News | Books+Publishing

Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

US print book sales down 4.1%

Monday, 16 October 2023
In the US, print book sales fell 4.1% in the first nine months of 2023 at outlets reporting to Circana BookScan, compared to the same period in 2022, reports Publishers...

UK Society of Authors questions Spotify deal

Friday, 13 October 2023
The UK Society of Authors (SoA) has expressed ‘deep concern’ about Spotify’s deal with major book publishers announced last week, reports Publishing Perspectives. In a statement to Publishing Perspectives, the...

Australian Political Book of the Year 2023 shortlist revealed

Friday, 13 October 2023
The shortlist for the 2023 Australian Political Book of the Year award has been announced. This year’s shortlist includes four titles: Australia’s China Odyssey: From euphoria to fear (James Curran, NewSouth)...

Walkley Book Award longlist announced

Friday, 13 October 2023
The longlist for the Walkley Book Award has been announced. The longlisted works are: The Great Dead Body Teachers (Jackie Dent, Ultimo Press) Ghosts of the Orphanage (Christine Kenneally, Hachette Australia) The...

Robinsons Bookshop celebrates 60th anniversary

Friday, 13 October 2023
Independent chain Robinsons Bookshop is celebrating its 60th anniversary this month. Philip and Moira Robinson opened the first Robinsons Bookshop in Frankston, Victoria, in 1963. The shop moved in 1992...

Inaugural Varuna Ann Moyal Nonfiction Fellowship winners

Thursday, 12 October 2023
Varuna, the National Writers’ House, has announced Sarah Holland-Batt, Cathy Perkins and Geordie Williamson as the recipients of the inaugural Ann Moyal Nonfiction Fellowship. Holland-Batt, Perkins and Williamson were chosen...

Womersley, Mullins, Limbrick awarded Copyright Agency fellowships

Thursday, 12 October 2023
The 2023 Copyright Agency Author Fellowship and Fellowship for Nonfiction Writing have been awarded to Chris Womersley and Patrick Mullins respectively, while Scott Limbrick is the inaugural recipient of the...

Wiley CEO Napack steps down

Thursday, 12 October 2023
In the US, Wiley president and CEO Brian Napack has resigned from the company, reports Publishers Weekly. Napack has held the roles of president and CEO since December 2017. He...

How to Be Remembered to be adapted to film

Thursday, 12 October 2023
Michael Thompson’s novel How to Be Remembered (A&U) will be adapted as a feature film by MRC Film in the US. According to Deadline, the novel will be adapted for...

‘The Sitter’ rights sold, awarded Joan C Bell Prize

Thursday, 12 October 2023
University of Queensland Press (UQP) has sold North American rights to Angela O’Keeffe’s latest novel, The Sitter, to Jim Gauer at Zerogram, in a deal brokered by UQP rights and...

Affirm Press acquires Duckor-Jones coming-of-age novel

Thursday, 12 October 2023
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to Max, a coming-of-age novel by Avi Duckor-Jones, via Jane Novak Literary Agency. The titular protagonist is ‘grappling with questions about his birth parents and...

Local editors shortlisted for International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing

Thursday, 12 October 2023
Julie Ganner and Agata Mrva-Montoya, both University of Sydney Master of Publishing lecturers and Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) members, have been shortlisted for the Accessible Books Consortium’s (ABC)...

PW conference on AI and book publishing

Wednesday, 11 October 2023
Publishers Weekly (PW) hosted an AI webinar, Artificial Intelligence: Revolution and Opportunity in Trade Publishing, on 27 September, led by digital publishing analyst Thad McIlroy and online strategy director Peter...

Inaugural Stella Day Out announced

Wednesday, 11 October 2023
Stella has announced the inaugural Stella Day Out, a free one-day literary festival that ‘celebrates and promotes the outstanding contributions of women and non-binary writers to Australian literature’. The event...

Richell Prize 2023 shortlist announced

Wednesday, 11 October 2023
Hachette, in partnership with the Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF), has announced the shortlist for the 2023 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers. The five shortlisted entries are: ‘When I Was Your...

Introducing Key People

Wednesday, 11 October 2023
Earlier this year, publishing professionals Lou Johnson and Jeanne Ryckmans set up a new literary agency, Key People Literary Management. With a connection going back to their time as colleagues...

Newcastle Poetry Prize 2023 shortlist announced

Wednesday, 11 October 2023
The Hunter Writers’ Centre has announced the 2023 shortlist for the $15,000 Newcastle Poetry Prize, with several poets reaching the shortlist with more than one entry. Shortlisted poets include: Eileen...

Pickard appointed OUP ANZ general manager

Wednesday, 11 October 2023
OUP ANZ has announced that former operations director Selina Pickard is returning to the organisation in the role of general manager. At OUP, Pickard was previously a digital and creative...

The Community Publishing Research Project

Wednesday, 11 October 2023
The Community Publishing in Regional Australia project team comprises academic researchers Beth Driscoll, Kim Wilkins, Sandra Phillips and Alexandra Dane. With funding from the Australian Research Council, the project runs...