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Brow Books acquires graphic novel ‘Stone Fruit’

Thursday, 6 February 2020
Brow Books has acquired ANZ rights to debut graphic novel Stone Fruit by Montreal-based Australian comics artist Lee Lai. Stone Fruit follows queer couple Bron and Ray who ‘enjoy their...

King, Murray awarded 2020 Waitangi Day Honours

Wednesday, 5 February 2020
Writer and WORD Christchurch director Rachael King and science fiction author Lee Murray have been named in the New Zealand Society of Authors’ (NZSA) annual Waitangi Day Honours. King was...

Williams steps down as Wheeler Centre director 

Tuesday, 4 February 2020
Michael Williams will step down from his position as the Wheeler Centre director, after 10 years in the role. ‘Being part of establishing, defining and shaping the Wheeler Centre over...

Pascoe withdraws from Perth and Adelaide festival events

A photo of Bruce Pascoe. He stands outside and is wearing a red shirt. Monday, 3 February 2020
Author Bruce Pascoe has withdrawn from scheduled appearances at Perth Festival and Adelaide Writers’ Week, citing a need to return to his bushfire-affected home in East Gippsland. Pascoe announced he...

Caffoor to leave Text 

Friday, 31 January 2020
Text rights manager Khadija Caffoor is leaving the company to return to the UK. Caffoor has worked in rights at Text since 2016. Caffoor told Books+Publishing she'd decided ‘it was...

Booktopia buys Co-op assets; campus stores to close

Friday, 31 January 2020
Online bookseller Booktopia has bought ‘various’ assets of the Co-op Bookshop from the administrators of the University Co-operative Bookshop. As previously reported by Books+Publishing, the University Co-operative Bookshop, which included...

Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2020 longlists announced

Thursday, 30 January 2020
The longlists for the 2020 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards have been announced. The longlisted titles in each category are: Fiction The Absolute Book (Elizabeth Knox, Victoria University Press) Lonely Asian...

‘Dating coaches’ target Kinokuniya Sydney

Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Kinokuniya in Sydney has apologised to customers after being made aware that a 'dating coaching' company had been using the store to practice 'pickup' techniques with its clients. In an...

Faber Writing Academy expands to Brisbane

Tuesday, 28 January 2020
In 2020 Allen & Unwin (A&U) will expand the Faber Writing Academy to offer courses in Brisbane for the first time. Run by UK-based Faber & Faber in partnership with...

Pantera acquires Emanuel’s ‘The Covered Wife’

Friday, 24 January 2020
Pantera Press has acquired ANZ rights to Lisa Emanuel’s debut novel The Covered Wife, via Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management. Emanuel’s novel follows an ambitious young lawyer who falls under...

Gomez leaves PRH 

Friday, 24 January 2020
Elena Gomez has left her role as deputy managing editor at Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) to pursue a career in freelance writing and editing. Gomez, who worked at PRH...

Robotham, Tranter nominated for 2020 Edgar Awards

Thursday, 23 January 2020
In the US, Australian authors Michael Robotham and Kirsten Tranter have been shortlisted for 2020 Edgar Allan Poe Awards. The 'Edgars' honour ‘the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television’...

Antigny, Narayan to join Pantera Press 

Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Pantera Press has appointed Léa Antigny as head of publicity and communications, and Kajal Narayan in the role of marketing manager. Antigny and Narayan will replace current publicity and marketing...

New Zealand book market up 2.3% in 2019

Wednesday, 22 January 2020
New Zealand book sales were up 2.3% in value and 3.5% by volume in the past year, according to data from Nielsen BookScan. In total, 6.4 million units were sold...

Hazel Rowley Fellowship 2020 shortlist announced

the logo for Writers Victoria Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Writers Victoria has announced the shortlist for the 2020 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship, awarded annually to an Australian writer for a proposed biographical work. The shortlisted writers and their projects...

Hachette acquires Byrne’s book on family history 

Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Hachette Australia has acquired world rights to a new book by journalist and TV personality Jennifer Byrne, based on the lives of two 14th-century English regal women who are Byrne’s...