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ABIA 2025 books shortlists announced

ABIA Celebrating 25 Years logo Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Books+Publishing, in partnership with the Australian Publishers Association, has announced the 2025 book award shortlists for the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs). The shortlisted titles in each category are: Audiobook...

Macmillan signs Blabey in seven-book deal 

Pan Macmillan logo Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Macmillan has acquired rights to seven new titles from internationally bestselling author Aaron Blabey. The deal, worth eight figures, encompasses seven titles in two new middle-grade series, to be published...

Larrikin House acquires Mather picture book 

a portrait of Rory H Mather Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Larrikin House has acquired world rights to Otto's INKcredible First Day of School by Rory H Mather, with illustrations by Rebel Challenger. The story follows Otto, an octopus who sprays...

Beer’s ‘Thunderhead’ optioned for film 

Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Thunderhead (Sophie Beer, A&U) has been optioned by LateNite films, in a film and television deal negotiated by Annabel Barker Agency. Beer’s first middle-grade novel, Thunderhead draws on the author’s own...

A&U acquires Wallace debut novel ‘Ash’ 

Photograph of Louise Wallace Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world English (ex NZ) rights to debut novel Ash by Louise Wallace, in a deal brokered by Martin Shaw at Shaw Literary. North American...

Bundyi acquires two Morison novels 

a portrait of Judi Morison Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Simon & Schuster imprint Bundyi Publishing has acquired world rights to two novels by Judi Morison. Morison’s debut, Secrets, ‘touches on many of the issues we are still grappling with...

S&S acquires new Matthews fiction 

A photo of Amy Matthews. Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has acquired world rights to The House on Tinker Street by Amy Matthews in a two-book, six-figure deal via Sarah Younger at Nancy Yost Literary...

S&S acquires Reid memoir 

Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has acquired ANZ rights to Destination Moon, a memoir by former Formula One aerodynamicist and Lune Croissanterie founder Kate Reid, via Tara Wynne at Curtis...

Australia Reads announces LitUp 

Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Australia Reads has announced LitUp, a new live literature initiative for author events. The program will offer funding and support for 20 communities to host live literature events with writers...

UWA Publishing announces Spiers Prize 

The Spiers Prize logo Wednesday, 12 March 2025
UWA Publishing has announced the establishment of a new national children’s fiction manuscript prize in honour of Australian primary school teacher and philanthropist Gail Spiers. Announced to coincide with UWA...

Transit Lounge acquires Fyfe novel 

Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Transit Lounge has acquired world rights to The Cross Thieves by Alan Fyfe. The Perth-based author’s second novel is ‘tough, poetic and truly beautiful’, said publisher Barry Scott. ‘It is the...

PRH acquires Laguna novel 

Sofie Laguna. Credit: Rochelle Van de Merwe Wednesday, 5 March 2025
Penguin Random House (PRH) Australia has acquired ANZ rights to The Underworld by Sofie Laguna; PRH publisher Meredith Curnow acquired the rights from Grace Heifetz at A4 Literary. PRH described...

Victorian Community History Awards shortlist announced

royal historical society victoria Wednesday, 5 March 2025
The shortlist for this year‘s Victorian Community History Awards has been announced. A total of 39 publications and projects were shortlisted for 10 prizes ranging from $500 to $2000 each,...

Stella Prize 2025 longlist announced

the stella prize logo Tuesday, 4 March 2025
The longlist for the $60,000 Stella Prize for women and non-binary writers has been announced. The longlisted books are: A Language of Limbs (Dylin Hardcastle, Picador) Always Will Be (Mykaela...

Open Book program expands in 2025 

open book logo Wednesday, 26 February 2025
In 2025, the Open Book Internship Program will host four paid internships, including one dedicated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified role. Initially run as a pilot project with two...

Atria acquires Thompson horror-romance debut 

a portrait of Shailee Thompson Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Atria Books Australia, the new imprint from Simon & Schuster (S&S), has acquired world English rights for How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson in a...

CBCA 2025 Notable Books announced

Wednesday, 26 February 2025
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its list of Notable Books for 2025. The list acts as the longlist for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards....

Ricketson named ABR Rising Star 

Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Australian Book Review (ABR) has named Jonathan Ricketson its Rising Star for 2025. Ricketson is currently undertaking a PhD at Monash University on true crime writing and its ethical and...

A&U acquires Petraitis novel 

Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to The Stolen, a crime novel by Vikki Petraitis, via Andrew Taylor of More Talent. The Stolen features the detective Antigone Pollard,...

Summit Books acquires new Lee fiction 

a portrait of Bri Lee in Antarctica Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Simon & Schuster (S&S) imprint Summit Books has acquired ANZ rights to Bri Lee’s second novel, Seed, from agent Grace Heifetz at a4 Literary. The novel introduces Mitchell and Frances,...

Knox longlisted for 2025 Walter Scott Prize

logo walter scott prize Wednesday, 19 February 2025
In the UK, the Abbotsford Trust has announced the longlist for the 16th Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction (WSP).  Among those longlisted is local author Malcolm Knox for his...

S&S Australia launches Atria imprint 

Atria books logo Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Simon & Schuster (S&S) Australia has announced the launch of new imprint Atria Books Australia, to be led by publisher Anthea Bariamis. Atria Books is already an imprint with S&S...

Stricker wins 2025 Peter Porter Poetry Prize

a portrait of Meredith Stricker Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Meredith Stricker was awarded the 2025 Peter Porter Poetry Prize, run by the Australian Book Review (ABR) and worth $6000, at a ceremony in Melbourne last night. ABR outgoing editor Peter...