Hardshell Publishing

01/09/2026

Join Susan Neuhaus at the beautiful Mortlock Chamber for the launch of A Woman in a Thousand: Lady Marie Galway, South Australia and the Great War, in conversation with award-winning journalist and author Lainie Anderson OAM.

I’m delighted to have been involved in this special project as publishing consultant and book designer.

📅 10 September | 6:00–7:30pm
📍 Mortlock Chamber, State Library of South Australia
🎟️ Free, but bookings are essential

A wonderful celebration of an important South Australian story. A few tickets are still available for this special event.

Book launch for A Woman in a Thousand by Susan Neuhaus in conversation with Lainie Anderson.

28/08/2026

📚 Celebrating Book Week in Goolwa! 🐦✨

This week, I had the privilege of attending the launch of Flying High with No:ri at Goolwa Primary School, surrounded by the entire school community in the gymnasium. What a wonderful way to celebrate Book Week!

Written by Adele Kenny and beautifully illustrated by Stephanie Pitcher, Flying High with No:ri was created to help bring the school’s values to life through storytelling.

Three simple values, Aim High, Work Hard, Be Kind, are woven into this colourful story that encourages children to dream big, keep trying, care for others and believe in themselves.

At the heart of the story is No:ri, the Ngarrindjeri word for pelican, who helps bring these values to life. The Ngarrindjeri people are the Traditional Owners of Country across the lower Murray River, the Lower Lakes and the Coorong region in South Australia.

It was a real privilege to be part of the publishing process and to design this special book, particularly for Goolwa, my old home town, a beautiful place with such a rich Indigenous culture and a deep connection to storytelling.

Congratulations to Adele, Stephanie and everyone at Goolwa Primary School on bringing this special book to life. 💙

06/08/2026

I still can’t quite believe I’m writing this… my second book Grow is officially launching next weekend, and I’m so excited to finally celebrate it with you all here in the garden that inspired every page.

Join me at Orcombe Farm Garden
on Sunday 9th August, 10am to 4pm,
at 49 Berryfield Road, Lyndoch
for a relaxed day wandering through the winter garden, exploring the spaces that shaped this book, and celebrating this milestone together.

The garden is absolutely bursting into colour at the moment and looking so beautiful. It was also such a joy to have Lydia from For Abel Photography here recently capturing these moments to celebrate the launch.

I’m especially excited to meet those of you travelling from the eastern states to the beautiful Barossa Valley for the launch. It means so much that you’re making the trip.

$5 entry at the gate, no bookings required.

SAVE this post so you have all the event details, and SHARE it with your gardening friends for a lovely day out in the Barossa.

I can’t wait to see you all next week.

🌱 Aleisha

📸 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲 ®, Lydia | Barossa Brand + Family Photo

21/07/2026

🎥 Celebrating a True Australian Trailblazer

What a privilege to celebrate the launch of Camera Woman during the week that would have marked Patricia Walter's 100th birthday.

In the 1960s, it was almost unheard of for a woman to arrive at a news assignment carrying a film camera. The women's movement was in its infancy and equal pay still just a concept…

Pat broke barriers as ABC Adelaide's first full-time female television news camerawoman, later becoming the first woman to film news for Channels 9 and 10. Working in a male-dominated industry, she earned the respect of her peers through determination and exceptional skill.

Her contribution to the industry was recognised with several awards, including induction into the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) Hall of Fame.

Pat's story begins with the heartbreak of becoming orphaned at an early age, losing her beloved mother, and being raised in orphanages. She went on to become a gold medal psychiatric nurse before being widowed and raising three young children.

In 1964, she embarked on an extraordinary career behind the camera, documenting events including the visits of The Beatles and Princess Diana, the sacking of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Cyclone Tracy, Ash Wednesday and more. Camera Woman offers a rare insight into what really happened on the ground during these historic events.

It was an honour to work with Pat's daughter, Lyn, to help bring Camera Woman to life, and Pat's son, Craig, who designed the book cover. Award-winning filmmaker Malcolm Ludgate shared wonderful stories of working alongside Pat, including the technical challenges of filming news and the skill required to get every shot right.

