Where Stories Check In
Our Story, Our Craft...
Ink Hotel Creative Press is an independent Australian studio devoted to Narrative Storytelling, Historical Fiction and Literary Prose, Archives, Poetry, and Commissioned Works.
Founded by writer J.G. Balkin, Ink Hotel was born from a deep love of history - especially the rich character of old Queensland, Australian heritage, pop culture, sport, and the family legacies that shaped who we are.
We exist to preserve, reimagine, and celebrate the stories of individuals and communities that might otherwise fade with time.
Our work moves between the imagined and the remembered, from historical fiction and narrative prose to poetry and archival projects.
Each piece is crafted with authenticity, care, and respect for the people and places at its heart.
Ink Hotel also commissions original writing for individuals, families, and organisations...from personal poetry tributes and legacy books to heritage essays and sporting histories.
Every commission is approached as a work of art...researched, written, and presented to endure.
At Ink Hotel, storytelling is a form of preservation - a way to honour the past, celebrate the present, and inspire what comes next.
Ink Hotel Creative Press…preserving Australia’s stories through words, history, and heart.
What We Create
Narrative Storytelling
Historical Fiction & Archives
Historical Fiction & Archives
From imagination to memory.
We craft stories that capture the Australian spirit-rich with character, place, and emotion. Whether through novels, short stories, or essays, our work explores heritage, resilience, and the ties that bind us.
Historical Fiction & Archives
Historical Fiction & Archives
Historical Fiction & Archives
Preserving the past, reimagining its voice.
Ink Hotel brings history to life through archival storytelling and historical fiction, blending research and narrative craft to honour the people and moments that shaped Australia.
Poetry & Prose
Historical Fiction & Archives
Publications & Projects
Words that move, remember, and inspire.
From published collections to bespoke verses, our poetry and prose celebrate the language of place and belonging...capturing emotion, memory, and meaning in every line.
Publications & Projects
Publications & Projects
Publications & Projects
Ink Hotel Creative Press originals.
Our independent works include The Changi Surf Club, The Broncos Anthology, and upcoming collections exploring sport, history, and Australian identity through storytelling and verse.
Commissioned Works
Publications & Projects
Commissioned Works
Your story, beautifully told.
We create commissioned writing for individuals, families, and organisations...poetry tributes that preserve your story for generations. Every piece is written with authenticity, respect, and craft.
Legacy & Archives
Publications & Projects
Commissioned Works
Ink Hotel Creative Press curates and preserves writers’ estates, family legacies, community
histories, and cultural archives from
manuscripts and memoirs to digital
photographs, documents, and historic collections.
Let's Tell Your Story...
Words that preserve, honour, and endure.
Ink Hotel transforms memories, and archives into stories that live on .
THE CHANGI SURF CLUB
A story of courage, camaraderie, and the Australian spirit. Read early extracts from this upcoming Ink Hotel project in The Writers Room.