News sections | Books+Publishing

Carnegie 2025 longlists announced

Thursday, 13 February 2025
In the UK, the longlists for the Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Carnegie Medal for Illustration have been announced. The 35 longlisted titles (19 for the Carnegie Medal for...

DANZ Children’s Book Award 2025 longlists announced

Thursday, 13 February 2025
The 2025 longlists for the Australian School Library Association (ASLA) DANZ (Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand) Children’s Book Award have been announced. The longlisted titles in each category...

‘Tracker’ longlisted for 2025 Women’s Prize for Nonfiction

Thursday, 13 February 2025
In the UK, Alexis Wright’s book Tracker (Giramondo) has been longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction. Published in the UK in January by Other Stories, the book is one...

Remembering Michael Webster

Wednesday, 12 February 2025
More tributes have come in, after the passing of publisher, academic, and distinguished industry professional Michael Webster. University of Melbourne head of program, publishing & communications Katherine Day writes: We...

New Australia Reads report; update from liquidators of Booktopia; Beatnik Publishing acquired by Bateman Books; festival programs and award shortlists announced

Wednesday, 12 February 2025
The industry continues to honour Michael Webster, with more tributes and details of a memorial service. Australia Reads and Monash University have released a new report into reading behaviours; the...

Rights round-up

Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Sales Fiction HarperCollins Australia has sold Albanian language rights to The Girl in the Painting (Tea Cooper) to OMBRA GVG. Zeitgeist Agency has sold Japanese rights to Bird (Courtney Collins, Hachette) to Shogakukan...

A&U acquires new historical fiction from Rose

Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to A Great Act of Love by Heather Rose, via Gaby Naher of the Naher Agency. US rights have sold to Judy Clain...

Read the latest Publishers Weekly

Wednesday, 12 February 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.

Affirm acquires Johnson debut ‘King Tide’

Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Affirm has acquired ANZ rights to the debut crime novel King Tide by Luke Johnson, via literary agent Daniel Pilkington. Described by the publisher as a ‘beautiful, exhilarating and exquisitely...

Programs announced: Inaugural Footscray West Writers Fest, 2025 Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival

Monday, 10 February 2025
The inaugural Footscray West Writers Fest will run in the inner Melbourne suburb from 28 to 30 March this year. Supported by Maribyrnong City Council and presented by non-profit cultural...

Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize 2025 shortlist announced

Monday, 10 February 2025
The shortlist for the 2025 Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize has been announced. The shortlisted poems, chosen from almost 500 entries, are: ‘Whistling Space’ by Chris Andrews ‘Finding Pan’ by Jonathan...

S&S acquires Morgan’s fiction debut

Thursday, 6 February 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has acquired world rights to Rachael Morgan’s commercial women’s fiction debut, in a deal between S&S commercial fiction publisher Cassandra Di Bello and Anjanette Fennell...

Remembering Michael Webster

Wednesday, 5 February 2025
Publisher, editor and academic Michael Webster has died. A memorial for Webster will be held on Sunday, 16 February at 10.30am at the Hawthorn Rowing Club. Credit: Debora Webster-Bain

Vale Michael Webster; Bundyi announces new prize; BookPeople reveals new websites; regional, trans, genre literary festival programs released

Wednesday, 5 February 2025
Publisher, editor and academic Michael Webster has died, and friends and former colleagues in the industry have paid tribute. An array of new and returning literary festivals and events have...