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Bayt Al-Hikma: the first library in the Islamic world

Thursday, 16 October 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...

Murray awarded 2025 ASA Medal

a portrait of Kirsty Murray. She has long curly blonde hair and is wearing a black top. Wednesday, 15 October 2025
The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) has announced Kirsty Murray is the recipient of the 2025 ASA Medal. The ASA board noted Murray’s contribution to young people’s literature, including “her...

Bowen named incoming BookPeople CEO

Book people logo Wednesday, 15 October 2025
BookPeople, the Australian booksellers association, has announced Susannah Bowen as incoming CEO, starting “in the coming weeks”. Bowen takes over from current CEO Robbie Egan, who began the role in...

Australian library visits surge 

Graphic showing people using libraries in various ways. Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Australians are turning to their local libraries in record numbers, according to a new industry report. The Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report 2023–2024, released this week by the National and State...

O’Malley wins 2025 CLNZ/NZSA Writers’ Award

a portrait of Vincent O'Malley. He is bald and wears glasses. Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Vincent O’Malley has won the 2025 Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) Writers’ Award, worth...

IPA launches Defender Award 

Cover of IPA defender's award brochure Wednesday, 15 October 2025
The International Publishers Association (IPA) has launched the IPA Freedom of Expression Defenders Award. “The freedom to publish sits alongside the freedom of expression and the freedom to read as...

Tse named 2025 Malouf poet-in-residence

Photo of poet Chris Tse in front of a fireplace. Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Aotearoa New Zealand poet and editor Chris Tse has been named the 2025 Arts Queensland Malouf poet-in-residence. Based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), Tse was Aotearoa New Zealand’s Poet Laureate from...

‘17 Years Later’ to be adapted for TV 

the book cover of 17 years later, featuring an image of a large house behind tall gates Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Bruna Papandera and Made Up Stories have acquired television rights to JP Pomare’s novel 17 Years Later (Hachette, 2024). The adaptation will be directed and executive-produced by John Polson (Elementary),...

Voss Literary Prize 2025 longlist announced

Emu Park, the Voss literary award Wednesday, 15 October 2025
The longlist for the 2025 Voss Literary Prize, awarded to the best novel published in Australia in the previous year, has been announced. The longlisted titles are: The Burrow (Melanie...

Transit Lounge acquires Hawthorn’s next novel

An image of Sarah Hawthorn. Sarah stands in front of a fence and greenery. Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Transit Lounge has acquired world rights to High Land, a novel by Sarah Hawthorn, via Sally Bird at Calidris Literary Agency. According to the publisher, High Land follows Annie, who...

Scribe acquires Woollett nonfiction debut

a portrait of Laura Elizabeth Wollett. She has long black hair and red lipstick Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Scribe has acquired world rights to Hell Days, Laura Elizabeth Woollett’s nonfiction debut. Blending memoir, true crime, medical research, interviews, and cultural analysis, Hell Days investigates premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a hormonal...

Donovan wins inaugural Novelry Prize

Tuesday, 14 October 2025
The Novelry has announced Stella Donovan as the winner of the inaugural Novelry Prize for her submission titled “Grace Labeille is turning 20 on top of a man who does...

Riveted Press acquires Hargreaves’s middle-grade fantasy trilogy

A portrait of Cody Hargreaves. Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Riveted Press has acquired world rights to middle-grade fantasy trilogy The Sterling Brothers by debut author Cody Hargreaves. The first instalment, The Ostrich Dilemma, features estranged twin brothers who must overcome their lifelong...

PRH acquires Timms’s debut crime novel

A portrait of Nicolas Timms standing in front of a brick wall. Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has acquired ANZ rights to The Lineup, a crime fiction debut by Nicholas Timms. PRH commercial fiction publisher Beverley Cousins acquired the novel via Daniel...

Bragg science writing prize shortlist announced

Tuesday, 14 October 2025
The shortlist for this year’s UNSW Press Bragg Prize for Science Writing has been announced. Shortlisted pieces are: “The Unexpected Poetry of PhD Acknowledgements” by Tabitha Carvan “The Night I...

Barnes wins inaugural Bundyi Writing Prize

An image of Shannon Barnes. Monday, 13 October 2025
Bundyi Publishing has announced Shannon Barnes as the winner of the inaugural Bundyi Writing Prize for her mixed-genre novel Strangelands. Barnes wins a $10,000 cash prize, manuscript development, and a...

Affirm acquires Lewis’s debut nonfiction

A portrait of Bron Lewis. She is a red-haired woman wearing a green sequined dress Monday, 13 October 2025
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to I’m Not Mad (Anymore), a debut piece of nonfiction from Bron Lewis, in a deal brokered by Bec Sutherland of Jubilee St Management....

Melbourne Books acquires Buckrich history

A portrait of Judith Buckrich. She is a blonde woman with pale skin and glasses Monday, 13 October 2025
Melbourne Books has acquired world rights to Fitzroy North: People, Place, Protest by Judith Buckrich. “[Beginning with] the local Aboriginal communities prior to European colonisation, Fitzroy North: People, Place and Protest reveals...

Krasznahorkai wins 2025 Nobel Prize for Literature

Friday, 10 October 2025
Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature for “his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art”....

Book Club – this month’s reads

Friday, 10 October 2025
Looking for your next great group read? Our monthly Book Club rounds up new release titles that are perfect for sparking conversation and perhaps even some debate. From compelling fiction to...

Cleary wins A&U NZ Fiction Prize

An image of Anne Cleary and text announcing her as the 2025 Fiction Prize winner. Thursday, 9 October 2025
Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand (A&U NZ) has announced Tauranga writer Anne Cleary as the winner of the 2025 Fiction Prize for her entry Apple Man. According to the...

Gillard to judge Women’s Prize for Fiction

A group picture of the 2026 judges for the Women's Prize. Thursday, 9 October 2025
In the UK, the Women’s Prize Trust has announced former prime minister of Australia Julia Gillard will chair the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction judging panel. Gillard will be joined...

Bloomsbury expands dyslexia-friendly titles 

Thursday, 9 October 2025
In the UK, Bloomsbury Publishing has launched a new range of titles in their Dyslexia-Friendly Editions, reported BookBrunch. ‘The dyslexia-friendly format includes: Clear, sans-serif fonts, increased spacing and ragged-right alignment,...

Bakers Lane Books acquires McLean’s nonfiction

A profile image of Robert McLean. Thursday, 9 October 2025
Bakers Lane Books has acquired world rights to The Town Like No Other by Robert McLean. The Town Like No Other tells the story of Broken Hill, a ‘world-class mining centre that...