News | Books+Publishing

Courtney Peppernell recommends

Tuesday, 27 January 2026
The last Australian book I read and loved was Black River by Ruby Jean Cottle. It’s deeply atmospheric and has a mystery and slow-burn tension that kept me turning pages....

Courtney Peppernell on “The Last Poem”

Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Sydney-based poet Courtney Peppernell is known for her bestselling poetry collections, including Pillow Thoughts and Watering the Soul. Her debut novel, The Last Poem, marks a move into long-form narrative...

IPA launches Freedom of Expression Defenders Award

Tuesday, 27 January 2026
The International Publishers Association (IPA) has launched the inaugural Freedom of Expression Defenders Award, which “aims to recognise people, companies, organisations or coalitions who are promoting the freedom of expression,...

RMIT surveys book industry professionals

Tuesday, 27 January 2026
RMIT academics in the Master of Writing and Publishing program are researching the impact of postgraduate writing and publishing programs on the contemporary book industry and industry futures. As part...

Publishers, writers among Australia Day Honours

Tuesday, 27 January 2026
A number of authors, publishers and literary workers have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours. Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division...

Waterstones’s sales up 7% in 2025 financial year

Thursday, 22 January 2026
In the UK, Waterstones has reported a 7% increase in annual sales for the financial year ending 3 May 2025, reports the Bookseller. Sales were up from £528.4 million (A$1.05...

Hazel Rowley Fellowship shortlist announced

Thursday, 22 January 2026
Nine Australian writers have been shortlisted for this year’s $20,000 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship. Della Rowley, sister of the late biographer Hazel Rowley, said, “We had a record number of...

Local authors feature in UK and US shortlists

Thursday, 22 January 2026
Clark recognised on Duff Cooper shortlist In the UK, Oxford-based Australian historian Christopher Clark is among the finalists in the 2025 Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize. The prize recognises the...

Writing Australia announces 2026 VIPs

Thursday, 22 January 2026
Writing Australia has announced the 12 international publishing professionals participating in the 2026 Visiting International Publishers (VIPs) program. They will attend business meetings, networking events, industry forums, festival events and panel...

Literary Hub lists ‘best book covers of the decade’

Wednesday, 21 January 2026
In the US, Literary Hub (LH) has published its choice of the nation's best book covers of the past decade. The list draws on LH’s annual best book covers of the...

Christmas survey deadline extended

Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Thank you to all the booksellers and publishers who have responded to our annual Christmas survey. We have extended the deadline for submissions to close of business on Monday, 26...

No Daily Monday 26 January

Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Due to the public holiday, there will be no Daily newsletter Monday, 26 January.

Survey of creative industries’ working conditions launched

Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Creative Workplaces has launched the Creative Workplaces Survey, a national research project to build the first comprehensive picture of working conditions across Australia’s creative industries. Created by the Australian Government...

A&U acquires book based on “The Inventors” series

Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Allen & Unwin has acquired world rights to a book based on the television documentary series The First Inventors, which was written and directed by Larissa Behrendt. The First Inventors...

Libraro and Hachette UK launch £50,000 “reader-led” prize

Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Hachette UK and community-driven digital platform Libraro have launched a “reader-led” prize that aims “to discover the next big English-language fiction author,” reported the Bookseller yesterday. The winner is set...

Jones retires from Abbey’s

Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Bookseller Lindy Jones retired from her role at Abbey’s Bookshop on Friday, announced the Sydney-based bookstore. Abbey’s noted on Instagram that Jones’s retirement comes “after two and a half decades...

Claims of hypocrisy levelled over AWW as Abdel-Fattah invitation reissued

Monday, 19 January 2026
The new Adelaide Festival Board has invited Randa Abdel-Fattah to speak at the 2027 Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) and apologised “unreservedly for the harm the Adelaide Festival Corporation has caused...

Cengage, Hachette seek to join AI copyright suit against Google

Monday, 19 January 2026
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has announced that educational publisher Cengage Group and Hachette Book Group have initiated a move to represent publishers in In Re Google Generative AI...

Writing Australia announces North America Publishers’ Program delegates

Monday, 19 January 2026
Writing Australia, the literary arm of Creative Australia, has announced the participants of the North America Publishers’ Program. The delegates and their publishing houses are: Chren Byng, Hardie Grant Emma Dorph,...

Mildura Writers Festival director, board changes

Monday, 19 January 2026
The Mildura Writers Festival has announced the appointment of Finley Japp as the new festival director, replacing co-founder Donata Carazza who has been director for the past 5 years. Born...

Wiley acquires Judd’s debut

Monday, 19 January 2026
Wiley has acquired world rights to Caitlin Judd’s nonfiction title Good Girl, Goodbye: Rewrite Your Story, Reclaim Your Power, Build a Life You Love. According to the publisher, Good Girl,...

Creative Australia announces latest funding round

Monday, 19 January 2026
Literature organisations and individuals have received $10.6 million for 212 projects across dance, music, theatre, literature, First Nations, experimental and community arts in Creative Australia’s latest funding round. The literature...