Pink Shorts Press acquires Mills, Dovey and Dubosarsky anthology

Pink Shorts Press has acquired world rights to A Concise Compendium of Wonder, a collection of ‘radical reimagined eco-fairytales’ by Jennifer Mills, Ceridwen Dovey and Ursula Dubosarsky, with illustrations by Lorelei Medcalf.

The collection is planned for publication in collaboration with theatre company Slingsby to accompany a suite of performances by the same name, which are set to debut as part of the 2026 Adelaide Festival.

According to the publisher, the stories are based on the Brothers Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel, Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant and Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl.

‘At the centre of each of these stories is an urgent question about humanity’s relationship with nature. But there is also a tiny seed of hope,’ said the publisher.

Mills is the author of several books, including Salvage, The Airways and Dyschronia (all Picador). In 2019, Dyschronia was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award; and in 2022, The Airways was also longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award.

Based in Sydney, Dovey is a fiction, nonfiction and science writer, as well as a filmmaker. Among her other titles, she is the author of In the Garden of the Fugitives and co-author of Mothertongues with Eliza Bell (both Hamish Hamilton).

Dubosarsky is the author of over 60 books for children and young adult readers. Her most recent picture book is Yes, No, Maybe (illus by Andrew Joyner, Little Book Press). She was the Australian Children’s Laureate between 2020 and 2021.

Publisher Margot Lloyd said, ‘We were immediately drawn to this project – of course the incredible writers but also the ethos behind it. This collection of radical reimagined eco-fairytales is destined to become a favourite among all ages.’

A Concise Compendium of Wonder is slated for release during the 2026 Adelaide Writers’ Week.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions