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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”’....

Transit Lounge acquires Ouston’s Mine

Adam Ouston headshot. Thursday, 22 May 2025
Transit Lounge has acquired ANZ rights to author Adam Ouston’s second novel, Mine, via Martin Shaw at Shaw Literary. According to Shaw, Mine has been composed in one complete sentence. The...

Big Day of Books Perth program announced

Perth Big Day of Books. Thursday, 22 May 2025
ABC Radio, Fremantle Press, UWA Publishing, Magabala Books and Boffins Books have announced the program for the Big Day of Books Perth. 'When the Perth Writers Festival was postponed, Fremantle...

Raisin wins Romantic Novel of the Year Award 

a portrait of Rebecca Raisin Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Perth-based writer Rebecca Raisin has won the Contemporary Romance Novel Award for her book A Love Letter to Paris (Boldwood) in the 2025 Romantic Novel of the Year Awards. Chosen...

Pantera acquires Bridges’ book on perimenopause 

a portrait of Michelle Bridges Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Pantera Press has acquired The Perimenopause Method from Michelle Bridges, via Joseph Hanrahan at Profile Talent Management. According to the publisher, The Perimenopause Method is a ‘comprehensive and holistic guide’...

Purcell appointed The Nile head of books Australia 

a portrait of John Purcell Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Online bookseller The Nile has appointed John Purcell as head of books – Australia, joining Stacey Collins, who was recently promoted to head of books – New Zealand. Purcell was...

digiDirect acquires James Bennett 

James Bennett Logo Wednesday, 21 May 2025
The digiDirect Group, owner of Booktopia, has acquired Australian library supplier James Bennett from US library supplier Baker & Taylor. digiDirect Group chair and CEO Shant Kradjian said: ‘We are...

A&U acquires The Grade Cricketer book 

a portrait of Sam Perry and Ian Higgins Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to The Grade Cricketer: Alphas, Champs and Chop Kings, a new nonfiction title from Sam Perry and Ian Higgins. Since debuting on Twitter...

Emma Pei Yin on ‘When Sleeping Women Wake’ 

Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Canberra-based, British-born Hong Kong-Chinese writer and editor Emma Pei Yin’s debut novel, When Sleeping Women Wake (Hachette, July), is set in 1940s Hong Kong and follows three women whose lives...

Emma Pei Yin recommends 

Tuesday, 20 May 2025
I have been so deep in research for When Sleeping Women Wake that I haven’t read much Australian fiction over the past few years. The most memorable Australian fiction I...

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...

NZSA 2025 Youth Mentorships announced

New Zealand Society of Authors logo. Tuesday, 20 May 2025
The New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa has announced the recipients of the NZSA 2025 Youth Mentorship Programme. The four secondary school students selected for...

Enamoured Books opens in Auckland 

enamoured books logo Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Enamoured Books, Aotearoa New Zealand's first dedicated romance bookshop, opened in Auckland in May of 2025. Founder Ruby Wallace spoke with Books+Publishing about her vision for the shop. Why did you...

Le wins NSW Literary Book of the Year Award

36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem by Nam Le cover. Monday, 19 May 2025
The winners of the 2025 NSW Literary Awards have been announced. Nam Le's poetry collection 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem (Scribner) won the overall $10,000 Book of the...

SLV hosts World of the Book exhibition

SLV logo. Monday, 19 May 2025
State Library Victoria (SLV) has announced the 20th anniversary World of the Book exhibition, to open from 31 May 2025. The exhibition will include three new artefacts, including a medieval...

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...

BookPeople 2025 Bookseller of the Year shortlists announced

Book people logo Monday, 19 May 2025
BookPeople has announced the shortlists for its 2025 Bookseller of the Year awards. The shortlisted booksellers include: BookPeople Hardie Grant Children's Publishing Bookseller of the Year Jennifer Jackson, Paper Bird...

Miles Franklin Literary Award 2025 longlist announced

The Miles Franklin 2025 longlist banner of covers. Thursday, 15 May 2025
The longlist for the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award has been announced. Longlisted titles for the $60,000 prize are: Chinese Postman (Brian Castro, Giramondo) The Burrow (Melanie Cheng, Text) Theory...

Ockham New Zealand 2025 Book Awards winners

the ockham new zealand book awards Thursday, 15 May 2025
In Aotearoa New Zealand, the winners of the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards have been announced. The winning titles, chosen from shortlists announced in March, are: Jann Medlicott Acorn...

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...

Gray, Master win humour writing prizes

Green Dot and Laughter is the Best Ending covers. Thursday, 15 May 2025
The NSW State Library has announced the winners of the 2025 Russell Prize for Humour Writing and the Humour Writing for Young People Award. Winners are: Russell Prize for Humour...

ALS Gold Medal 2025 longlist announced

Image of the ALS Gold Medal Thursday, 15 May 2025
The longlist for the 2025 Australian Literature Society (ALS) Gold Medal has been announced. Longlisted works are: 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem (Nam Le, Scribner) The Burrow (Melanie...

NZSA announce 2025 mentees

New Zealand Society of Authors logo. Thursday, 15 May 2025
The New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa – Ngā Kaituhi Māori has announced the recipients of the NZSA Ngā Kaituhi Māori Mentorship and Kupu Kaitiaki...

Publishing industry hopeful following Federal Election 

Wednesday, 14 May 2025
With the landmark results of the 3 May federal election, questions have arisen about the future of the literary sector. Following the Books Create Australia election campaign, B+P reached out to the Australian Publishers...