UWA Publishing acquires Sniff Squad series

UWA Publishing has acquired world rights to the 4-book series Sniff Squad by Tasmanian author Nic Gill, via Sarah McKenzie Literary Management.

Inspired by real-life working dogs, the series will launch with Maya Follows Her Nose, featuring “a timid border collie who’s been abandoned at an animal shelter, but is rescued by ecologist Dr Romane ‘Rom’ Cristescu to work in the field of koala conservation”. Subsequent titles will follow the stories of other working dogs from across Australia. All books will feature cover art by illustrator and graphic novelist Jake A Minton, along with black and white internal illustrations.

Gill is the current President of the Australasian Conservation Dog Network. The author was inspired to work with conservation detection dogs after researching her first book, Animal Eco-Warriors (CSIRO Publishing), and being impressed by the real-life Maya and Romane. Animal Eco-Warriors was a CBCA notable, and Gill and Cristescu have since written multiple books together.

Said Gill: “Maya’s story is one that’s very close to my heart, as meeting this remarkable dog and her beloved humans literally changed my life – she inspired me to become the conservation dog handler and researcher I am today. For years, I searched for the perfect ‘forever home’ for Maya, and I’m so delighted to have found it with the wonderful team at UWA Publishing.”

Publisher Kate Pickard said Gill’s stories were “full of adventure [and] rooted in conservation practices and universal themes of friendship and compassion”.

UWA Publishing plans to release the first book in the Sniff Squad series 1 September 2026.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions