Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Bertrams future ‘at risk’

Monday, 4 May 2020
In the UK, the Sunday Times reports that Bertrams will appoint an administrator, with the Bookseller writing that the book wholesaler’s future is ‘at risk’ following the sale of its...

O’Brien wins €10,000 Moth Poetry Prize

Friday, 1 May 2020
Queensland poet Damen O’Brien has won the €10,000 (A$19,400) Moth Poetry Prize for ‘The Nave’. The annual prize for a single unpublished poem is sponsored by the publishers of literary...

Covid-19 hits first quarter sales at Bertelsmann, Lagardère

Friday, 1 May 2020
The parent companies of Hachette and Penguin Random House (PRH) have both reported first-quarter revenue declines due to the challenges of Covid-19. According to Publishers Weekly, Lagardère—the parent company of...

UQP sells ‘Too Much Lip’ to HarperVia

Friday, 1 May 2020
The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has sold world English-language rights (ex ANZ) to Melissa Lucashenko’s Too Much Lip to HarperCollins international imprint HarperVia. HarperOne Group president and publisher Judith...

ANZ picture books longlisted for World Illustration Awards

Friday, 1 May 2020
A number of Australian and New Zealand picture book creators have been longlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2020. Spanning 10 categories, the 500-strong longlist includes five ANZ illustrators nominated...

Australia Reads launches ‘School Kids’ initiative

Thursday, 30 April 2020
Australia Reads has launched Australia Reads: School Kids, a list of recommended books for which publishers will create teaching notes and offer increased bookseller discounts. With input from The Little...

Shortlist announced for £40k Wolfson History Prize

Thursday, 30 April 2020
In the UK, the shortlist for the £40,000 (A$76,200) Wolfson History Prize shortlist has been announced. The shortlisted titles are: The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans (David Abulafia,...

I Shot The Devil (Ruth McIver, Hachette)

Wednesday, 29 April 2020
Richell Prize-winner Ruth McIver’s debut crime thriller is a powder-keg with a slow burning fuse that has you racing to figure out which of the shadowy, unreliable suspects ‘did it’—and...

RiP Julian Leatherdale

Wednesday, 29 April 2020
Novelist Julian Leatherdale has died, after an illness of less than 12 months. Leatherdale was the author of three historical novels for adults, all published by Allen & Unwin (A&U)...

Creative Victoria announces latest VicArts recipients

Wednesday, 29 April 2020
Several literary projects and writers have been included among the recipients in the latest round of Creative Victoria’s VicArts grants. The program will provide over $1.17 million in funding for...

ABIA 2020 shortlists announced

Tuesday, 28 April 2020
The shortlists for the 2020 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) have been announced. The titles in each category are: General fiction book of the year Bruny (Heather Rose, A&U) Cilka’s Journey (Heather...

UK to introduce micro-loan scheme for small businesses

Tuesday, 28 April 2020
In the UK, the government will introduce a new micro-loan scheme for small businesses, in response to the impact of the coronavirus lockdown, reports the Bookseller. From 4 May, businesses...

Pearson reports 5% decline in first quarter update

Monday, 27 April 2020
Pearson has announced a 5% decline in revenue in its first quarter update, in line with revised expectations reported in March due to Covid-19. It also reported a 10% decline...

States announce new Covid-19 arts funding

Monday, 27 April 2020
Arts funding bodies in Victoria and New South Wales have announced new funding initiatives for the creative sector in response to Covid-19. Victoria: $16.8 million ‘survival package’, including $2.2 million...

Bologna releases schedule for virtual book fair

Monday, 27 April 2020
Organisers of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) have released the schedule for the virtual book fair, which will take place across BCBF's digital channels from 4–7 May. Among the...

Ernest Scott Prize 2020 shortlist announced

Monday, 27 April 2020
The shortlist for the 2020 Ernest Scott Prize for History has been announced. The shortlisted titles are:  Bedlam at Botany Bay (James Dunk, NewSouth) The Seventies: The personal, the political...

Lotterywest establishes $159m Covid-19 relief fund

Friday, 24 April 2020
The WA State Government has allocated Lotterywest's direct grants budget to a new Covid-19 relief fund, worth up to $159 million. The funding will be used to support organisations helping...

Mystery donor pledges £250k to UK bookseller hardship fund

Thursday, 23 April 2020
In the UK, a crowdfunding campaign has raised around £380,000 (A$742,700) for booksellers affected by the Covid-19 crisis, after a mystery donor pledged £250,000 (A$488,600), reports the Bookseller. Penguin Random...