Roffo Court Press is Jon Appleton’s small imprint, publishing books about children’s books and fiction, too.
LATEST TITLE! MARCH 2026
Life and Breath: Stories – Ursula Dubosarsky (£8.99)
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 – £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
AVAILABLE NOW:
The One That Got Away – Jan Mark
30 masterful short stories from the multi-award-winning writer.
Price: £10 (including postage in UK).
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).
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).
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).
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 