Readings Children’s Book Prize 2021 shortlist announced
26 February 2021
The shortlist for the Readings Children’s Book Prize for 2021 has been announced. This year’s six shortlisted titles, for readers aged 5 to 12, are: The Power of Positive Pranking...
Transit Lounge acquires Bacon short story collection
26 February 2021
Transit Lounge has acquired world rights to Eugen Bacon’s short story collection Danged Black Thing. Bacon is an African-Australian computer scientist and writer of speculative fiction, whose previous titles have...
Wakefield acquires Roff debut short fiction collection
25 February 2021
Wakefield Press has acquired world rights to the debut short fiction collection, provisionally titled Third Heaven, by Adelaide writer Andrew Roff, via Martin Shaw of Shaw Literary. ‘Roff’s daring, irreverent...
ARRA 2020 finalists announced
25 February 2021
The finalists for the 2020 Australian Romance Readers Association's (ARRA) annual awards have been announced. The finalists in each category are: Favourite paranormal romance Alpha Night (Nalini Singh, Gollancz) Famine...
UQP acquires Atkins picture book
25 February 2021
University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired world rights to Egg, the first picture book by YA author Clare Atkins. A ‘multi-layered picture book with thought-provoking metaphors around environment, generational...
Griffiths appointed HarperCollins sales director
24 February 2021
HarperCollins has appointed Karen-Maree Griffiths to the position of sales director, replacing Darren Kelly in the role. ‘We are delighted to welcome Karen-Maree back to HarperCollins,' said CEO said Jim...
CBCA 2021 Notable Books announced
24 February 2021
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its list of Notable Books for 2021. The books in each category are: Older readers The F Team (Rawah Arja, Giramondo)...
Australians longlisted for 2021 Walter Scott Prize
23 February 2021
Four Australian authors have been longlisted for the UK's £25,000 (A$44,440) Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Steven Conte was longlisted for The Tolstoy Estate, K M Kruimink for A...
Pantera acquires Fa’Aoso memoir
23 February 2021
Pantera Press has acquired world rights to the debut memoir by actor and former professional footballer Aaron Fa'Aoso in a six-figure pre-empt from Danielle Binks at Jacinta di Mase Management....
Williams wins 2021 MUD Literary Prize
23 February 2021
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (Affirm Press) has won the fourth annual MUD Literary Prize. Presented annually for the best debut literary novel by an Australian writer,...
Scribner acquires Haigh Evatt history
23 February 2021
Under its Scribner imprint Simon & Schuster Australia has acquired world rights to The Brilliant Boy: Doc Evatt and the great Australian dissent, a new work of history by Gideon...
S&S acquires historical fiction debut
23 February 2021
Simon & Schuster (S&S) has acquired world rights to The Understudy, a historical fiction debut by Julie Bennett. ‘The Understudy is set in 1973, the year the Opera House opened....
Text announces Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers
23 February 2021
Text Publishing has announced the Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers, a new initiative designed to nurture and encourage a new Australian children’s writer under the age of 25. The...
Australian Book Design Awards 2021 longlists announced
22 February 2021
The longlists for the Australian Book Design Awards, presented by the Australian Book Designers Association (ABDA), have been announced. Longlisted titles in some of the categories are: Best Designed Commercial...
ABIA 2021 longlists announced
22 February 2021
The longlists for the 2021 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) have been announced. The titles in each category are: General fiction book of the year The Bluffs (Kyle Perry, Michael...
SRB to increase nonfiction reviews; festivals, Wheeler Centre receive funding
22 February 2021
The Copyright Agency has announced funding from its Cultural Fund to support writers via the Sydney Review of Books (SRB) and panels at seven major writers festivals and the Wheeler...
Publisher, bookseller Facebook pages wiped of content
19 February 2021
Many book publishers, literary journals and booksellers have had their Facebook pages wiped of content after the social media platform banned the sharing of all Australian news content in response...
Kelly departs HarperCollins
19 February 2021
HarperCollins Australia has announced the departure of sales director Darren Kelly, after nine years in the role. HarperCollins ANZ CEO Jim Demetriou said, ‘Darren has been an amazing advocate for...
WAYRBA 2021 shortlists announced
18 February 2021
The shortlists for the 2021 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Awards (WAYRBA) have been announced. The shortlisted titles in each category are: Picture books Pig the Blob (Aaron Blabey, Scholastic) Twelve...
PRH acquires Lattouf’s ‘How to Lose Friends and Influence White People’
18 February 2021
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has acquired the first book by journalist and activist Antoinette Lattouf, How to Lose Friends and Influence White People. The book was acquired at auction...
Inaugural Little Hare Illustration Prize winner announced
17 February 2021
Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing (HGCP) has announced Meg Rennie as the winner of the inaugural 2020 Little Hare Illustration Prize. ‘Meg’s artwork enchanted the judging panel with her vivacious character...
Avery signs four-book deal after Walker Wednesday submission
17 February 2021
Walker Books Australia has acquired world rights to two picture books and two graphic novels by Western Australian author Sean E Avery, after he submitted his manuscripts to Walker Wednesday....
HarperCollins acquires two Foster novels
17 February 2021
HarperCollins Australia has acquired ANZ rights to two new novels by Sara Foster, via Tara Wynne at Curtis Brown in a ‘fiercely contested’ auction. The first title, The Hush, ‘is...
Staff changes at Readings: Kenwood resigns; Ryan appointed Carlton shop manager
17 February 2021
Former Penguin Random House (PRH) publishing manager Louise Ryan has joined Readings as the manager of the company's Carlton shop. Ryan resigned from her role at PRH in December last...
HarperCollins acquires Cowell novel ‘Plum’
16 February 2021
HarperCollins Australia has acquired ANZ rights to Plum, a new novel by writer, actor and director Brendan Cowell. Plum tells the story of Peter ‘The Plum’ Lum, a 48-year-old ex-NRL...
Ultimo acquires Coleman nonfiction title ‘Lies, Damned Lies’
16 February 2021
Ultimo Press has acquired world rights to Lies, Damned Lies, a new nonfiction book by Noongar writer Claire G Coleman. Lies, Damned Lies is described by the publisher as a...
Avid Reader fundraising for shop mural
15 February 2021
Brisbane's Avid Reader has partnered with arts organisation Chrysalis Projects 4101 and Aboriginal artist Vernon Ah Kee to create a proposed mural on the side of the bookshop's West End...
IPEd, BWF to collaborate on Authors and Editors in Conversation series
12 February 2021
The Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) and the Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) will host a series of online events to highlight the creative collaborations between authors and editors. The Authors...
A&U acquires Agnew science debut
12 February 2021
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to a debut nonfiction book by Bachelor star Matt Agnew. Agnew, an astrophysicist, will explore the search for life in the solar...
S&S acquires Zonfrillo memoir
12 February 2021
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has acquired the autobiography of chef and MasterChef Australia judge, Jock Zonfrillo. Zonfrillo’s memoir will tell the story of his troubled adolescence growing up in...
