sleeper / noun 2. a timber, concrete or steel beam forming part of a railway track, serving as a foundation or support for the rails. 7. Colloquial a. someone or something that unexpectedly achieves success or fame. b. a book... which has slow but constant sales. 8. A spy who is allowed to carry on a normal life sometimes for years before being requested to undertake any espionage.

Macquarie dictionary, 3rd edition

July/August 2008 – Welcome to the Sleepers site

Sleepers run book-related events and publish books, including the annual and – I don't think we're pushing it to call it – critically-acclaimed Sleepers Almanac. We are looking for manuscripts! We are excited by Australia's new and established authors!

Sleepers Almanac No. 5 Submissions Now Closed

Thanks everyone for submitting to the next edition of the Sleepers Almanac. We're up to our eyeballs in reading, and will be getting back to people soon.

Winter Salon Series Podcasts

If you missed the three winter Salons in June, featuring Miles Franklin winner Steven Carroll, author of acclaimed novel Bird Sophie Cunningham, or Radio National's Ramona Koval, then you can now listen to the podcasts!

  • Louise Swinn interviews Steven Carroll Thursday June 5, 2008. Download podcast.

  • Louise Swinn interviews Sophie Cunningham Thursday June 12, 2008. Podcast coming soon

  • Zoe Dattner interviews Ramona Koval Thursday June 19, 2008. Download podcast.

    Almanac Author Gets a Double Deal with Picador

    Karen Hitchcock, who has had three stories appear in Almanacs, has just been signed up for not one book, but two! A book of short stories and a novel will be forthcoming in the not-too-far-off future. Congratulations Karen.

    Almanac Author Signed up to Scribe

    Patrick Cullen has signed a deal with Scribe for a work of fiction all of his own. Huge congrats to Patrick. We can't wait to get our sticky hands on it.

    Check out our bookstore for special prices

    Get some Christmas shopping out of the way while you're here. All Sleepers books are available at special prices when you buy them in packs. So head to our bookshop now to check out the very good deals on Almanacs, Conceived on a Tram and Toast.

    Sleepers T-shirts for Sale!

    "When in doubt, have two guys come through the door with guns." So said the crime writing pioneer Raymond Chandler. We thought that was so witty we put it on a T-shirt!. Only $20, and available in navy, at small and medium sizes only (sorry big people! Will order more if there's a big demand for them).

    Sleepers is proud to be a member of SPUNC: the Small Press Underground Networking Community

    SPUNC is a growing organisation of members from Small Presses all around Australia. To find out more, and to join, go to www.spunc.com.au

    If On a Winter's Night a Sleeper, by Casey Benetto

    Here's a little treat for those of you who have read the second Sleepers Almanac. This song was written by Casey Benetto in response to that Almanac, way back in 2006.