This press began in 2010 to publish the Licuala Writer’s anthology and was originally called Gumbootspearlz.  It is run by June Perkins only as a sole trader.

In 2011 Under One Sky was published featuring local writers of the Cassowary Coast, poems, and stories.  The book was locally designed and illustrated as well.  A RADF grant assisted in this process.

In 2013 a series of photographs and stories depicting the recovery from After Yasi: Finding the Smile Within through the arts and community events was published.  June compiled her photographs of this process and invited people within the photos to share their story of that moment June captured.

In 2015, June began a kickstarter campaign to produce her first fully solo work, Magic Fish Dreaming.  After the success of this campaign in October 2016 the book was delivered.  She renamed gumbootspearlz, gumbootspearlz press, and had a logo designed. The mentoring of the Children’s Book Academy assisted June greatly to achieve this project.  She was helped by a scholarship to do their kickstarting training and has gone from strength to strength.  A special thanks to Jed and Mira.

June remains committed to assisting others publish.  She is interested in becoming a fully fledged publisher and continuing to publish poetry chapbooks, as well as seeking to work with traditional publishers.

Her future interests in publishing will most likely be to give opportunities to those under represented in publishing, who have a unique and diverse aspect to offer to the world of circulating stories, so do watch this space, as she continues her journey as an Independent publisher. But she is not inviting submissions just yet.

A dedicated advocate for poetry for all ages, especially children and youth, June has initiated and participated in projects where poetry is brought to the people, from a poetry and photography wall in the Cassowary Coast, North Queensland,  in 2007, to an Art Adventure in the Queensland Art Gallery (QAGOMA)  in 2019.  In 2019 she shared poems using puppets and storytelling at the Asia Pacific Triennial. She has written articles on poetry advocacy.

Achievements for Children’s Poetry:

• Live Stream young Baha’i Writers Youth Endeavour (2019) and Philippines International Literacy Day (2017)
• Poems for children accepted to Spooktacular Stories & Creative Kids Tale Anthology (2019)
• Australian Children’s Poetry (15 poems) https://australianchildrenspoetry.com.au/tag/june-perkins/
• Art Adventures in the Gallery, Commissioned work QAGOMA (2018)
• Several Royal Dragon Fly Awards for Magic Fish Dreaming (2017)
• Panel exploring poetry for children Queensland Poetry Festival, including; Virginia Lowe, Sally Murphy and JR Poulter (2017)
• Successfully crowd funded, well reviewed, and produced award winning book of poetry for children, Magic Fish Dreaming, Illustrated by Helene Magisson (2016)
• Ripple Project, established poetry book, library readings, and exhibitions of poetry for and by children with RADF grant (2007)

June’s main poetry blog is Ripple Poetry