Author, journalist and book publisher, Jess Mudditt has just published her second book, a travel memoir that recounts a formative year backpacking through Asia, from Cambodia to the Khyber Pass, via China, India and Tibet. Once Around The Sun is a rollicking read, where we come along as Jess explores new places, find new friends and a few beers on the road while also grappling with questions about what comes next in her life.
It’s the second time Jess has spoken to the Broad, the first was all about her time living and working in Myannmar in her book, Our Home in Myannmar.
Tell us about the inspiration for writing this book?
Travelling for a year in 2006 was one of the best experiences of my life. I always wanted to write about it, but it wasn’t until Covid struck and international travel went out the window that I decided to begin.
How do you decide what to include and what to leave on the cutting room floor?
It depended on whether there was a strong emotional aspect to the experience. Some places were pretty and fun, but if there was nothing challenging or surprising, I didn’t include it. As a travel memoir, my goal was to connect the location I was in with my own internal journey – waking up to what I wanted to do with my life.
Where there any parts that are harder to write and how do you handle this?
I’ll be honest – I wasn’t sure how far to go with the sex scenes! A couple of friends warned me that if I did it badly, it would be really bad. It would be cringeworthy! I even took a short course on writing sex scenes. In the end I kept it all pretty clean, while being clear that my trip was something of a ‘sexual safari’. It’s a right of passage, right?!
Being your second book, how did you find the process?
It was far more straightforward. I didn’t torture myself with wondering if I could get a publisher – I was my own publisher. I really enjoyed the actual process of writing it and reliving one of the best years of my life.
What does your writing and editing routine look like?
I make sure to write for at least 45 minutes a day, seven days a week. On the weekends it is more. During the week, I like to write at the start of the day, so that if my day goes pear-shaped or gets crazy busy (ie every day), I have still gotten it done.
How do you handle elements that relate to other people? This can be a tricky area with memoir.
I only criticise myself in my books. It’s the safest way to avoid defamation. There are a couple of exceptions, but not many at all. I don’t think the author comes off looking very good when they criticise others. It’s not very fair, because the person has no right of reply!
Any thoughts on your next book?
I’m writing it now and it is so fun. Once Around the Sun is a two-part series. The first part is Cambodia to Tibet and the second is Kathmandu to the Khyber Pass. It’s coming out next year. I had a wild time in Nepal, India and Pakistan and it is a joy to describe the second part of my year-long trip. I spent time with a quasi-cult, was an extra in a blockbuster Bollywood film, and travelled to the border of Afghanistan with a 14 year old armed guard. Amazing experiences.
What is it like self-publishing?
The first time around was a steep learning curve. The second time was less stressful, but even so there is rapid change and new things to learn. I love the process of building books so I find it really fun – it’s one of the reasons why I started Hembury Books last year. It’s so satisfying to hold a book in your hands that you wrote or edited and then actually physically built with software.
How do you find and work with a book marketer? How important is this for self-publishing?
I always recommend my author clients hire a publicist. A good book deserves good publicity. It is also up to the author to really get out there and market themselves. Local libraries and bookstores are great, as well as community organisations. Direct sales are the best sales because the author keeps everything but the cost of printing the actual book. Social media is an incredible tool at our disposal.
Writers are usually people who spend time alone, writing and thinking, so what’s your advice for those who struggle with the thought of having to be the ‘face’ of their book?
I know a lot of writers who recoil at the idea of making videos, but video is everything nowadays. We consume far more video than anything else. My advice is just to get going and experiment with different formats. You must join TikTok because #booktok can do amazing things for your book sales! If you are fearful about public speaking, consider hiring a speaking coach.
You’ve now established a book publishing business, Hembury Books, can you tell us about that?
Through self-publishing my own books, I realised how much I enjoyed the back-end of book production. I set up Hembury Books last year to help other nonfiction authors navigate the process. Hembury Books provides coaching, editing and self-publishing support to nonfiction authors.
I want to build an indie publishing community in Australia as well. To that end I have set up the Hembury Books Reader’s Club – members receive free ebooks in exchange for independent reviews.
Indie books tell really important stories – not just the commercial successes (think celebrity memoirs). The technology nowadays makes it possible to produce a book that is indistinguishable from a traditionally published one. I also want to help remove the remaining stigma around self-publishing. It is a better choice in so many ways. The royalties are higher, there is creative control and it’s faster and more flexible. It’s funny to me because there is zero stigma around independent filmmaking and independent music studios – so why this outdated notion for books?
What kinds of books are you publishing?
Hembury Books is a nonfiction publisher. Clients so far have written memoirs, self help guides or business books. I love the variety of it, and the deep dive I get to go on with my authors.
What advice do you have for someone who has a story they’d like to see in print?
Believe in yourself and follow it through. If you can’t let go of that idea for a book, I bet it will be an amazing book. Getting a ‘no’ from a publisher in no way means that it is not a fantastic idea. Work with people who will make your book a huge success.
You can get in touch with Hembury Books – jess@hemburybooks.com or info@hemburybooks.com
