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Affirm Press acquires MinOn picture book

Steve MinOn Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to the picture book Make Them Say Poo by Steve MinOn under the pen name Stephen, via literary agent Martin Shaw of Shaw Literacy....

Taylor’s ‘Ruins’ to be adapted for film 

A cover of The Ruins by Amy Taylor Monday, 16 June 2025
Miramax president of film group Alexandra Loewy has acquired film rights to the forthcoming novel Ruins (A&U, July) by Melbourne-based author Amy Taylor. The novel will be adapted into a...

Perentie Press acquires first YA graphic novel

a portrait of Wendy Tyrer Monday, 16 June 2025
Perentie Press has acquired world rights to The Curator, a YA graphic novel by author/illustrator Wendy Tyrer, the first YA graphic novel acquisition for the new press. The novel asks,...

Hachette acquires Chloe Fisher memoir

Always You cover Monday, 16 June 2025
Hachette Australia has acquired Always You, a memoir from Chloe Fisher with Alley Pascoe. Always You follows Fisher’s life story as she meets and marries pro-surfer Paul Fisher, said the...

Inaugural New Voices of Aotearoa winners announced

New Voices of Aotearoa Recipients Monday, 16 June 2025
The Coalition for Books has announced the winners of the inaugural New Voices of Aotearoa competition. Chosen from over 30 nominations, the winners are: Wellington essayist Una Cruickshank Raglan journalist,...

Sharp acquires Marshall short story film rights

Shirl cover Monday, 16 June 2025
Melbourne-based filmmaker Tim Sharp has acquired the film option to Wayne Marshall’s short story ‘A Night Out’ from Marshall’s debut collection Shirl (Affirm Press), via Martin Shaw at Shaw Literary. Sharp...

van der Wouden, Clarke win 2025 Women’s Prizes

a portrait of Yael van der Wouden and a portrait of Rachel Clarke Friday, 13 June 2025
In the UK, the 2025 Women’s Prizes have been announced. The SafeKeep by Dutch author Yael van der Wouden (Penguin) has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction, while The Story...

ACT Literary Awards 2025 shortlist announced

ACT Literary Awards 2025 Thursday, 12 June 2025
MARION ACT has announced the shortlists for the 2025 ACT Literary Awards. The shortlisted titles are: Children’s literature shortlist (younger readers) Alphabetter (Maura Pierlot, illus by Jorge Garcia Redondo, Affirm Kids)...

Colussi wins 2025 Penguin Literary Prize 

A portrait of Mary Colussi Thursday, 12 June 2025
Penguin Random House (PRH) Australia has announced Touch Grass by Mary Colussi as the winner of the 2025 Penguin Literary Prize. Chosen from a shortlist of six, Touch Grass is...

UQP acquires Lucashenko’s first nonfiction title

Melissa Lucashenko photo (credit: Glenn Hunt) Thursday, 12 June 2025
The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired ANZ rights to Not Quite White in the Head, a collection of essays and journalism by Melissa Lucashenko, via Alex Adsett of...

Byron Writers Festival announces 2025 program

Byron Writers Festival logo Wednesday, 11 June 2025
The program for the Byron Writers Festival, running 8–10 August on Bundjalung Country, has been announced. With the theme Passion and Purpose, the 2025 program features over 160 writers from...

Rights round-up 

Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Sales Nonfiction Black Inc. has sold Ukraine rights The Shortest History of Democracy (John Keane) to Prometey Publishing House and Serbian rights for the same title to Laguna; and UK/Commonwealth (ex...

Atria acquires Hortinela debut

a portrait of Joshua Hortinela Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Atria Books Australia has acquired world rights to Hate You to Love You by bookseller Joshua Hortinela in a two-book deal through Daniel Pilkington at The Pilkington Agency. ‘Hate You...

Read the latest Publishers Weekly 

Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Books+Publishing is partnering with US trade news magazine Publishers Weekly to provide our subscribers with exclusive access to the weekly digital edition of PW magazine. View the edition here.

Stillwater (Tanya Scott, A&U) 

Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Tanya Scott’s debut, Stillwater, masterfully weaves together the past and present in a suspenseful, emotionally charged crime thriller. Luke Harris returns to his hometown of Melbourne seeking a 'normal life'...

In Spite of You (Patrick Lenton, Pantera) 

Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Genuinely funny and smartly observed, In Spite of You channels the charm of classic rom-coms – idealistic and entertaining – but adds a fresh twist with a plot driven by...

Run (Sarah Armstrong, HGCP) 

Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Sarah Armstrong’s latest middle-grade novel, Run, is a fast-paced survival tale that explores themes of trust, resilience and complicated families. It follows Armstrong’s previous titles for younger readers, Big Magic and Magic Awry, and her...

Plastic Budgie (Olivia De Zilva, Pink Shorts Press) 

Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Olivia De Zilva’s autofiction debut Plastic Budgie is a sharply funny, sad and sentimental reflection on the people, places and cultural forces that shape us as we grow up. In the novel,...

Varuna First Nations Fellowship 2025 recipients announced

2025 Varuna First Nations Fellowship winners Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Varuna, the National Writers' House has announced 12 recipients of the 2025 Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowship. The 2025 fellowship recipients are: Sharlene Allsopp Alison J Barton Skye Cusack Eugenia...

Q-Lit Festival 2025 program announced 

Q-Lit 2025 header Tuesday, 10 June 2025
The program for the 2025 Q-Lit Festival, running this year 20–28 June, has been announced. Under the theme 'What Fills Your Cup', the 2025 festival will begin with an opening...

Jhalak Prize 2025 winners announced 

The cover of Namesake: reflections on a warrior woman Tuesday, 10 June 2025
In the UK, the 2025 winners of the Jhalak Prize have been announced, reports Book Brunch. The winners – chosen from shortlists announced in April – are: Jhalak Prose Prize Namesake:...