Per Henningsgaard
 Per Henningsgaard |
Fulbright Postgraduate Award
Media Profile
‘The chill in the Sydney morning air on May 22, 2004 was matched only by the chill a sixth-page newspaper headline struck in the hearts of aspiring Australian writers. “Publishers shun rookie authors,” read the headline in The Sydney Morning Herald. The article elaborated: “The chances of a first-time Australian author getting published hit an all-time low this week when a prestigious publishing house said it would no longer take on new writers.” ’
Per is one of twenty Americans to be granted a Fulbright U.S. Postgraduate Award in 2005. He will be studying at the University of Western Australia, looking specifically at the role of regional publishing and literature in Western Australia.
In May 2004, Per graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, specialising in English. He has previously been awarded the Al Wertheim Memorial Prize for the best presentation by a student at the 19th annual conference of the American Association of Australian Literary Studies.
Multinational publishers generally offer Australian writers broader distribution networks, including the opportunity to reach beyond Australia’s shores into the international book market, than those of Australia’s independent publishers. However, these corporations have begun closing their doors to new and up-and-coming writers, who are losing out in an increasingly profit-driven industry. Australian writers have responded to this block-out by turning to independent publishers, such as Fremantle Arts Centre Press (FACP), an independent, regional publishing house in Western Australia. The success of FACP lies in its commitment to local Western Australian writers, whose work they exclusively publish.
“The University of Western Australia demonstrated great interest in furthering the dialogue about Western Australian literature and culture, through avenues such as University of Western Australia Press and the ‘Westerly’ magazine,” stated Per. “It is therefore a unique opportunity.”
Through his study of FACP and other Western Australian publishing houses, such as Magabala Books and University of Western Australia Press, Per will identify the place of regional publishing houses in a rapidly changing publishing market. Furthermore, he will explore the possibility of FACP and similar regional publishing efforts creating an increased sense of regional identity through their alliances with local authors.
By identifying and assessing trends in independent regional publishing, Per will be able to suggest action plans for smaller publishers to retain local writers and enable them to compete with multinational companies.
Upon completion of his study into regional publishing and literature in Western Australia, Per intends to establish his own independent publishing house servicing local writers from the American Midwest. Per’s aim is to increase the publishing prospects for local first-time writers. Through this, Per believes that ‘the pool of creativity and talent which exists in the more remote regions of both Australia and America can be unleashed’.