Christmas 2020: Strong sales across all categories
15 February 2021
Most booksellers surveyed by Books+Publishing were pleased to report that sales were spread across all sections of their shops, with this reflected in the most mentioned titles spanning a diverse range...
The state of accessible publishing in Australia
10 February 2021
Last year, Sydney University's Agata Mrva-Montoya undertook research into the issues affecting the production of accessible books in Australia. Mrva-Montoya conducted surveys aimed at Australian publishers and disability organisations involved...
A year of transformation: The industry reflects on 2020
3 February 2021
The challenges of 2020 affected the Australian publishing in myriad ways, from accelerating digital transformation to disrupting the book supply chain. Here, five industry figures reflect on the ways the...
March reviews round-up
2 February 2021
March looks to be a strong month for nonfiction, with a couple of big-name releases receiving glowing write-ups from Books+Publishing's (B+P) reviewers. Sarah Krasnostein's follow-up to her juggernaut biography The...
Starting small: Emily Riches on Aniko Press
28 January 2021
Sydney-based writer and editor Emily Riches started Aniko Press—a new literary small press that includes a biannual print magazine and online book reviews—in early 2020, and has plans to begin...
Meet Pantera Press rights manager Katy McEwen
20 January 2021
As the pandemic keeps rights sellers from meeting face-to-face, Books+Publishing is shining a regular spotlight on the work of Australian rights agents. Today, we hear from Pantera Press rights manager Katy McEwen. How...
February reviews round-up
9 December 2020
Looking ahead to February 2021, two forthcoming crime novels, The Silent Listener (Lynn Yeowart, Viking) and The Second Son (Loraine Peck, Text), garnered glowing reviews from Books+Publishing’s crime aficionados, while...
Debut fiction you might have missed in 2020
9 December 2020
For all those readers who spent this year's lockdowns catching up on classics or re-reading comforting favourites, never fear—Australia’s independent booksellers have voted for the best debut fiction of 2020...
A Christmas message to European bookshops
9 December 2020
Dearest bookshops of Europe, This time last year I was sitting on the train in the dark en route to the cosiest place in London. I feel the only way...
From inertia to action: Zeitgeists, decolonisation and structural change in publishing
9 December 2020
In her final column for Books+Publishing, Veronica Sullivan looks at the positive changes towards diversity and inclusion brought by 2020, and how publishers can ethically navigate the demand for representation...
Lessons from the past: Lorraine Marwood on ‘Footprints on the Moon’
2 December 2020
Lorraine Marwood's middle-grade verse novel Footprints on the Moon (UQP, February) follows Sharnie as she navigates beginning high school during the tumult of Australian society in 1969. Reviewer Erin Wamala...
Publishing’s meritocracy myth
2 December 2020
This year’s Beatrice Davis Fellow Radhiah Chowdhury spoke to a range of BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) publishing professionals in the UK about what one respondent identified as the...
Art work: Fiona McGregor on ‘Buried Not Dead’
25 November 2020
Reviewer Cher Tan describes Fiona McGregor's essay collection Buried Not Dead (Giramondo, February), which brings together art criticism, memoir and reportage written over 25 years, as a 'lively and unpretentious' work...
A window on the world: Stephanie Smee’s career journey
25 November 2020
Stephanie Smee is a Sydney-based French translator who worked as a lawyer before pivoting to literary translation. She has recently translated books including Hannelore Cayre's Dagger Award–winning crime novel The...
Book it in: 2021 children’s and YA preview
18 November 2020
Alongside a slate of new books by established children’s authors, next year looks to be a year of firsts, featuring books by debut authors, established authors trying their hands at...
Meet Hachette Australia head of rights Sarah Brooks
18 November 2020
As the pandemic keeps rights sellers from meeting face-to-face, Books+Publishing’s Think Australian publication is shining a regular spotlight on the work of Australian rights agents. Today, we hear from Hachette Australia...
A new leaf: 2021 nonfiction preview
11 November 2020
The first year of the new decade has been chaotic and unpredictable. However, readers can try to make sense of the year that's been with the many forthcoming releases that...
Reviews round-up
5 November 2020
In October Books+Publishing reviewed more than a dozen forthcoming titles due to be published in December 2020 and January 2021. In adult fiction, lighthearted summer reads The Funny Thing About...
Out of the box: Rebecca Lim on ‘Tiger Daughter’
5 November 2020
Rebecca Lim says her forthcoming novel Tiger Daughter (A&U, February) is 'a lot more personal' than the urban fantasy or mystery novels the author usually writes. Reviewer Mischa Parkee describes...
Turn the page: 2021 fiction preview
5 November 2020
Next year looks to be a big one for first-time authors, with an abundance of fiction debuts in the pipeline. Here, Books+Publishing rounds up publishers’ fiction highlights for the coming year....
Time differences, but more time: Australians’ experiences of ‘virtual’ Frankfurt
5 November 2020
Australian publishers largely relied on Zoom to attend this year's virtual Frankfurt Book Fair. They told Andrea Hanke about the upsides, drawbacks, and the genres in demand at this year's...
When worlds collide: Alison Gibbs on ‘Repentence’
28 October 2020
Alison Gibbs's 1970s–set novel Repentance (Scribe, January) is the story of a small Australian town that undergoes radical change when newcomers face off against the locals over the logging of...
Christmas buyers’ picks: Nicola Martin at Dymocks Sydney
28 October 2020
In the lead-up to Christmas 2020, Books+Publishing is asking book buyers across the country to share the titles they’re investing in for the busiest time of year on the bookselling calendar. In...
Buchmesse buzz: how bestsellers originate at Frankfurt
21 October 2020
Publishing academics Beth Driscoll and Claire Squires conducted fieldwork at Frankfurt Buchmesse 2017–2019 to examine what makes a bestseller at the fair. The result was The Frankfurt Book Fair and...
Celebrating in a pandemic: 30 years of independence at A&U
21 October 2020
Several publishers had big plans for significant birthdays this year, until Covid came along. In the third of a series of birthday profiles, we hear about 30 years of independence...
Rewriting the long lunch
21 October 2020
In the Australian publishing landscape, the long lunch occupies a contentious space, provoking a mixture of envy, nostalgia, delight and judgement. Books+Publishing's columnist Veronica Sullivan asks: is the practice a...
Meet UQP rights and contracts manager Kate McCormack
14 October 2020
In the lead up to this year's virtual Frankfurt Book Fair, Books+Publishing’s sister publication Think Australian profiled UQP rights and contract manager Kate McCormack about her rights list and how Covid-19 has...
Celebrating in a pandemic: Thames & Hudson Australia turns 50
14 October 2020
Several publishers had big plans for significant birthdays this year, until Covid came along. In the second of a series of birthday profiles, we hear about 50 years of Thames...
Christmas buyers’ picks: the Booktopia team
14 October 2020
In the lead-up to Christmas 2020, Books+Publishing is asking book buyers across the country to share which titles they’re investing in for the busiest time of year on the bookselling calendar....
Outer limits: Philip Bunting on ‘Give Me Some Space!’
7 October 2020
Philip Bunting's picture book Give Me Some Space! (December, Omnibus) follows Una, whose determination to explore space results in a new mission—to take care of our own planet. Reviewer Bronte Coates...
