From the Bush to the Bookshelves: How Tony Park Built a Thriving self-published Author Career

Crystal Leonardi
Jun 30
3 min read

With a budding author at the 2024 Cairns Tropical Writer's Festival.

I recently tuned into a fantastic episode of the Inspirational Indie Author Interview featuring Tony Park - an Australian thriller writer whose career is as captivating as the stories he pens. Hosted by long-time journalist and editor Howard Lovy, the conversation shed light on what it truly means to take charge of your author journey - and why treating your writing like a business is key.

Tony’s journey started traditionally. His first book was published in 2004 through a mainstream Australian publisher. While the experience was positive, he described it as somewhat emotionless -

Transactional rather than transformational.

And like many authors navigating traditional publishing, the royalties left much to be desired.

But Tony’s real turning point came when he decided to buy back the rights to his titles in South Africa, where he had built his strongest readership. From there, he took the reins and dove headfirst into the world of self-publishing.

And that’s where the magic happened.

Tony spoke candidly about the difference in mindset that separates hobby writers from those who aim to build a sustainable career. “Follow your authorship dream,” he says, “but if you want to make a living out of writing, you need to treat it like a business.” That hit home for me. I remember when I realised that writing just one book wouldn’t cut it. I needed to think bigger, and that’s when the idea of starting my own publishing company was born.

For Tony, that same business-minded approach led him to ghostwriting as a way to fund his writing career. For others, it might be coaching, editing, or building an author brand. The point is:

If you're serious about writing,

you must uncover your inner entrepreneur.

Another powerful takeaway… The contrast between traditional publishing and the self-published, or indie author community. I liken it to shopping at a supermarket like Coles or Woolworths versus a local grocer. Sure, indie publishing might cost a bit more up front (no advances or funded book tours) - but you get better quality, personal connection, and lasting value. You’re part of a community, not just a catalogue.

What I appreciated most about Tony’s story was his honesty and flexibility. He’s willing to try, reflect, adapt, and try again. And that’s exactly what this industry demands. Publishing is constantly evolving, and authors need to stay nimble. The key is knowing your goal: Is writing a passion project, or do you want to turn it into a professional pursuit?

Tony’s story is a timely reminder that success doesn’t come from doing things the ‘right’ way - but from doing them your way, with intention, resilience, and community at the heart.

Both Tony and I are members of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). ALLi is a global membership association empowering writers to create great books, reach more readers, and build successful publishing businesses. To find out more or become a member, go here: Home - The Alliance Independent Authors