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Based in Melbourne, Australia, Downingfield Press is a small publishing house with a strong commitment to sustainability. Our paperless workflow using e-ink screens to proof reduces our ecological footprint. Our tree-planting program began in 2020, wherein we plant a tree for every new title and an additional tree for every 100 copies sold, reflects our dedication to environmental responsibility. We hope to expand this program as our company grows.
Established in 2013 in a Sydney, Nova Scotia garage, Downingfield Press has undergone a transformative journey, spanning continents and literary terrains. Relocating to Melbourne in 2015, our modest garage startup has evolved into a small commercial publishing house.
The turning point came in 2020 when we opened our doors to public submissions, solidifying our commitment to delivering compelling narratives globally. With eight published books and eight more in the pipeline, cultural communication remains our core focus.
A highlight of 2023 was Oisín Breen’s Lilies on the Deathbed of Étaín and Other Poems being named one of Scotland’s top poetry books for 2023 by The Scotsman newspaper.
Five upcoming titles hail from the esteemed but now defunct Beir Bua Press in County Tipperary, Ireland. Authors such as Oisín Breen, Nathanael O'Reilly, and Jeremy Allan Hawkins have enriched our catalogue. Excitement surrounds forthcoming releases by John Sexton, Laura Besley, and Mark Russel, just to name a few.
Diversity and inclusivity are integral to Downingfield Press. Our next venture explores the history of a small community in rural Nova Scotia, Canada, reflecting our dual roots in Canada and Australia.
A recent milestone is the signing of a poetry collection by Pushcart-nominated Alton Melvar M. Dapanas, our first original poetry publication. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our catalogue with more original works in non-fiction and poetry.
Our books are available at all fine bookshops – both online and bricks and mortar and we are distributed by Ingram. We welcome submissions year-round and have two primary areas of focus: poetry and non-fiction. Have a book in you? We would love the chance to read it and see if it’s a good fit for us.
Mitchell Cheng-Mader is a Canadian-Australian writer, publisher, and town planner. He writes under the name ‘M. G. Mader’ and has authored three books (Power to the People 2015, The Local Electric Light Utility 2017, and The End of an Era 2022), with his latest book An Seann Taigh: A History of the Old Glebe House at Pipers Cove set to be released in February 2024. He is the founder and managing director of Downingfield Press. He divides his time between writing, publishing, and town planning. He studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Cape Breton University. Born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, he now lives with his husband in Melbourne, Australia. www.mgmader.com.au