Publisher of the Niche,
the Oddball,
the Unsettling...

We are a small press publisher operating out of Melbourne, Australia. Our current and forthcoming publications include science fiction and horror titles, management guides, single-author collections, novels and novelettes, and funny cat books.

Current Titles

Conversations With My Cat

What does Schrödinger’s Cat have to do with a chewed computer cord? How do you fit work around a cat’s napping schedule? Why do cats change their minds as soon as you open the door for them?

The Dark Man, By Referral and Less Pleasant Tales

An abused child encounters the local urban legend – the monstrous Dark Man – and finds himself querying the definition of ‘monster’.

Latest News

Chuck McKenzie: Upcoming Events

Daft Notions is scheduled to sell their titles at the following upcoming Australian events in 2024, with author Chuck McKenzie on hand to sign books.

Chuck McKenzie Interviewed on 3CR

Photos from the launch of 'Conversations With My Cat' at Mary Martin Bookshop, Queen Victoria Markets, Melbourne.

Launch of Conversations with My Cat

Photos from the launch of 'Conversations With My Cat' at Mary Martin Bookshop, Queen Victoria Markets, Melbourne.

'Sup? Feed me!

#cat #catsareassholes #slenderman #boogeyman #skinwalker #stoopid

SUPANOVA 2024!

All done and dusted. Sold many books, and even managed to sneak in an OG Master cosplay on Day 2 of @supanovaexpo Melbourne (for reasons, with a further pic to be posted!). My tablemate, Sarah from All In The Edit, got to chat to a bunch of people about her editing and proofreading services. The giant banner of MacReady attracted a huge amount of attention, as I'd hoped, and some of the interactions with readers and/or cat enthusiasts alike prompted me to make the following list (with genuine numbers reported):

* Number of people who said they'd spotted the cat banner from the far end of the pavillion, and just *had* to cone over: 197
* No. people who stopped solely to talk about their cats: 126
* No. people who talked to me specifically about their ginger cats: 52
* No. people who showed me videos/ pics of their cats: 37
* No. people who actually *screamed* 'OMG A CAT!' when they spotted the banner: 5
* No. people who asked if I had any dog-related books: 3
* No. people who were more interested in my horror collection than my cat book: 41
* No. people who assumed Conversations With My Cat was a nonfiction book about how to communicate with cats: 1
* No. people who stopped solely because I was cosplaying The Master: 12
* No. people who were genuinely annoyed that I hadn't brought MacReady along, and to whom I had to explain that I couldn't force him to do a damned thing: 23

All in all, it was a brilliant convention. Can't wait for the next convention: Continuum 16, May 17-19, Melbourne.

#melbnova #supanovaexpo #supanova2024 #popcultureconvention #chuckmckenzie #ripleymckenzie #macreadymckenzie #daftnotions #conversationswithmycat @conversations.with.my.cat #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookseller #author #catlover #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catbook #catoftheday #horrorstories #horrorfiction #horrorauthor @its.allintheedit #allintheedit #continuumconvention #continuum16 #doctorwho #doctorwhocosplay #doctorwhocosplayer #iamthemaster #whovian

SUPANOVA UPDATE!

Exciting news (for us), as the Daft Notions / All in the Edit display for Supanova Melbourne has been shifted to table 162a (see pic) in Artists Alley, which is far more accessible, so you won't need to fight the crowds quite so hard to visit us! And since we now have so much extra space, we've installed a Kitten Kong-sized MacReady to accompany us.

So. Drop by to see us sometime over the weekend, grab a copy of Conversations With My Cat or The Dark Man, By Referral and Less Pleasant Tales (or both!), ask about All In The Edit's editing and proofreading services, get a pic taken with MacReady, and be sure to tag us on Instagram at @chuck.mckenzie.author or @conversations.with.my.cat
Or we'll send Ripley round 'to have a word'.

#conversationswithmycat #chuckmckenzie #macreadymckenzie #ripleymckenzie #daftnotions #allintheedit @its.allintheedit @supanovaexpo #supanovaexpo #supanova2024 #melbnova #catlover #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #talkingcat #cats_of_world #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #horrorstories #horrorbooks #editingservices #proofreading #kittenkong #giantcat

SIGNING EVENT!
I'll be at Supanova Melbourne this coming weekend (April 6-7) selling and signing copies of Conversations With My Cat and The Dark Man, By Referral and Less Pleasant Tales. MacReady will only be there in effigy, but he has helpfully pre-signed copies of Conversations. So be sure to swing past the Daft Notions table (#167) in the Indie Press Zone, just near Prints Paradise. Ripley says that if I don't make decent sales, I needn't come home afterwards :/

@conversations.with.my.cat @supanovaexpo #conversationswithmycat #supanovaexpo #supanova2024 #melbnova #macreadymckenzie #ripleymckenzie #chuckmckenzie #daftnotions #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #horrorbooks #horrorstories #catlover #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #talkingcat

PREEEEE-SENTING!
CHUCK MCKENZIE!
THE! BRAVEST! MAN! ON! EARTH!

I shall of course be available for interviews regarding my astounding act of courageous manliness. You can find me in Bed 12, Ward 15.

#chuckmckenzie #conversationswithmycat #macreadymckenzie #ripleymckenzie #catlover #cats_of_day #catsofinstagram #cat #cats #crazycat #bellyrubs #liontaming #gingercat #brave #ouch #manliness

Finally back from Clunes Book Town Festival, where copies of Conversations With My Cat sold like hot kibble. The co-author was unable to attend, due to clashes with his napping schedule, but he allowed us to use his likeness (as seen here), along with helpfully pre-signing stock.

Next signing event: Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Expo Melbourne, April 6-7.

@clunesbooktown #clunesbooktownfestival #clunesbooktown #conversationswithmycat @conversations.with.my.cat #daftnotions #macreadymckenzie #ripleymckenzie #catlover #viral #catslover #cat #cats #pets #kitty #funnycat #gatto #meow #catoftheday #funnycat #crazycat #bestcat #supanovaexpo #supanova2024 @supanovaexpo

Clunes Book Town Festival Day 3. The author, the editor, dark fiction author Caroline Angel, and publisher extraordinaire Lindy Cameron from Clan Destine Press. It's been great fun meeting up with new people and old friends (and fiends).

@clunesbooktown #clunesbooktownfestival #clunesbooktown #clunes #chuckmckenzie #daftnotions @its.allintheedit #allintheedit #conversationswithmycat #thedarkmanbyreferral @conversations.with.my.cat @clandestinepress #clandestinepress #lindycameron @loucam44 #carolineangel

Clunes Book Town Festival Day 2. A great day of trade for us, but this is the one pic I had a chance to take today, featuring the wonderful author Rebecca Fraser. To those planning to visit Clunes tomorrow (Sunday), be aware that Rebecca and a bunch of other fantastic authors and traders are set up at the old bluestone church just around the corner from the town centre, rather than in the central hub of the festival. So - be sure to visit the church as well!

#clunesbooktownfestival #clunesbooktown #clunes @clunesbooktown @its.allintheedit #chuckmckenzie #allintheedit #bookfestival #ballarat #regionalaustralia #regionalvictoria #conversationswithmycat #thedarkmanbyreferral #horror #cats #macreadymckenzie #ripleymckenzie #bookseller #bookselling #bookseverywhere