a ‘potentially dangerous’ escapee to the authorities, or to protect a beloved friend …

On Gallant Wings is available at bookshops, libraries, www.helenedwardswrites.com and
https://rivetedpress.com.au/bookshop/on-gallant-wings

13/11/2025

We are taking a look back at the year that was Riveted Press, 2025! Join us as we share the books that made an unforgettable mark in the world.
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Our second book for 2025, released in March, was the incredible almost wordless picture book for older teens and adults - SoXiety by illustrator Tamlyn Teow.
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In a melancholic city of towering skyscrapers, bombarding billboards and blinding screens, resides a dopamine addicted society. The hustle and bustle of day precedes the lonely isolation of night, as they return, alone, to soulless utilitarian apartments where screens consume their remaining waking hours. Spiralling further into depression and anxiety, consuming more but never being nourished, one Man falls into a mysterious underworld, where a metamorphosis begins…
And when he eventually returns to the city above, a seed travels with him. A seed of community. A seed of hope.

SoXiety is available from bookshops, libraries and Riveted Press https://rivetedpress.com.au/bookshop/soxiety-the-book-of-kin

13/11/2025

Books and Publishing has announced that Riveted Press has acquired world rights to The Midlands by Kate Gordon, in a deal brokered by Alex Adsett Literary. Coming in April 2026!

The Midlands takes place during the First World War as 11-year-old Lorna Whittle and her 4 sisters are fighting their own battles in the Tasmanian midlands.

The publisher said, “Left with their cold and distant mother while their gentle father heads to war, the Whittle girls unleash their mischief amongst the wild countryside surrounding their grandparents’ farmhouse – painting cows, brewing stink bombs, and waging war on rules of every kind.

“But when their father’s first letter arrives, Lorna begins to suspect they’ve been told a lie …”

Gordon said, “The Midlands is a love letter to the landscapes of Tasmania that have fascinated me since I was a little girl. It’s also an ode to every ‘wild’, ‘unruly’ and indomitable girl – then and now – who has refused to be made smaller by a world that might wish them to be.”

More here on Books and Publishing https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2025/11/12/318767/riveted-acquires-gordons-latest-childrens-book/