Readings Best of the Best 2025
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Readings has shared its Best of the Best 2025, a list of books picked by staff and voted on by the public. The chosen titles are: Australian fiction Tenderfoot (Toni...
QUT to become new custodian of “Meanjin”
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) will become the new custodian of literary journal Meanjin, bringing the publication back to Brisbane 80 years after it relocated to Melbourne. In September last year,...
Lucashenko’s “Edenglassie” on Walter Scott Prize longlist
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Melissa Lucashenko’s Edenglassie (UQP, 2023) has been longlisted for the 2026 Walter Scott Prize, worth £25,000 (A$47,807). Already the recipient of 8 prizes in Australia, Edenglassie tells the story of...
Griffiths named Australian Children’s Laureate; Australia’s best children’s picture book; DIY Publishing Toolkit
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Local news This week, Author Andy Griffiths was named the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2026 and 2027; Simon & Schuster reorganised its Australia and New Zealand sales team, with Elissa...
Vale Robert Ungar
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Publisher and bookseller Robert (Rob) Ungar has died, aged 80. Hinkler CEO Stephen Ungar, on behalf of the extended family, writes: It is with great sadness that the family announces...
Local publishers on Bologna Prize shortlist
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Local publishers have been shortlisted for the 2026 Bologna Prize for the Best Children’s Publishers of the Year. Publishers shortlisted in the Oceania category are: Affirm Press (Australia) Hardie Grant Children's...
Hachette Australia announces “Belonging and Storytelling” event
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Hachette Australia, Australian Publishers Association (APA), Media Diversity Australia (MDA) and Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) have partnered to present “Belonging and Storytelling: Diversity in Publishing”. A dedicated space for First...
Oratia Books moves to Upstart Distribution and Archetype
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Publisher: Oratia Books for Aotearoa New Zealand New distributor: Upstart Press Old representation: Bookreps NZ (formerly PDL) New representation: Archetype Book Agents Cut-off date: 31 March 2026 Changeover date: 1...
PRH acquires Hannan’s next novel
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has acquired Australian rights to I Love the Whole World! by Victoria Hannan, a novel about friendship, ageing and the extra/ordinary act of deciding to...
Griffiths announced as Australian Children’s Laureate
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Andy Griffiths has been named the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2026 and 2027. Griffiths is author of over 30 books, including the JUST! series, the Treehouse series (both illus by...
Affirm acquires Blue-eyed Kayla Jade’s memoir
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to Call Girl Confidential by Blue-Eyed Kayla Jade, via a deal brokered by Lem Zakharia from Bedou. According to the publisher, Call Girl Confidential...
Riveted Press acquires Roe’s middle-grade novel
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Riveted Press has acquired world rights to The Stolen Bairn, a middle-grade historical fantasy by children’s author and media professional Katrina Macdonald Roe. Set 200 years ago in Scotland and...
Sound Mind Dead Body
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Murder most foul in a manor most fine. In Devon, 1929, members of the Pedhurst and de Reve families gather to hear unpopular matriarch Aunt Julia read from her husband’s...
Voss Literary Prize 2026
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
The Australian University Heads of English and the estate of Vivian Robert de Vaux Voss are pleased to call for nominations to the thirteenth annual Voss Literary Prize. The prize,...
Allen & Unwin congratulates Alan Stevns OAM
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
All at Allen & Unwin are delighted to see the long-time contribution of the Stevns family to Australian literature recognised by Alan Stevns becoming a Member of the Order of...
Children’s book division manager, Melbourne
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Readings Lead children’s book buying across all Readings shops. Drive strategic growth, manage new release purchasing with major publishers, support merchandising across locations, contribute to marketing and events, and represent...
Sales and inventory controller, Sydney
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Phoenix International Publications Phoenix International is seeking an experienced and accomplished Sales and Inventory Controller to support the continued growth of our Asia Pacific business. This is an exciting opportunity...
ABIA Audiobook and Business Awards close tonight
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Do you have a commissioning editor or publisher in your office who has delivered some amazing wins this year, but has gone unrecognised? You can give them the recognition they...
Book your advertising for Think Australian 2026
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Bookings are open for Think Australian. Promote your titles to over 55K international readers via our subscriber list and distribution partnerships with Publishers Weekly in the US and Book Brunch...
Think Australian goes to London
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Rights managers and literary agents are heading to London Book Fair (LBF) on 10–12 March 2026. For our rights publication Think Australian, we'd love to highlight the titles that managers and agents...
Folio website launched
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
A new website, Folio, has been launched showcasing stories from the Australian comics community, using oral histories and ephemera from the period 1980 to 2020, aimed at creators, readers and...
CBCA announces new award category
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced the introduction of the Middle Readers Book of the Year category from the 2027 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. From...
Allen & Unwin acquires Duncan’s “Musquito”
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to Musquito: The real story of a legendary colonial warrior, a biography of the First Nations resistance warrior known as Musquito, written...
Simon & Schuster staff changes
Monday, 9 February 2026
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has reorganised its Australia and New Zealand sales team, with Elissa Baillie moving into a wider role and Keiran Rogers departing the organisation. From today...
Lester’s “Magic Beach” named Australia’s best children’s picture book
Monday, 9 February 2026
The Guardian has announced the winner of its poll for Australia’s best children’s picture book as Magic Beach by Alison Lester (A&U Children’s). The Guardian said the book “follows the different adventures...
NSW legislation to protect diverse public library collections
Monday, 9 February 2026
Diverse public library collections in NSW will be protected under new legislation and “respond to challenges to materials from individuals or groups seeking to restrict their scope.” The Library Amendment...
Sorrento Writers Festival announces 2026 program
Monday, 9 February 2026
The Sorrento Writers Festival (SWF) has announced its 2026 festival program, running from 23 to 26 April 2026 in Sorrento, Victoria. This year's festival will feature over 180 speakers across...
Junior Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 6 February 2026
Searching for your next great read to share with kids? Our Junior Book Club highlights new titles each month that are perfect for classrooms, libraries and family reading time. From...
Newcastle Poetry Prize shortlist announced
Thursday, 5 February 2026
The Hunter Writers’ Centre has announced the 2025 shortlist for the $15,000 Newcastle Poetry Prize. Shortlisted poets are: Ann-Marie Blanchard for “Medea with the Graceful Feet” Owen Bullock for “Systolic”...
Woollett and Twyford-Moore announced as KYD critics
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Kill Your Darlings (KYD) has announced Laura Elizabeth Woollett and Sam Twyford-Moore as two regular critics for the magazine. During 2026, Woollett and Twyford-Moore will each write and publish long-form...
