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Alarm over Russian publisher arrests 

Thursday, 22 May 2025
The International Publishers Association (IPA) has expressed alarm at reports of more than 10 publishing professionals arrested in Russia ‘in connection to criminal charges of distributing books containing “LGBT propaganda”’....

Amazon announces AI for Audible

Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Audible has announced it will begin offering AI-powered narration and translation to select publishers, reported Publishers Weekly (PW). Over the next few months, publishers will be given options to use narration services...

Production company Somesuch launches publishing imprint

Use the Words you Have cover. Monday, 19 May 2025
In the UK, production company Somesuch has announced the launch of its new publishing imprint, Somesuch Editions. Founder Tim Nash said: ‘As a film production company, storytelling has always been...

Vale Hervé de La Martinière 

Hervé de La Martinière picture. Thursday, 15 May 2025
French publishing entrepreneur Hervé de La Martinière has died. De La Martinière began his career at the Hachette Group, working with some of the publisher’s major imprints before moving to...

Lubrin wins Carol Shields Prize

Lubrin black and white photo. Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Canisia Lubrin is the 2025 winner of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for her novel Code Noir (Soft Skull). Chosen from a shortlist of five, Lubrin receives US$150,000 (A$236,675)...

US Librarian of Congress fired 

Carla Hayden portrait. Monday, 12 May 2025
In the US, the Trump administration has fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, effective 8 May, reported Publishers Weekly (PW). PW also reported that ‘no reason for Hayden's removal was...

Pulitzer Prize winners announced

Pulitzer Prizes Tuesday, 6 May 2025
In the US, the winners of the 2025 Pulitzer Prizes have been announced. The winners in the book categories are: Fiction James (Percival Everett, Mantle) Nonfiction To the Success of...

US fiction writing school launches US$100k prize

The Novelry logo Monday, 5 May 2025
New York-based online fiction writing school The Novelry has launched a US$100,000 (A$155,276) competition, called The Next Big Story. Open to unrepresented adult writers residing in the United States, United...

Nada wins 2025 International Prize for Arabic Fiction 

the logo for the international prize for arabic fiction Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Mohamed Samir Nada has won the 18th International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), worth US$50,000 (A$77,800), for his novel The Prayer of Anxiety (Masciliana). The Prayer of Anxiety was chosen...

Rio de Janeiro named 2025 World Book Capital 

Monday, 28 April 2025
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named Rio de Janeiro as the 2025 World Book Capital. 'UNESCO and the World Book Capital Advisory Committee commended Rio...

2025 Publishing Triangle Awards Winners announced 

The Publishing Triangle logo. Tuesday, 22 April 2025
In the US, the Publishing Triangle, an association of LGBTQ+ people in publishing, has announced winners for the 2025 Publishing Triangle Awards. The awards honour 'the best LGBTQ+ books published...

US tariffs exempt books ‘for now’ 

Tuesday, 8 April 2025
While US President Donald Trump's implementation of new tariffs has impacted a range of countries and goods, ‘at least for now, books have fared well,’ reports Publishers Weekly. 'Since Trump's...

NaNoWriMo shuttered 

nanowrimo logo Monday, 7 April 2025
Nonprofit organisation NaNoWriMo has announced its closure, reports Publishers Weekly. NaNoWriMo interim executive director Kilby Blades announced the closure via YouTube. Publishers Weekly noted that this decision 'follows a period of...

PRH 2024 results: 8.5% sales increase 

PRH logo Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Worldwide sales at Penguin Random House (PRH) increased by 8.5% and profits rose 11.3% in 2024, due to higher book prices, the continuing strength of the audiobook market, and higher...

2025 Dublin Literary Award shortlist announced 

dublin literary Award Thursday, 27 March 2025
Six novels have been shortlisted for the 2025 Dublin Literary Award. The prize, which is the 'world's most valuable annual prize for a single work of fiction published in English'...

2025 Windham-Campbell recipients announced 

Tuesday, 25 March 2025
The recipients of the 2025 Windham-Campbell Prizes, each worth US$175,000 (A$278,529), have been announced, reports Publishers Weekly. This year’s winning writers are Sigrid Nunez (US) and Anne Enright (Ireland) for...

Emma Lowe named LBF director 

a portrait of Emma Lowe Monday, 24 March 2025
In the UK, Emma Lowe has been announced as the new director of the London Book Fair (LBF). Former director Adam Ridgway was appointed last year to succeed Gareth Rapley....

Spotify launches indie author platform 

Thursday, 20 March 2025
Streaming platform Spotify has announced a new short-form genre publishing initiative 'specifically targeting self-published authors', reports Publishers Weekly. 'This is a global program, and any author with an English-language short-form...

Fagan wins 2025 Gordon Burn Prize

a portrait of Jenni Fagan Thursday, 13 March 2025
In the UK, Jenni Fagan has won the 2025 Gordon Burn Prize, worth £10,000 (A$20,566), for Ootlin (Hutchinson Heinemann). Selected from a shortlist of five that included Lucia Osborne-Crowley’s The Lasting...

Nero Gold, Audie award winners announced

the book cover for Maurice and Marilyn Thursday, 6 March 2025
In London, Maurice and Maralyn: An Extraordinary True Story of Shipwreck, Survival and Love by Sophie Elmhirst (Vintage), has won the 2024 Nero Gold Prize, worth £30,000 (AU$60,948), reports the...

London Book Fair: AI, copyright, young readers

London book fair Tuesday, 4 March 2025
The London Book Fair (LBF) will run this year 11–13 March at Olympia London. Publishers Weekly (PW) reports the fair expects to host more than 30,000 attendees and 845 exhibitors...