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PANZ Book Design Awards 2025 finalists announced 

Wednesday, 23 July 2025
The finalists in the 2025 New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu Publishers Association (PANZ) Book Design Awards have been announced. Finalists in each category are: Penguin Random House New Zealand...

Plunkett, Brooker named new ABR editors

ABR logo Tuesday, 22 July 2025
The Australian Book Review (ABR) has announced the appointments of critics Felicity Plunkett and Ben Brooker to the roles of poetry editor and arts editor respectively. Plunkett is a poet and critic...

A&U acquires Ronald’s second romcom

Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to Power Moves, Leesa Ronald’s second romcom novel. In Power Moves, ‘a workaholic communications staffer is determined to guide her beloved boss to...

PRH acquires Noni’s fantasy series

Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Penguin Random House (PRH) has announced the forthcoming publication of Shadow Reaper, a new fantasy series from YA author Lynette Noni, previously acquired in a three-book deal, via Jennifer Azantian...

Stella Day Out announces Canberra program

Stella Day out Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Stella has announced a date and full program for its upcoming Stella Day Out event in Canberra. Stella Day Out is a free one-day literary festival that ‘celebrates and promotes...

S&S acquires Reynolds’ memoir

Monday, 21 July 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has acquired world rights for the memoir On My Own Terms by Adam Reynolds, via agent Steve Gillis. According to the publisher, the memoir tracks Reynolds'...

Magabala announces First Nations romance anthology

Monday, 21 July 2025
Magabala Books has announced a call for submissions for a First Nations romance anthology, to be edited by Ambelin Kwaymullina, Melanie Saward and Kate Cuthbert. According to the publisher, the...

A&U acquires Heath’s ‘Kill Your Boss’

Monday, 21 July 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to Jack Heath’s crime novel, Kill Your Boss, via Alexandra Christie from Curtis Brown Australia. Detective Sergeant Kiara Lui returns for a...

Pantera acquires ‘Juicy’ memoir by Joseph

Monday, 21 July 2025
Pantera Press has acquired world rights for the memoir Juicy: How to Live a Life in the Wreckage of Expectations by debut Lebanese-Australian author Sheree Joseph, in a two-book deal...

Indigenous Literacy Foundation rebrands

Thursday, 17 July 2025
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) has launched a new brand identity, slogan and logo. The rebrand reflects ‘community-led values, celebrates First Nations storytelling and honours the diverse cultures and Communities...

Gippsland Writers Festival releases 2025 program

Gippsland Writers Festival logo Thursday, 17 July 2025
The Gippsland Writers Festival, formerly known as StoryFest, has released its 2025 program. The festival, which runs 1–3 August in Yarram, will open with ‘You are Here’, a conversation featuring...

Te Pae Tawhiti Awards launched for spec fic writers

Thursday, 17 July 2025
Speculative Fiction Writers of New Zealand (SpecFicNZ) has launched the Te Pae Tawhiti Awards for Aotearoa and Pasifika speculative fiction writers. The awards will aim to spotlight local writers and...

Nolan joins A&U 

A portrait of Emma Nolan Thursday, 17 July 2025
Emma Nolan will be joining Allen & Unwin as publisher in September. Most recently commercial nonfiction publisher at Simon & Schuster where she published works by Sam Kerr, Eddie Betts,...

2025 Ngaio Marsh Award Best Novel longlist announced

Ngaio Marsh logo Thursday, 17 July 2025
The longlist for this year’s Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel, which celebrates Aotearoa New Zealand crime, mystery or thriller writing has been announced. The longlisted titles are: Return to...

PRH acquires Thian’s YA in two-book deal

Aurelne Thian Thursday, 17 July 2025
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has acquired Dear Campus Cupid by Aurelne Thian, in a two-book deal brokered by Danielle Binks from Jacinta di Mase Management. According to the publisher, Dear...

Melbourne Books acquires Entrecôte cookbook

Jason Jones Thursday, 17 July 2025
Melbourne Books has acquired world rights to Entrecôte by restaurant owner Jason M Jones. Jones is the owner of the titular Melbourne restaurant in Prahran that describes itself as ‘a renaissance...

Vale Jess Knight

A portrait of Jess Knight Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Writer, poet and artist Jess Knight has died at the age of 42. Ultimo publishing director Robert Watkins writes, I had the inestimable honour of working with Jessica Knight on...

Hepworth’s ‘The Soulmate’ adapted for TV 

Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Production company Made Up Stories (Nine Perfect Strangers, Strife) is set to produce a television adaption of The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth (Macmillan). Executive producers for the series will include...

Words in Winter 2025 festival program launched

Wednesday, 16 July 2025
The Words in Winter festival has announced its full 2025 program, which will run 22–21 and 29–31 August on Dja Dja Wurrung country, across Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, Victoria. The...

PRH Write It fellowship shortlist announced

Write It Shortlist image Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has announced the shortlist for the 2025 Write It fellowship. The shortlisted writers are: Ceilidh Newbury for ‘Skates, Dates, and Other Deadly Weapons’ (young adult...

PRH launches children’s bookseller grant 

Penguin Children's Bookseller Grant image Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has announced a $200,000 grant for booksellers working to improve reading rates among younger readers. The Penguin Children’s Bookseller Grant is open to bookstores with...

WORD Christchurch 2025 program announced

Word Christchurch Logo Tuesday, 15 July 2025
WORD Christchurch Festival, which will run this year 27–31 August, has announced its full program. With the theme ‘Share the Joy of Words’, this year's program includes over 90 writers...

Johnson wins 2025 Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship

Yasmin Johnson Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Writing NSW and Text Publishing have announced Yasmin Johnson as the 2025 winner of the Indigenous Writer's Mentorship for her nonfiction manuscript exploring intergenerational storytelling set in Palm Island. A...

Davitt Awards 2025 shortlists announced

Davitt Awards logo Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Sisters in Crime has announced the shortlists for the 2025 Davitt Awards for the best crime books by Australian women. The shortlisted titles in each category are: Adult novels Highway...