Rebecca Slater
Rebecca (she/they) has over 12 years’ experience in the books and publishing industry across Australia and the UK. Through her roles at organisations such as Allen & Unwin, Left Bank Literary and the Stella Prize, she has worked with many of Australia’s leading authors.
Rebecca is an experienced rights-seller, with international scouting experience in the UK, and holds a Masters in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Oxford.
In 2021, she co-founded the Open Book: Australian Publishing Internship, which seeks to foster cultural diversity in the publishing industry. She also works with Australia Reads building recreational reading rates in Australia, and was recently selected as one of Creative Australia’s Creative Leaders for the literature sector.
She is an active member of the emerging writers community, and has volunteered with the National Young Writers Festival, Sydney Story Factory and Overland Literary Journal, among others.
Rebecca is passionate about championing work by women and non-binary writers, First Nations storytellers, and the LGBTQI+ community.
She lives and works in Naarm on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation.
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What I’m looking for…
The world feels like a strange and scary place right now. As a result, I feel myself drawn to two kinds of submissions at the moment, which may feel counterintuitive put side-by-side: books that help us escape from the present moment – that transport us, make us laugh, turn us on etc – and books that delve deep into the heart of the present moment, and offer us insights into the way through.
In fiction, this looks like weird, queer and funny novels – books with offbeat narrators, unlikely journies, and that strongly celebrate difference. I also love strange, spooky and deeply atmospheric novels – books with a strong sense of setting, or literary dystopian novels that offer us a glimpse of our world at a slant.
In non-fiction, I’m looking in writing that grapples with our current political, cultural and ecological moment in all its complexity and absurdity, and blends expertise and lived experience with a strong and entertaining quality of writing.
I’m passionate about championing work that is uniquely Australian and brings to life the diverse experiences of our people and places. In particular, I’m interested in the work of First Nations storytellers, and writers from marginalised backgrounds, in whatever form their stories take.
Above all, though, I want a good story! Whether it’s a superbly plotted crime novel, a heart-warming rom-com or a deeply researched non-fiction work – I’m looking for writing that entertains, inspires, and connects with readers in meaningful ways.