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Else (Rose Michael, Spineless Wonders) 

The book cover of "Else" by Rose Michael. A peson lies shirtless on a rocky ground. Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Landscape and climate are central in Else, the latest novel from Rose Michael (The Asking Game, The Art of Navigation). This genre-bending work of eco-fiction blends experimental prose, poetry and...

UQP acquires new Prosser novel

A portrait of Jordan Prosser. Tuesday, 21 October 2025
University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired world rights for Blue Giant by writer and filmmaker Jordan Prosser. The novel centres on disillusioned Melburnian millennial Abby Horne. “Abby once believed...

Manawatu wins 2025 Keri Hulme Award

Pikihuia Awards logo Monday, 20 October 2025
Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe, Waitaha) has been awarded the 2025 Keri Hulme Award for Kataraina (The Cube Press) as part of the biennial Pikihuia awards. The Keri Hulme...

Murdoch acquires King nonfiction

A portrait of Madonna King, a woman with long red hair wearing a fuchsia blouse. Monday, 20 October 2025
Murdoch Books has acquired world rights to Screen Wise by Madonna King. Screen Wise will address screen time and online safety, “the biggest issue facing parents today”, said the publisher....

David Brooks wins 2025 Patrick White Literary Award

a portrait of David Brooks, a bald man with a white moustache and goatee Monday, 20 October 2025
Poet, writer, and academic David Brooks has won the $20,000 Patrick White Literary Award for 2025. Award trustee Perpetual described the award as “a richly deserved recognition of [Brooks’s] profound...

Walkley Book Award 2025 longlist announced

The Walkley foundation logo Monday, 20 October 2025
The Walkley Foundation has announced the finalists for the 70th annual Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism. The works longlisted for the Walkley Book Award are: All Women Want (Alyx...

Arnott, Walton, Leal win 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize

a composite image of three book covers: I am Nannertgarrook, Dusk, and The Year We Escaped Thursday, 16 October 2025
Robbie Arnott and Tasma Walton will share the $100,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize in the adult category for their works Dusk (Picador) and I Am Nannertgarrook (Bundyi) respectively, while Suzanne Leal has...

Ventura Press acquires Fitzsimmons’s debut crime novel

An image of Whitney Fitzsimmons. Thursday, 16 October 2025
Ventura Press has acquired world rights to The Rising, a gripping police procedural crime novel by journalist Whitney Fitzsimmons. The Rising follows journalist Bec Carter, who finds the bones of...

2025 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers shortlist

Logo for the Richell Prize, featuring a swooping bird Thursday, 16 October 2025
Hachette Australia and the Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF) have announced the shortlist for the 2025 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers. Chosen from the longlist announced last month, the 5 shortlisted writers...

Jenner wins 2025 Kathleen Grattan Poetry Award

a portrait of Lynn Jenner, an older woman wearing a green cardigan Thursday, 16 October 2025
In Aotearoa New Zealand, Lynn Jenner has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Kathleen Grattan Poetry Award for her manuscript The Gum Trees of Kerikeri. The collection is...

Prichard wins 2025 Landfall Tauraka Essay Prize

An image of Tasmin Prichard. Thursday, 16 October 2025
In Aotearoa New Zealand, literary journal Landfall Tauraka has announced Tasmin Prichard as the winner of this year’s Landfall Tauraka Essay Prize for their essay “Four Hours in the Dark,...

A&U acquires Legge’s memoir

An image of Kate Legge. She sits at a table with her head leaning on her fist. Thursday, 16 October 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world English rights to Delicious, a memoir “celebrating food and friendship” by author and journalist Kate Legge. According to the publisher, Delicious: Stories of Cooking, Love...

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...

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...

Rights round-up 

Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Sales Fiction Penguin Random House has sold French rights to Sonatine and German rights to Ullstein to Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief (Benjamin Stevenson); Czech rights to The...

‘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),...

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...

Read the latest Publishers Weekly 

Wednesday, 15 October 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.