Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Have you secured your Think Australian advertising?

Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Bookings are now open for Think Australian Bologna — secure your advertising before bookings close. Showcase your titles directly to international rights professionals through Think Australian’s subscriber base and global distribution...

Fitzroy Writers Festival 2026 program announced

Fitzroy Writers Festival logo. Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Yarra Libraries has released the program for this year’s Fitzroy Writers Festival, running on 18 April. To be held in inner Melbourne’s Fitzroy Town Hall, sessions are set to cover...

A&U acquires Tasker’s debut novel

Photo of Michael Caleb Tasker. Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to Michael Caleb Tasker’s Just Like the Night, in a deal brokered by Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group. The novel follows...

Carnegie Medal 2026 shortlists released

Monday, 16 March 2026
In the UK, the shortlists for this year’s Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Carnegie Medal for Illustration have been announced. The shortlisted titles in each category are: The 2026...

A&U acquires Davis’s “The Modern Dad”

Photo of author Louis Davis. Monday, 16 March 2026
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to the nonfiction title, The Modern Dad, by Aotearoa New Zealand author Louis Davis. The Modern Dad provides advice about how to...

CJZ options Ayliffe’s “Dark Desert Road” for TV

Cover of “Dark Desert Road”. Monday, 16 March 2026
Tim Ayliffe’s first standalone novel, Dark Desert Road (Echo), has been optioned by Australian TV production company CJZ. Dark Desert Road follows police officer Kit McCarthy, who hasn’t seen her twin...

Writing Australia seeks publisher to operate black&write!

black&write! logo. Monday, 16 March 2026
Writing Australia is looking for a delivery partner in the publishing sector to operate the black&write! fellowship program. The black&write! program has been managed by the State Library of Queensland...

Text acquires MacFie’s debut novel 

Photo of author Stephanie MacFie. Monday, 16 March 2026
Text Publishing has acquired world rights to Stephanie MacFie’s debut novel Once Upon a Breakfast Show. Set in the high-pressure world of breakfast radio, this “funny and wise novel about love and...

Apollo Bay WORDfest 2026 line-up announced

Apollo Bay WORDfest logo. Monday, 16 March 2026
The Apollo Bay WORDfest has released the program for its 2026 festival, to be held in the Victorian coastal town from Friday 24 July to Sunday 26 July. Authors scheduled...

Vale Patricia Clarke

Patricia Clarke around 1955. Thursday, 12 March 2026
Writer, historian and former journalist Patricia Clarke has died, aged 99. National Library of Australia Publishing writes: Dr Patricia Clarke OAM FAHA is the author of over a dozen books...

Penguin Literary Prize 2026 shortlist announced

Five people sitting on chairs on a stage Thursday, 12 March 2026
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Penguin Literary Prize. The shortlisted manuscripts are: “An Allergy” by Sunil Badami (Sydney, NSW) – “‘An Allergy’ explores...

Book Club – this month’s reads

Thursday, 12 March 2026
Looking for your next great group read? Our monthly Book Club rounds up new release titles perfect for sparking conversation and perhaps even some debate. From compelling fiction to thought-provoking...

Manly Writers’ Festival announces 2026 program 

Manly Writers' Festival logo. Thursday, 12 March 2026
The Manly Writers’ Festival has released its program, which will run from 19 to 22 March 2026, bringing together almost 90 writers, journalists, historians, thinkers and musicians, while examining “how...

Stella Prize 2026 longlist announced

Covers of the Stella Prize longlist titles on a green background Thursday, 12 March 2026
The longlist for the $60,000 Stella Prize for women and non-binary writers has been announced. The longlisted books are: KONTRA (Eunice Andrada, Giramondo) The Rot (Evelyn Araluen, UQP) Memorial Days...

HarperCollins acquires new Rogers novel

Photo of Megan Rogers. Wednesday, 11 March 2026
HarperCollins has acquired ANZ rights to The Clue Keeper, a new novel by Megan Rogers, in a deal brokered by Benython Oldfield at Zeitgeist Agency. The Clue Keeper follows Ginnie...

Alliance Distribution Services: “A day at ADS”

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
In the lead-up to the 2026 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs), Books+Publishing is inviting the event's major sponsors to share little-known facts about their organisations, their top tips for booksellers and...

S&S acquires world rights to Barry quartet

Photo of Amy Barry. Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Simon & Schuster Australia has acquired world rights to The Northshine Quartet, a new contemporary series by Amy Barry, in a deal brokered by Sarah Younger at Nancy Yost Literary...

Sydney Writers’ Festival program announced

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
The program for this year’s Sydney Writers’ Festival, running from 17–24 May, has been announced. The festival is hosting 200+ in-person and live-streamed events featuring 39 international guests and over...

Nominations open for ABIA Hall of Fame Pixie O’Harris Award

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
The Pixie O’Harris Award recognises dedication to Australian children’s literature. It is awarded to publishers, editors, creators, booksellers, publicists and other industry representatives who have worked consistently in the field...

Booking coordinator, Melbourne

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Booked Out Agency Booked Out Speakers Agency is looking for a Booking Coordinator to handle speaker bookings 4 days per week. The Booking Coordinator will be responsible for arranging public...

Sales co-ordinator (entry level), New South Wales

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Bloomsbury Publishing Pty Ltd We’re excited to offer an enthusiastic and highly organised Academic & Professional Coordinator to join Bloomsbury Australia immediately! This entry-level role is ideal for someone eager...

Editorial assistant, Sydney

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Murdoch Books Murdoch Books, Australia’s market-leading lifestyle publisher and a division of Allen & Unwin, is seeking a full time Editorial Assistant based in Crows Nest, Sydney. You’ll support our...

Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize 2025 shortlist released

Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize logo. Tuesday, 10 March 2026
The shortlist for the 2025 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize has been announced. The 8 shortlisted stories, chosen from more than 500 entries, are: “Many Small Violences” by Arden Baker “Two...

Junior Book Club – this month’s reads

Friday, 6 March 2026
Searching for your next great read to share with kids? Our Junior Book Club highlights new titles each month that are perfect for classrooms, libraries and family reading time. From...

No newsletter on Monday

Friday, 6 March 2026
There will be no Books+Publishing newsletter on Monday, 9 March, due to the Labour Day public holiday in Victoria. The next Books+Publishing newsletter will be published Tuesday, 10 March. The...