About Shelf-Employed: The Indie Publishing Podcast
Shelf Employed: The Indie Publishing Podcast hosted by Allen Tiller & Lee Speed.
Allen Tiller is an award-winning, best-selling paranormal historian, and Lee Speed is a children's adventure writer.
Shelf Employed explores life on – and off – the bookshelf, diving into the worlds of writing, creativity, small business, and the realities of being “shelf employed” in today’s gig economy. Each episode will feature candid conversations about books, storytelling, self-publishing, community, and the many side hustles that help keep creative dreams alive.
In this episode of Shelf-Employed: The Indie Publishing Podcast, Allen Tiller and Lee Speed discuss spammers and scammers, and the endless stream of AI-written spambot emails that may clog up your inbox. Allen gives some sage advice on keeping things to yourself, and we wrap up season one of the series.
13 Jun 2026
Ep: 17: Australian Women’s Writers Appeal 2026
In this episode of Shelf-Employed Allen Tiller and LeeSpeed discuss the National Library of Australia’s Australian Women’s Writers appeal, which is raising funds to digitise 17 historic female authors works, including Judith Wright, Dame Mary Gilmore and Henry Handel Richardson (Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson). Not only great writers, but also extraordinary advocates for change, these women shaped Australian literature, and Australian society. Their letters, journals, manuscripts and memories live at the NationalLibrary, but these precious collections can currently only be seen inside the library’s premises in Canberra.
5 Jun 2026
EP:16: A Tour of a Book Printing Facility
In this episode, Lee and special guest Eliza give Allen a rundown of their recent visit to Open Book Howdens printing facility. This tour was facilitated through Writers SA, and featured a guest author presentation, a tour of the prnting presses and the OpenBook Howden shop warehouse.
30 May 2026
Ep:15: London Calling with Janette Menhenett
In this episode of Shelf-Employed: The Indie Publishing Podcast, Allen Tiller and Lee Speed chat with Janette Menhenett, who publishes under the pseudonym J. R. Brydon. Janette is a poet, author, event organiser, podcaster and oral history recorder. Janette aids in convening the Gawler & Adelaide Plains Festival of Words, among other writing conventions.
22 May 2026
Episode 14: My Dad Can with Cristy Fopp
Allen and Lee talk all things children's book publishing with children's author Cristy Fopp!
My Dad Can is a children’s book that celebrates all thewonderful things “my dad” can do, regardless of his circumstances. He can do some clever things, some practical things, some fun things - all sorts of things! Our attitude, not our disability, determines how we live, and even thoughthere are things we can’t do, there are many things we CAN. Enjoy this motivational story and explore the world of “I can”.
17 May 2026
Episode 13: Writing a Foreword
Writing a foreword offers a valuable chance to introduce a book, provide personal insight, and connect with readers from the very beginning. Whether written by a mentor, industry expert, or colleague, a well-structured foreword helps create an introduction that is engaging, concise, and memorable.
9 May 2026
EP: 12 - An Argument for Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing
In Episode 12 of Shelf-Employed, the Indie Publishing Podcast, Allen and Lee discuss how the publishing industry has changed with many authors choosing to adopt the self-publishing model, or a hybrid of traditional and self-publishing.
2 May 2026
Ep: 11 - South Australia's History Festival 2026
On this episode, Allen and Lee discuss South Australia's History Festival and delve into who the first published authors in South Australia were (male and female); who was the first South Australian Aboriginal author, and who was Gawler's first published author.
#historyfestival #podcast #shelfemployed
30 Apr 2026
Ep: 10 'Show Me The Money!' - Alternative ways to get paid
Episode 10 of Shelf-Employed: The Indie Publishing Podcast -‘Show Me the Money!” On this episode, Lee and Allen talk about getting paid – Public Lending Rights (PLR) and Educational Lending Right (ELR), Copyright Agency, Legal Deposit, eDeposit, Lee’s checklist, ISBNs, Library deposits, A.I., Library technical services, Bolinda, Goodreads, Amazon profiles, Writers SA, insurance and more!
19 Apr 2026
Ep: 9 - Broken Legs & Book Fairs
On this episode, Allen returns to the microphone. Lee and Allen discuss book fairs: - what to ask, what to bring, payments, insurance and a lot more!
We talk about The Indie Verse Book Fair at Estonian House, North Adelaide,
...And where Allen has been the last few episodes...
11 Apr 2026
Episode 8: "Immersive Fantasy Romance" with Melissa & Andre Hattingh
In episode 8 of Shelf-Employed, Lee and Cody speak to Andre and Melissa Hattingh, the creative duo behind Love andShadows and Shadow of Ruin, the first two books in The Donare Series.
Their journey as storytellers is shaped by rich life experiences—Melissa’s childhood in South Africa, where she crafted stories inspired by nature, and Andre’s adventures as a pilot. Their paths merged, leading them to Australia, where their love for the art of storytelling flourished. Together, they weave tales of romance, fantasy, and mystery, drawing from their personal experiences to create narratives that resonate deeply with readers.'
#romance #authors
5 Apr 2026
Episode 7: "Der Deutschlehrer" with Judy Gillett-Ferguson
Judy Gillett-Ferguson published her first novel, The German Teacher, in her early 80's - proof you're never too old to publish a book.
