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Big Issue 2025 fiction edition released

The Big Issue Fiction Edition 2025 cover Wednesday, 3 September 2025
The Big Issue has announced the authors chosen for its 21st annual fiction edition. The 2025 edition includes short stories from 11 writers. Stories were selected from more than 863 submissions,...

Booktopia hosts book fair, raises $300,000 for Lifeline

Tuesday, 2 September 2025
Booktopia has raised over $300,000 for Lifeline during the online bookseller's inaugural book fair last week. During 23–24 August, Booktopia opened its Sydney warehouse to the public for the first time...

Neale wins 2025 Janet Frame Prize

Tuesday, 2 September 2025
Ōtepoti Dunedin novelist and poet Emma Neale has won the 2025 Janet Frame Prize, worth NZ$10,000. Neale is a freelance editor for publishers in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, as...

NEA cancels creative writing grants 

Tuesday, 2 September 2025
In the US, the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) 2026 Creative Writing Fellowships have been cancelled, reported Publishers Weekly (PW). The annual endowments have historically offered grants up to...

2025 Grieve Project longlist announced

Tuesday, 2 September 2025
The Hunter Writers’ Centre has announced the longlist for the 2025 Grieve Project, an annual competition for writing on grief and loss. Among longlisted entrants are: Poetry Anne Benjamin for...

Moss, Hess announced as 2025 LYBD ambassadors

a composite image of Tara Moss and Megan Hess, 2025 LYBD ambassadors Tuesday, 2 September 2025
BookPeople has announced authors Tara Moss and Megan Hess as the 2025 adult and children’s author ambassadors, respectively, for this year’s Love Your Bookshop Day (LYBD) campaign. As ambassadors, Moss...

Collicott wins 2025 Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize

A portrait of Emma Collicott Monday, 1 September 2025
Emma Collicott has been named the winner of the 2025 Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize, announced by the Margaret Mahy Estate, Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand and Little Moa. The judging panel...

A&U acquires Milligan’s second novel

Monday, 1 September 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to Shellybanks by Louise Milligan, via Jeanne Ryckmans at Key People Literary Management. Returning to the world of Milligan’s debut Pheasants Nest, Shellybanks centres...

Full program announced for Ubud 2025

Monday, 1 September 2025
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) has announced the full line-up for its 2025 festival program, themed ‘Aham Brahmasmi: I Am The Universe’, which will run 30 October to 2 November...

‘Tentative agreement’ in Anthropic copyright lawsuit 

Monday, 1 September 2025
AI company Anthropic has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement with attorneys representing authors and publishers in a class action lawsuit, reported Publishers Weekly (PW). Anthropic has been charged with illegally using...

Readings 2025 Children’s Fiction Prize

Readings logo Monday, 1 September 2025
Readings has announced the shortlist for the 2025 Readings Children's Fiction Prize. The shortlisted titles are: Big Trouble with Angry Chairs (Lachlann Carter & Douglas Holgate, HGCP) Brightest Wild (Tania...

Readings 2025 Young Adult Prize shortlist

Readings logo Monday, 1 September 2025
Readings has announced the shortlist for the 2025 Readings Young Adult Prize, for the best new contribution to Australian young adult literature. This year’s six shortlisted books are: Aisle Nine...

WestWords Varuna Emerging Writers Residency 2025 recipients

Monday, 1 September 2025
Varuna, the National Writers' House has announced the recipients of the 2025 WestWords Varuna Emerging Writers Residency. The four recipients are: Jasmine Baker for work on multiple projects including poetry,...

Oratia celebrates 25 years, launches Five Oceans imprint

Five Oceans logo Monday, 1 September 2025
Aotearoa New Zealand independent publisher Oratia Media has announced the launch of a new imprint, Five Oceans. The imprint will publish literary nonfiction and children’s books from ‘cultures whose works...

Recommended reads for Father’s Day 

Friday, 29 August 2025
As Father’s Day approaches – one of the busiest times of the year for book sales – Books+Publishing reviews editor Jess Lomas highlights recent reviewer favourites that make perfect gifts...

US publishing sales: ‘modest gains’ in 2024 

Thursday, 28 August 2025
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has announced its final publishing industry sales estimates for 2024. In 2024, total sales ‘rose 4.1%, to $32.5 billion (A$50b)’ from the 1281 publishers...

Ditmar Awards ballot announced

Thursday, 28 August 2025
The Ditmar subcommittee has announced the Ditmar Award ballot for works celebrating Australian science fiction. The shortlisted works include: Best Novel Blood Covenant (Alan Baxter, Cemetery Dance Publications) The Escher...

Northern Territory Literary Awards 2025 shortlists announced

Thursday, 28 August 2025
The Northern Territory Literary Awards 2025 shortlists have been announced. Chosen from over 240 entries, the shortlisted writers are: Brown’s Mart Theatre ($1000) Jada Alberts for ‘Black light’ Ryanna Clayton...

St Joseph’s College Devagiri Library: A door to the future

Thursday, 28 August 2025
With libraries, their work, and free access to information under increasing threat around the world, B+P and the Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office reached out to libraries in other designated cities of...

Roche wins 2025 Moth Short Story Prize

Wednesday, 27 August 2025
The Moth magazine has announced Australian author Clare Roche as the winner of the 2025 Moth Short Story Prize for ‘(Un)Tethered’. Roche will receive €3,000 (A$5376), and ‘(Un)Tethered’ will be...

S&S CEO to step down, launch Simon Six imprint

a portrait of Jonathan Karp Wednesday, 27 August 2025
In the US, Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp has announced he will step down to launch and lead a new imprint, Simon Six, reported Publishers Weekly (PW) yesterday. Karp will...

Danger Awards 2025 shortlists announced

Wednesday, 27 August 2025
The BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival has announced the shortlists for the 2025 Danger Awards. Shortlisted titles in each category are: Debut crime fiction What I Would Do to You...

A&U acquires New Blue Ribbon Cookbook

A portrait of LIz Harfull Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world English rights to The New Blue Ribbon Cookbook by Liz Harfull, in a deal brokered by Fiona Inglis at Curtis Brown. ‘Every year thousands...