Adam McNicol, Ten Bag Press
What is your connection to Ballarat?
I moved to Ballarat from Melbourne with my wife Zara (at pharmacist with UFS) in 2008. We moved for both the lifestyle and the cheaper housing. We both spent our childhoods in the Mallee. I grew up in Manangatang and Zara in Wycheproof.
How did your journey begin as an journalist/author/publisher?
I loved writing reports for our school-based newspaper in Manangatang while I was in high school. I made it into the RMIT Journalism course and completed my degree between 1997 and 1999. My working life began with WIN TV in Mildura and then Ballarat. I wrote my first book, The Danihers, after moving to Melbourne to work as a sports reporter with Channel 10.
How would you describe your practice?
Where once I worked only as a journalist and author, I have had to learn a lot of business management skills since starting my own publishing company, Ten Bag Press. What are you working on right now? I have busy distributing my latest book, The Mallee: A journey through north-west Victoria, which has been a big hit in that part of the world and beyond. The book was a real team effort. Five documentary photographers - Andrew Chapman, Jaime Murcia, Noel Butcher, Melanie Faith Dove and Erin Jonasson - took most of the pictures in the book. And it all came together thanks to book designer Phil Campbell. We are all teaming up again in 2021 to produce a book about the Wimmera.
How would you describe the creative community in Ballarat?
I think we have a very vibrant creative community in Ballarat. I’m keen to get to know more of the people in the creative community.
Can you give us three words that sum your inspiration?
People, stories, history
