Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

Image. Advertisement:

Free >

Williams to leave SWF after 2022 festival

Friday, 18 March 2022
Sydney Writers’ Festival (SWF) artistic director Michael Williams has announced that the upcoming festival, to be held 16–22 May, will be his last. Williams was appointed to the role of...

ABA conference 2022 program announced

Friday, 18 March 2022
The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) has announced the first guests for its two-day conference, to be held in person 12–13 June at the the Sheraton Grand Hyde Park in Sydney....

Vale Blaise van Hecke

Thursday, 17 March 2022
Blaise van Hecke, co-founder and publisher of Melbourne-based Busybird Publishing, died suddenly on Sunday, 13 March. She was 53 years old. Small Press Network (SPN) general manager Tim Coronel writes:...

The Signal Line

Thursday, 17 March 2022
Brothers Geo and Wes are testing their relationship now that their parents have passed away. Geo and Wes rarely agree on anything, especially not the sale of the Hobart family...

Personnel developments at Thames & Hudson Australia

Thursday, 17 March 2022
Thames & Hudson Australia (T&H) have announced a number of new appointments that will support underpin the company’s next stage of growth. Rick Wiebusch fills a newly created position as...

Alex and the Alpacas Ride Again

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
After saving the world from Kiala, the ancient spirit of destruction, Alex longs for more adventure—and the chance to feel special again. Compared to riding through the Tasmanian wilderness on...

Zombie Diaries #1: Apocalypse Cow!

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
The first book in a fast-paced comedy-adventure series set in a town called Buttburgher where all the adults start turning into zombie cows! Jimmy, Daisy and Hooey will have to...

Bologna Prize shortlist: EK Books

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Publisher Anouska Jones introduces health and wellbeing press Exisle Publishing's children's imprint EK Books. How and why did Exisle's children's imprint EK begin its life? Exisle Publishing began 30 years...

Bologna Prize shortlist: Magabala Books

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Publisher Rachel Bin Salleh introduces Australia's leading First Nations press Magabala Books. How and why did Magabala's children's division begin its life? Magabala has been publishing children’s pictures books since...

Bologna Prize shortlist: Affirm Press

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Children's publisher Tash Besliev intoduces Melbourne independent Affirm Press. How and why did the Affirm Press children's division begin its life? After successfully publishing across many other categories, Affirm Press...

So much to share

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Ahead of this year's Bologna Children's Book Fair, running 21–24 March, we are thrilled to share the latest children's and YA titles from Australian publishers in this issue of Think...

Aus YA shows its range

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
From horror to fantasy with some wit and mystery along the way, Australian YA shows its range in several recent deals. Two recent acquisitions by Australian publishers present a similar...

Aus middle-grade golden age continues

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Australia’s ‘golden age’ of middle-grade fiction doesn’t look it's ending any time soon, with several high-profile fiction acquisitions in the age bracket. Fans of Amelia Mellor around the world will...

Picture this

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
From a nonfiction book about how trees talk to a slam poetry adaptation, Australian publishers are pitching some picture books with a difference at Bologna this year. Jordan Collins’ debut...

In Bologna? Pop by the Australian stand

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
If you’re on the ground in Bologna for this year’s fair, pop by the Australian stand, Hall 25, Stand B78. The Australian Publishers Association stand will be managed by Rome-based...

Serious about series

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Australian publishers will be pitching several new series at Bologna—from some well established names, as well as emerging authors. In middle-grade, Penguin Random House Australia has a ‘charming’ new series...

Australian Book Design Awards 2022 longlists announced

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
The longlists for the 2022 Australian Book Design Awards, presented by the Australian Book Designers Association (ABDA), have been announced. The longlisted titles in some of the categories are: Best...

Varuna Pitch Me! inaugural fellows announced

Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Varuna has announced the two recipients of the inaugural Pitch Me! Fellowship, established to connect Australian writers with the publishing industry. The two successful applicants, chosen from 39 submissions, are:...

Floods devastate Lismore Library, Book Warehouse

Tuesday, 15 March 2022
Lismore Library and the Book Warehouse Lismore have both been badly affected by the floods that have devastated the Northern Rivers area in New South Wales. Lismore Library has had...

WBN published Thursday this week

Tuesday, 15 March 2022
Due to the public holiday in Victoria on Monday, 14 March, the Weekly Book Newsletter (WBN) will be published on Thursday, 17 March this week. Classifieds and job advertisements for inclusion...

Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon

Tuesday, 15 March 2022
By the new Australian Children’s Laureate, Gabrielle Wang.  Meet Zadie Ma, a girl who writes magical stories that sometimes come true. Zadie’s dearest wish is to have a dog of...

International Booker 2022 longlist announced

Friday, 11 March 2022
The longlist for the 2022 International Booker Prize, worth £50,000 (A$90k), has been announced. The longlisted titles are: Cursed Bunny (Bora Chung, trans by Anton Hur, Honford Star) After The Sun...

Penguin Literary Prize 2022 shortlist announced

Friday, 11 March 2022
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has announced the shortlist for the 2022 Penguin Literary Prize. The shortlisted manuscripts are: 'On a Bright Hillside in Paradise' by Annette Higgs, about a...

ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize shortlist announced

Friday, 11 March 2022
The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) and HarperCollins publishing division HQ have announced the shortlist for the 2022 ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize for an unpublished manuscript. The winner will receive...