State Library Victoria abandons reorganisation
Friday, 12 December 2025
Following widespread opposition among writers, researchers and librarians, the State Library Victoria has announced it will no longer proceed with the planned reorganisation. “After careful consideration of feedback received during...
Book Club – holiday reads
Friday, 12 December 2025
After fresh reads for Christmas or long summer days by the beach? Our bumper holiday Book Club brings together standout new releases and great titles from throughout the year that...
Vale Madeleine Wickham (Sophie Kinsella)
Friday, 12 December 2025
UK author Madeleine Wickham, known by her pen name Sophie Kinsella, has died, aged 55. Penguin Random House writes: Madeleine, known to everyone as Maddy, wrote her first novel under...
From Summer Reading for MPs to a new publishing house
Thursday, 11 December 2025
Readers and Writers Against the Genocide (RWAG) describes itself as “a community of readers and writers who believe in the power of literature to enable us to speak up and...
Larrikin House acquires Vee & Layton’s next picture book
Thursday, 11 December 2025
Larrikin House has acquired rights to Archie Can’t Sit Still, a picture book by Dani Vee and James Layton, illustrated by Davilyn Lynch. According to the publisher, the picture book follows...
Grants bring Fremantle Press closer to activating heritage building
Thursday, 11 December 2025
Fremantle Press took a further step towards celebrating its 50th anniversary in its new building with the announcement of additional funding. The organisation has secured a Lotterywest grant worth $722,226...
Public Lending Rights International
Thursday, 11 December 2025
In international news, Public Lending Rights International (PLRI) has been announced as a “formal international association” of organisations managing or distributing public lending rights payments to authors, illustrators, translators and...
2026 Faber Writing Scholarships announced
Thursday, 11 December 2025
The Faber Writing Academy (FWA) has named the recipients of the 2026 Faber Writing Scholarships. The recipients are: Paff Evara (to attend Writing a Creative Nonfiction), a Black lesbian writer...
Harry Hartog and Berkelouw Books workers strike
Thursday, 11 December 2025
The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) has announced staff from Harry Hartog and Berkelouw Books are taking industrial action to “secure a fair new agreement” to replace an...
Affirm acquires Lim’s new novel
Thursday, 11 December 2025
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to Rebecca Lim’s latest novel, The Graduate, via Annabel Barker Agency. The novel follows graduate Fei Fei Chou, a quiet misfit in a prestigious...
Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2026 shortlists announced
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
The Wheeler Centre has announced the shortlists for the 2026 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. The shortlisted and highly commended works in each category are: Fiction ($25,000) A Piece of Red...
New Year 2026 preview: Poetry
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
As 2026 approaches, publishers highlight forthcoming poetry collections to look out for. Among the year’s poetic offerings, readers can expect anything from literal “deep dives” to nuanced explorations of identity...
New Year 2026 preview: Fiction
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
As 2026 approaches, publishers highlight forthcoming adult fiction titles to look out for – from stories of selkies to vampire romances. Books+Publishing (B+P) shares titles publishers are excited about. B+P’s...
S&S ANZ appoints Curry as MD
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia and New Zealand (S&S ANZ) has named Jane Curry as its new managing director, after the departure of Dan Ruffino. UK-born Curry, currently managing director of...
UQP acquires Wyld’s third novel
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired world rights to KA Ren Wyld’s new novel, Whichway Shimmering Dust. This multi-generational novel follows an Aboriginal girl and a sentient willy-willy who...
Arts Queensland Poetry Award winners announced
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
The Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) has announced the winners of this year’s Arts Queensland Poetry Awards. The winners in each category are: Oodgeroo Noonuccal Prize for Indigenous Poetry Winner ($3500...
A&U acquires Silvey and Acton’s latest Runt story
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to Craig Silvey and Sara Acton’s Annie and Runt from Lesley Thorne at Aitken Alexander Associates and Margaret Connolly at Margaret Connolly &...
ANU’s Centre for Biography, National Dictionary Centre saved
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
A philanthropic donation will fund the National Centre for Biography (NCB) and the Australian National Dictionary Centre (ANDC) for two years, amid a round of staff cuts by the Australian...
A&U acquires third Rose McHugh Mystery novel
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to Murder at Thornwood Park, the third book in Joan Sauers’s Rose McHugh Mystery series. Murder at Thornwood Park is “for readers who...
BookTokers debate the value of negative reviews
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
In the UK, the Bookseller has canvassed opinion among popular BookTok creators about the value and desirability of posting negative reviews. Critical reviews on the popular TikTok subcommunity can meet...
Indie Book Awards 2026 longlists announced
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
The longlist for the 2026 Indie Book Awards has been announced. The longlisted titles in each category are: Fiction Lyrebird (Jane Caro, A&U) Gravity Let Me Go (Trent Dalton, Fourth...
Peter Porter Poetry Prize 2026 longlist announced
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Australian Book Review (ABR) has announced the longlist for the 2026 Peter Porter Poetry Prize. The longlisted poets are: J Andros (United States) Jamil Badi (Vic.) Daragh Byrne (NSW) Elena Croitoru-Reed...
Blak & Bright board director Harrison steps down
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Literary festival Blak & Bright has announced that Jane Harrison (The Visitors, HarperCollins) has stepped down from the board. Harrison was the festival’s first artistic director and CEO. In 2024,...
Bakers Lane acquires Coomer’s “Ravensbourne”
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Bakers Lane Books has acquired world rights to Ravensbourne, a young adult novel by Amy Coomer, in a deal brokered by agent Belinda Bolliger. Ravensbourne follows 17-year-old Maisie McDevitt as...
AI wariness prevails in UK and Europe
Monday, 8 December 2025
UK bookselling chain Waterstones would stock books created by generative AI if customers wanted them and they were clearly labelled, reported the Bookseller. But it is “something that we would...
UWAP acquires McWilliams’s “Bandoola”
Monday, 8 December 2025
UWA Publishing (UWAP) has acquired world rights to Bandoola, a middle-grade historical fiction novel by Beverley McWilliams, following an Australian Society of Authors’ Virtual Literary Speed Dating event in March...
A&U acquires Tunny’s debut novel
Monday, 8 December 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to Over to You by Georgie Tunny, in a deal brokered by Cathy Baker at CMC Talent Management. According to the publisher, Over...
SLV controversy continues
Monday, 8 December 2025
State Library Victoria (SLV) has responded in more detail to media reporting of a leaked document outlining job and service cuts and redeployments. Over the past two weeks, the SLV’s...
Bestseller list delayed
Friday, 5 December 2025
NielsenIQ BookScan has advised us that their weekly data for the week ending 29 November has been delayed. We expect to receive the charts later on Friday, and will publish...
Junior Book Club – holiday reads
Friday, 5 December 2025
On the hunt for great books to share with kids? Our bumper Junior Book Club holiday edition rounds up new releases for the month and top picks from the past...
