Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

Image. Advertisement:

Weekly news >

Pigface Bookstore opens in Perth 

Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Pigface Bookstore opened on 12 September in Perth, after completing renovations. The new bookstore occupies the bottom floor of a shop on Barrack Street in Perth’s city centre, with plans...

Radio National runs Top 100 Books poll

the Top 100 books logo Wednesday, 17 September 2025
ABC Radio National is running a month-long poll to compile a list of its top 100 books of the 21st century. The poll, which opened 1 September, asks readers to...

Novel Insight launches Reviewer’s Choice Award

Novel Insight Reviewer's Choice award logo Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Book review site Novel Insight has launched a new prize – the Reviewer's Choice Award. With Australian-authored books eligible when reviewed within the first 12 months of their release date,...

Larrikin acquires Vee picture book

A portrait of Dani Vee Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Larrikin House has acquired world rights to My Spinning Anxious Brain, a picture book by Dani Vee, illustrated by Ruth-Mary Smith. ‘Empathetic, gentle and fun’, My Spinning Anxious Brain ‘explains exactly...

HarperCollins acquires Orgias’ debut crime novel

Wednesday, 10 September 2025
HarperCollins Publishers Australia has acquired ANZ rights to Teeth Kicker, the debut crime novel by Glenn Orgias, in a deal brokered by Jeanne Ryckmans of Key People Literary Management. ‘Set on...

Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship to end in 2026

Wednesday, 10 September 2025
The Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship will conclude in 2026. In a joint email from the Hazel Rowley Fellowship committee and Writers Victoria, organisers said, ‘It is with some sadness, but...

Queensland Literary Awards 2025 shortlists announced

Tuesday, 9 September 2025
The shortlists for the 2025 Queensland Literary Awards have been announced. The shortlisted titles in each category are: Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance ($30,000) Australian Gospel:...

Roper on 2025 Cundill History Prize shortlist

Wednesday, 3 September 2025
Australian historian and author Lyndal Roper has been named on the 2025 Cundill History Prize shortlist. The prize, worth US$75,000 (A$115,137), aims to highlight ‘books that uncover neglected histories and...

ARA Historical Novel Prize 2025 longlists announced

HNSA 2025 adult longlist – a grouping of covers Wednesday, 3 September 2025
The Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) has announced the longlists for the 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize. Longlisted titles are: Adult category  All the Bees in the Hollows (Lauren Keegan,...

Time to Write announces Paragraph Fellowship shortlist

The logo for Time to Write Wednesday, 3 September 2025
Time to Write has announced the shortlist for the 2025 Paragraph Fellowship, worth $25,000. The six shortlisted writers and the working titles of their entries are: Alan Fyfe for ‘The...

Big Issue 2025 fiction edition released

The Big Issue Fiction Edition 2025 cover Wednesday, 3 September 2025
The Big Issue has announced the authors chosen for its 21st annual fiction edition. The 2025 edition includes short stories from 11 writers. Stories were selected from more than 863 submissions,...

Roche wins 2025 Moth Short Story Prize

Wednesday, 27 August 2025
The Moth magazine has announced Australian author Clare Roche as the winner of the 2025 Moth Short Story Prize for ‘(Un)Tethered’. Roche will receive €3,000 (A$5376), and ‘(Un)Tethered’ will be...

Danger Awards 2025 shortlists announced

Wednesday, 27 August 2025
The BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival has announced the shortlists for the 2025 Danger Awards. Shortlisted titles in each category are: Debut crime fiction What I Would Do to You...

Papercuts Comics Festival announces program

Papercuts Comics Festival 2025 Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Papercuts Comics Festival has announced its 2025 program, running 12–14 September in Adelaide. Artists appearing include Alice Lam, Chad Molyneux, Evie ‘YEEVZ’ Hilliar, Molly Hunt, Nicola Scott and Robin Tatlow-Lord....

S&S acquires Kitching’s next thriller

Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has acquired world rights to thriller novel The Secrets of Strangers by Jess Kitching, in a deal brokered by Daniel Pilkington at the Pilkington Agency....

Keeperton acquires Belan’s debut

Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Keeperton has acquired world rights to debut novel The Line by Jeremy Belan, in a two-book deal. The Line is a coming-of-age story following Eddie, who is caught between two...

Christmas Press acquires Kelleher middle-grade

A portrait of Victor Kelleher Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Christmas Press imprint Eagle Books has acquired world rights to Only the Wild, an upper middle-grade/YA novel by Victor Kelleher, via Margaret Connolly of Margaret Connolly and Associates. Christmas Press...

Red Room Poetry announces 2025 youth ambassadors

Red Room Poetry logo Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Red Room Poetry has announced the 2025 participants in its Red Room Poetry Youth Ambassadors program. The 2025 ambassadors are: Rataj Abdullah (regional NSW) Charlee Brooks (Vic) Maggie Knight-Williams (ACT)...

Promotions, moves at S&S 

Simon & Schuster logo Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has announced staffing changes, alongside news that the Affirm Press team will move to the S&S Melbourne offices. S&S marketing and publicity director Fleur Hamilton...

S&S announces new dedicated children’s team 

Simon & Schuster logo Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has announced the formation of a ‘dedicated team focused on publishing, product, sales, marketing and publicity for children’s books’. Under S&S children's publishing director Tash...

Books pitched at MIFF 2025 

Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Six titles were selected for pitching at the 37ºSouth Market’s Books at MIFF program, which promotes books to potential screen rights buyers at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). The...

PANZ Publishing Market Size Report 2024 released 

Wednesday, 6 August 2025
Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ) released its 2024 Publishing Market Size Report to members on the week of 30 July, revealing a total of NZD...