Congratulations to Lyn, Craig, Jennifer, Pat's extended family, colleagues and everyone who contributed to this fitting tribute, celebrating the life and legacy of an extraordinary South Australian pioneer.

📖 Camera Woman is available from all good bookstores. Ask your local bookshop for a copy, or order online:�https://www.amazon.com.au/Camera-Woman-Television-News-Pioneer/dp/0975648411

26/02/2026

If you love books, writing, big ideas, or simply hearing thoughtful local stories, I encourage you to check out this podcast. You might just feel inspired to start (or finish) your own project.

The Literacy & Anything Podcast features authors and creatives sharing their work and ideas, including a young poet I recently had the privilege of helping publish.

https://www.marion.sa.gov.au/about-council/innovation/smart-organisation/literacy-anything-podcast

City of Marion libraries are vibrant, modern, community spaces that help thousands of people.

05/02/2026

A February book launch appreciating history, art and endurance.

In the mid-1860s, during a severe drought in South Australia, Surveyor-General George Woodroffe Goyder travelled more than 1,000 kilometres across the colony on horseback in the heat of summer. His work resulted in what we now know as Goyder’s Line, a boundary that has influenced agriculture and settlement in South Australia.

The Art of Goyder’s Line by John Glasson tells this story through both history and image. Although Goyder did not commission an official illustrator, artists and early photographers of the time captured the landscapes and towns along his route. Their works, paired with contemporary photographs taken from the same locations, allow us to see the land as Goyder once did and to observe how it has changed.

Launched in early February at The Caledonian Hotel in North Adelaide, the book grew from a moment beside the River Broughton that sparked John Glasson’s search through archives, galleries, and libraries. Following Goyder’s survey path, he located the sites depicted in nineteenth-century artworks and recorded them again in the present day, bringing past and present together in a single volume.

A thoughtful and visually rich work, The Art of Goyder’s Line invites readers to reflect on land and climate. John also reminds us of the treasure trove of artworks available via our state and national libraries. These works belong to the people, and we need writers like John to unearth their value in modern times.

✏ Limited edition, full colour printed books are available by contacting John: [email protected]

29/01/2026

✨An unbelievable true story and first book launch for 2026 ✨

In late 2025, Anita reached out for help with publishing her new memoir, A Feathering of Wisdom. We’d worked together years ago, and as we planned to meet, we discovered something extraordinary... I had recently moved next door to the very place where she wrote this book over 10 years ago.

From my back deck, I can see her porch where she wrote the stories, a breathtaking jacaranda tree, and the singing bird life that shaped this memoir. Of course, you don’t need to live next door to feel the depth of Anita’s wisdom. A memoir invites us into someone’s inner world, creating instant connection and reflection. Reading Anita's stories reminded me just how closely connected we all are.

A Feathering of Wisdom is a memoir for modern times, with subtle humour, inviting busy readers to dip into any page to savour gems of wisdom and moments of reflection.

Anita Clara Iussa recently launched her book at Woodcroft Library (part of Onkaparinga Libraries), surrounded by a warm and supportive community. A beautiful reminder of how powerful local libraries and writers are. I felt so thankful for everyone 'showing up' for each other on the day. 🥰 ✏️

A Feathering of Wisdom is available from online bookstores such as Amazon:
https://amzn.asia/d/8pBMRE3

13/11/2025

🧡 New Release for Neurodivergent Kids (and the grown-ups who love them!) 🐯

Meet Alex, a tiger lover and proud AuDHD kid! In Strong and Sensitive, Alex learns to celebrate what makes them unique, exploring their strengths, challenges, and all the beautiful in-between moments along the way.

Written with neurodiversity-affirming language (no pathologising words here!) and paired with vibrant illustrations that speak straight to AuDHD hearts, this book is both fun and empowering.

Already loved by thousands of parents, teachers, and therapists in its e-book form, this new print edition is ready to roar its way into your home, classroom, or clinic. Perfect for ages 5+ and for anyone who knows that being different is something to celebrate! 🐅✨

📚 Order Strong and Sensitive directly from the author, Adelle, at www.neurodivergentally.com or ask for it at your favourite bookshop.

✏ See more of Adelle’s work on Instagram:
🎨 See more of Lauren's amazing talent and illustrations on Instagram: .herraman

02/09/2025