Australian Enterprise Awards 2026 | 44 The power of the story continues to grip readers all over the world, with books having the capacity to shape minds, reflect experiences, and cover the full range of emotions – even enhancing quality of life when that perfect read is uncovered. Recognising the hold these pages can have over us, Western Australia’s KMD Books seeks to publish engaging works and memoirs by entrepreneurs, leaders, and creatives, as well as publishing children’s books through Little K, one of its divisions. We caught up with Karen Weaver, one of the co-owners here, to find out more. Founded in 2016 to amplify the stories that matter and share the ideas that can shape the future, the works KMD Books publishes span genres such as personal development and memoir through to business and legacy storytelling, written by authors ranging from first-timers with something to say through to established leaders and global figures looking to boost their impact and share their insight. What KMD Books offers all of these authors is a full ecosystem for their work – from support developing the initial manuscript to tailored launch strategies and everything in between. These includes editorial and design services and producing an audiobook. Outside of this, Karen explained: “Beyond traditional publishing, we also create premium opportunities for authors through collaborations, anthologies, speaking platforms, events, and multimedia extensions, ensuring stories live beyond the page.” Partners and co-owners Karen Weaver and Robyn Verall make all of this possible, leveraging their complementary strengths – Karen’s extensive publishing expertise and Robyn’s sharp editorial lens, to name just a couple – to combine heartlead storytelling with a results-driven commercial strategy. For this duo, it is not about publishing books just to put them on shelves, it is about creating legacies and driving a real impact. To ensure it reflects these aims, KMD Books works closely with authors across the entire lifecycle of their book, helping to make their work clear and engaging without ever losing its authentic voice. A big part of how the publisher does this is by remaining highly selective, especially compared to the big-name, volumedriven publishers operating in this space. This lead to a reputation for transparency and consistency across every release, with all of its books being of an equally high standard. “We choose projects that align with our values – stories that matter, voices that contribute meaningfully, and books that have something lasting to say.” This reflects something bigger within KMD Books, which does not measure success in sales – although it could, with numerous Amazon bestsellers under its belt – but rather through the influence and fulfilment of the readers. In this way, the publisher is guided by the belief that publishing is an act of stewardship, and by driving leadership, partnerships, and value across this space, it is writing the next chapter of inspiration publishing and the press, both across the APAC region and even further afield. Diving into some examples of its published works, a standout is Hear Us Roar – a powerful series bringing together unique voices as they share their personal journeys, the purpose of which is to inspire and uplift readers. Other choice examples are the captivating autobiography of actress and philanthropist Barbara Nielsen (now McNaught), and the selection of great children’s books published under Little K. As impressive as these titles are, they are just the beginning for KMD Books, which is looking to expand its storytelling prowess this year though Genuis Zone Films, marking its first foray into the world of documentary film and visual storytelling. On this, Karen commented: “Through Genius Zone Films, we are transforming selected books and original concepts into premium documentary content, bridging publishing, education, and film in a way that amplifies impact and longevity.” On the back of this, there is a sense of excitement and optimism at KMD Books for 2026 and beyond, with the publisher remaining committed to creating visibility and platforms for its authors, taking their stories beyond the page and their voices further than they ever thought possible. In closing, Karen told us: “We are excited about the future of the press, our evolution into multi-platform storytelling, and the continued privilege of walking alongside authors as they turn stories into impact.” Reflecting on what makes this inspirational publishing house in Australia fitting of a place in our Australian Enterprise Awards 2026, KMD Books’ authority across everything from memoir and legacy publishing to thought-leadership publishing and nurturing novel author visibility and storytelling platforms sees it stand as a narrative beacon of in today’s world. More on its books and authors can be found at the link below. Contact: Karen Weaver Company: KMD Books Web Address: www.kmdbooks.com Best Inspirational Book Publisher 2026 AIM-Dec25228
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