The German Teacher is set in a fictional town near Angaston in the Barossa Valley.
Into a valley deeply divided by war, prejudice and loyalties, arrives Audrey Douglas, a young teacher.
It's January 1917, and this is her first appointment, to replace all vestiges of German language and culture from the former one-teacher school in the Barossa Valley township of Langestal.
She learns the body of her predecessor, Helmut Heinrich, was found in a local vineyard the day before her arrival, two months after he had retired and was supposed to have returned to Adelaide.
Most of the menfolk of Langestal have been interned, and the resultant hostility and mistrust between their families and the rest of the community is palpable.
So...was the old teacher murdered?
Purchase your copy here: https://www.amazon.com.au/German-Teacher-Judy-Gillett-Ferguson/dp/1922527092
29 Mar 2026
Episode 6: ‘The Haunted Chickens of Kapunda?’ with Eliza H.
Eliza is a South Australian Children's Author who works as anurse and is a mum. Her interests are cooking, painting and music. She loves spending time with family and friends, and in her spare time, she loves to write stories and be in nature.
Socials:
Eliza's website: https://elizahutchinson.ampbk.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ELIZA-H-Author/100063985422751/ (https://www.facebook.com/people/ELIZA-H-Author/100063985422751/)
Links:
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Eliza-Hutchinson/author/B0D8TCZJBM
Dymocks: https://www.dymocks.com.au/the-moonlight-fairies-by-eliza-hutchinson-9780646734705 (https://www.dymocks.com.au/the-moonlight-fairies-by-eliza-hutchinson-9780646734705)
Austin Macauley Publishers https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/hutchinsoneliza (https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/hutchinsoneliza)
21 Mar 2026
Episode Five - 'Are You Ready to... Write!!!" - With Trent Moullae
Welcome to episode five of Shelf Employed: TheIndie Self-Publishing Podcast – Allen is still M.I.A., so Cody Davies has gracefully stepped into his glittery shoes to co-host. On this episode, Lee and Cody speak with author Trent Moullae.
A writer from a young age, Trent Moullae has always been fascinated with fantasy. After publishing his first book after high school, Trent has worked meticulously to craft unique worlds in the stories he offers.
The Protector, Vol. 1 and The Protector, Vol. 2 are available in paperback and eBook.
PURCHASE HERE:Square site: https://trent-moullae.square.site/s/shop
Purchase via Amazon. https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Trent-Moullae/author/B0DRW1TCY9 (https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Trent-Moullae/author/B0DRW1TCY9)
Follow Trent on his socials:
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trentjm27/ (https://www.instagram.com/trentjm27/)
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trentjm27 (https://www.threads.com/@trentjm27)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trentjm27/ (https://www.facebook.com/trentjm27/)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trentjm27/videos
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223410005-the-protector-vol-1 (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223410005-the-protector-vol-1)
Wrestling: https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=31326 (https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=31326)
15 Mar 2026
Episode Four: From Page to Screen - with indie author, Portia Stanton-Noble
Welcome to episode 4 of Shelf-Employed: The Indie Publishing Podcast; From Page to Screen - with indie author, Portia Stanton-Noble.
This episode is hosted by Lee Speed, with special guest host Cody Davies. Our special guest author for episode four is Portia Stanton-Noble, an indie murder-mystery-romance author from rural South Australia.
Portia discusses her publishing journey from traditional publishing to Indie publishing, and how one of her books is soon to be a movie. Also, stay until the end to hear Portia’s spooky encounter with a ghost!
#shelfemployed #leespeed #codydavies #portiastantonnoble #authors #podcast
7 Mar 2026
Episode 3 - Recorded live at Gawler Fringe
For episode 3 of Shelf-Employed: The Indie Publishing Podcast, we recorded live at the Gawler Fringe! Our thanks to Alpacaccinos and Twig and Bloom on Murray Street, Gawler, for hosting us, and thanks to all those who came along to listen and be involved. We truly appreciate your support.
In this episode, we talk about famous Gawler authors across various genres; the ghosts and history of the building we recorded within; and the current A.I. scandal involving Romantascy authors.
22 Feb 2026
Episode 2: Allen's Tillers Publishing Journey
In this episode, we hear Allen Tiller's publishing journey, from a low point of a publisher who got EVERYTHING wrong, to self-publishing, and the high point of becoming a best-selling author.
#AllenTiller #selfpublished #indieauthor #paranormal
4 Feb 2026
Episode One: Lee Speed
In our first episode, we discuss what our podcast is about, and what we want it to be, plus Lee Speed Author (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568213357736&__cft__[0]=AZbgrMVXR3N2MYVtYzEu4MLAZz6fyGgIP_bQx2obX_dpAIJYeTG5n08xfbfeB75EdhOtXdhnVjfdWEl3g6UE_0Llfpf5NrT958bNaQaf9s4UaC9NRhsl1qWdAzF1kEJTaPLxgEgjHJfqZ56nMBn9eridCTEzaneFcsOIqAuEeFCqeg&__tn__=-]K-R) tells us about her publishing journey so far!
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