S&S creates new global distribution channel
Monday, 4 May 2026
Simon & Schuster (S&S) has created Simon Global, a new global distribution service, reports Publishers Weekly (PW). S&S has promoted Caryn Schwartz in the US and Alex Santos in the...
A&U acquires Knox’s “The Second Child”
Monday, 4 May 2026
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to Malcolm Knox’s The Second Child, in a deal brokered by Jane Novak of Jane Novak Literary Agency. Following on from Knox’s...
Varuna 2026 Trans and Gender Diverse Fellowship recipients announced
Monday, 4 May 2026
Varuna, the National Writers’ House has announced the recipients of the 2026 Trans and Gender Diverse Fellowship. The fellowship recipients are: Dani Leever Hay Elliott-Ryan Mohammad Taha Robin M Eames...
Wakefield wins Edgar Award
Monday, 4 May 2026
Adelaide-based author Vikki Wakefield has won the award for Best Paperback Original at the Edgar Allan Poe Awards for To the River (Text). Published in the US under the name...
Wheeler Centre 2026 Hot Desk Fellows announced
Monday, 4 May 2026
The Wheeler Centre has announced the 22 successful applicants for its 2026 Hot Desk Fellowships. The emerging writers who will be this year's fellows are: Amarantha Nicola Bryant Anna Carlsson...
Oodgeroo Noonuccal honoured in inaugural Luminas
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Activist and poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal has been announced as the arts/creative honouree in the Hall of Fame category of the inaugural Luminas honours program. Presented by Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS)...
A&U acquires Barry’s “The Big Steal”
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to nonfiction title The Big Steal by journalist Paul Barry, direct from the author. The Big Steal recounts the story of Sanjeev...
The Nile offers international shipping
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Australian online retailer The Nile has announced it will offer international shipping services. The Nile head of books John Purcell told Books+Publishing that the online retailer would use “a variety...
ASA/HQ Fiction Prize 2026 shortlist announced
Thursday, 30 April 2026
The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) and HarperCollins publishing division HQ have announced the shortlist for the 2026 ASA/HQ Fiction Prize for an unpublished manuscript. The shortlisted works, chosen from...
Byron Writers Festival 2026 first authors announced
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Byron Writers Festival, which will run in Byron Bay, NSW from 14 to 16 August 2026, has made its first author announcement, ahead of the full 2026 program release. Australian...
Affirm Press acquires Byrt’s “Dying Days”
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Simon & Schuster imprint Affirm Press has acquired world rights to spy novel Dying Days by Aotearoa New Zealand author Anthony Byrt, via Nadine Rubin Nathan at High Spot Literary. Dying...
Rabah wins 2026 Calibre Essay Prize
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
The Australian Book Review (ABR) has announced Sahar Rabah as the 2026 winner of the $10,000 Calibre Essay Prize for her essay “Between Reality and Dreams”. “Between Reality and Dreams”...
Whitsundays Writers Festival announces 2026 program
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
Whitsundays Writers Festival has announced the program for its one-day event, to be held on 13 September 2026. Festival director Richard Evans said the 2026 program elevates local storytelling. “This...
Wiley acquires Phillips’s “The One-Page Investing Plan”
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
Wiley has acquired world rights to The One-Page Investing Plan: Start Simple, Stay Patient, Build Serious Wealth by Scott Phillips, direct from the author. The publisher said the book “makes...
Writers on the Reef 2026 residents announced
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
James Cook University’s Roderick Centre for Australian Literature (RCAL) has announced the recipients of its Writers on the Reef residency. The 4 successful writers are: Andrea Rowe Dimitra Harvey Laura...
More than 60 UQP creators call on UQ to reconsider “Bila” decision
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
More than 60 University of Queensland Press (UQP) creators have signed a statement of solidarity with Wiradjuri author Jazz Money over the University of Queensland’s decision to cancel Money’s picture...
Swan’s Miles High Club books set for screen adaptation
Monday, 27 April 2026
Amazon MGM Studios is developing a television series based on Australian author TL Swan’s Miles High Club romance novels. Swan will be an executive producer. Reporting the news, Deadline said...
ABA 2026 Book of the Year Awards shortlists announced
Monday, 27 April 2026
The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA, formerly BookPeople) has announced the shortlists of its 2026 Book of the Year Awards. These awards recognise “books that truly connected with readers and were...
QUT appoints Hay as “Meanjin” establishing editor
Monday, 27 April 2026
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has appointed Ashley Hay in the role of establishing editor of Meanjin. Hay is a former editor of the Griffith Review and is also an author....
UQP staff urge university to reconsider “Bila” cancellation
Monday, 27 April 2026
Several University of Queensland Press (UQP) staff members have signed a letter asking the University of Queensland (UQ) to reconsider its decision to cancel publication of Bila, a River Cycle...
Milsom appointed AWW director
Friday, 24 April 2026
Rosemarie Milsom has been appointed director of Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW). Milsom, the founding director of Newcastle Writers Festival (NWF), replaces Louise Adler, whose resignation in January was a response...
Araluen cuts ties with UQP after reports publisher will pulp picture book
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Stella Prize-winning Goorie and Koori poet Evelyn Araluen has announced she will terminate projects and contracts she holds with University of Queensland Press (UQP), after it was reported the publisher...
Melbourne Books acquires Holdsworth memoir “Smack Talk”
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Melbourne Books has acquired world rights to memoir Smack Talk: Turning Grief into a Movement by Australian father Wayne Holdsworth. According to the publisher, the book is a “deeply personal...
“Pissants” to be adapted for television
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Filmmakers Jesse Laurie and Lewis Mulholland have optioned television rights to Pissants by Brandon Jack (Summit Books), via Alice Cottrell on behalf of the Jane Novak Literary Agency. Laurie, a...
HarperCollins acquires Johnston nonfiction title “Fifty Beating Wonders”
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
HarperCollins has acquired ANZ rights to the nonfiction title Fifty Beating Wonders by Michelle Johnston, via Martin Shaw at Shaw Literary. Publisher Catherine Milne said, “This is the book that...
Bakers Lane acquires Strauss’s “Holding Space”
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Bakers Lane Books has acquired world rights to the nonfiction title Holding Space by Gina Strauss. The publisher described Holding Space as a “hybrid memoir and professional guide offering reflections...
Lai’s “Cannon” shortlisted for Carol Shields Prize for Fiction
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Australian cartoonist Lee Lai, who currently lives in Canada, has been shortlisted for the US$150,000 (A$209,673) Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for the graphic novel Cannon (Giramondo). The full 2026...
PANZ to host AWF festival director speed dating event, copyright workshop
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
The Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki (AWF) and the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ) will host an event to connect publishers and international festival...
NSW Literary Awards 2026 shortlists announced
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
The shortlists for the 2026 NSW Literary Awards have been announced. The shortlisted works in each category are: Christina Stead Prize for Fiction ($40,000) Cure (Katherine Brabon, Ultimo) Arborescence (Rhett...
Crema new owner of Robinsons
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Denis Crema is the new owner of the Robinsons Bookshop chain. Founded by Philip and Moira Robinson, the Robinsons business began as a local bookshop in the Melbourne suburb of...
