Roffo Court Press is Jon Appleton’s small imprint, publishing books about children’s books and fiction, too. Most of the books are available only direct from Jon, so please contact him at jonappletonsbooks [a] gmail.com
LATEST TITLE! MARCH 2026
Life and Breath: Stories – Ursula Dubosarsky (£8.99). Order through your local bookshop.
Discoveries from the past, hopes for the future – and the decisions we make on a knife edge that clarify our own sense of self. These elements inform Ursula Dubosarsky’s multi-award-winning novels and are in sharp, bright evidence in these thirteen beautifully crafted short stories.
- Ursula Dubosarsky is one of Australia’s leading writers for young people – she was Children’s Laureate from 2020-2021, has won more than 10 major literary awards, and has been internationally recognised through nominations for the Astrid Lindgren and Hans Christian Andersen Awards.
- A hugely entertaining collection, by turns poignant, funny, reflective and joyful, and nearly always mercurial.
- Life and Breath will be featured in the March 2026 issue of Books for Keeps and on the Reading for Pleasure (OU) blog.
- So few new collections of short stories for younger readers are published but there is a need for them in schools and libraries. Ideal for KS2 and 3.
- Teachers’ notes by teacher/librarian Chris Baker (@broadeningthebookshelf on Instagram) will be available on the author’s website.
- Wide ranging in themes, the stories have a global relevance, despite their Australian setting.
- Published simultaneously in Australia with Eagle Books, an imprint of Christmas Press.
The Centenary Collection – John Gordon – Order through The Book Hive, Norwich or from Jon (£12 + postage)
- For the first time in the UK, 23 of John Gordon’s masterful short stories are collected in a single volume to celebrate the centenary of his birth in November 2025.
- Betrayal, revenge, regret, longing, jealousy, guilt, heartbreak – all are motivators in these vivid, relatable stories, tinged with elements of horror and suspense.
- The perfect Halloween read for readers of 12+ and a glorious tribute to the history and atmosphere of East Anglia, where Gordon spent most of his life.
- A consummate writer who has attracted comparisons with Susan Cooper, Alan Garner and M.R. James.
- Contains previously uncollected tales, as well as stories from classic collections including The Spitfire Grave and The Burning Baby, unavailable for more than 30 years
The One That Got Away – Jan Mark
30 masterful short stories from the multi-award-winning writer.
Price: £10 (including postage in UK) – order from Jon
Format: 320 pp; paperback; 198 x 129 mm
Letters from Robin: a Voyage Around My Author – Jon Appleton
A memoir of reading, enduring friendships with children’s authors, and a celebration of the life and work of one of Australia’s best-loved children’s authors.
Price: £10 (including postage in UK) – order from Jon
Format: 224 pp; paperback; 198 x 129 mm
Out of the Box – the Art and Life of Emily Rodda – Jon Appleton
An exploration of the 40-year career of the creator of Deltora Quest (amongst 100 other works) through her archives and interviews.
Price: £10 (including postage in UK) – order from Jon
Format: 224 pp; paperback; 198 x 129 mm
Caterpillar Hall – Anne Barrett
The first-ever paperback edition of a beautiful debut novel from 1950 which has inspired comparisons with A Traveller in Time and other classic works of fiction.
Price: £10 (including postage in UK) – order from Jon
Format: 128 pp; paperback; 198 x 129 mm
All books are available by contacting jonappletonsbooks [a] gmail.com.
Letters from Robin: A Voyage Around My Author 