Pantera Press is delighted to announce the acquisition of the innovative Australian-based publishing company The Author People (TAP) from the industry-renowned Lou Johnson. The list includes the US rights to A Thousand Shards of Glass by international author Michael Katakis, manager of Ernest Hemingway’s literary estate, in addition to a number of Australian authors, including Kim Kelly, Laura Bloom, Ondine Sherman, Polly McGee, Kelly Brooke Nicholls and Linda Buchan.

This acquisition continues the rapid growth of Pantera Press, who, in 2017, was identified by Nielsen Bookscan as one of the top indie publishers to show significant growth, both year-on-year and long-term, over the past 5 years.

In the last 4 months Pantera Press has grown the local team; published the bestselling Australian political title over Christmas with Warren Mundine’s In Black + White; secured the Number 1 bestselling YA title with Akarnae by Australian author Lynette Noni; and become a foundational partner with the Sydney Story Factory to help fund the opening of a new centre for children in Western Sydney.

“The Pantera Press team is incredibly excited about the potential this model unlocks and eager to introduce new readers to these great storytellers. We believe in signing authors, not books, so we’ve loved the author-centric model that Lou embedded into the DNA of TAP,” said Alison Green, CEO of Pantera Press.

“We will continue nurturing these authors while broadening their marketing and distribution platform.”

Lou Johnson, Co-Founder of TAP and currently Publishing Director of Murdoch Books, said:

“The Author People is a perfect fit for Pantera Press’ innovative and values-led ethos. I am so proud of what we created and in awe of the amazing authors we represented. I will be cheering them all on and Pantera Press from the sidelines.”

Books will continue to be available through UBD and Lightning Source.