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Suzie Miller on ‘Prima Facie’ 

Tuesday, 8 August 2023
Suzie Miller is a playwright, screenwriter and novelist who splits her time between the UK and Sydney. Prima Facie (Picador, September) is an adaptation of her smash-hit one-woman play, which...

Davis joins Hardie Grant 

Tuesday, 8 August 2023
Hardie Grant has announced the appointment of Simon Davis to the role of food and lifestyle publisher for Hardie Grant Books, replacing Michael Harry. After starting out at Hardie Grant...

Pantera acquires Price debut 

An author photo of Lucinda Price. Her hair is tied back and she is looking at the camera. Tuesday, 8 August 2023
Pantera Press has acquired world rights to Perfect Candidate, a debut work of nonfiction from Lucinda Price (also known as Froomes), via Claire Harrison at Creative Representation. Pantera Press described...

KKR to acquire S&S

Tuesday, 8 August 2023
Paramount Global—the owner of Simon & Schuster (S&S)—and private equity firm KKR have announced an agreement for KKR to acquire S&S for US$1.62 (A$2.47) billion in an all-cash transaction. In...

S&S reportedly closing in on deal

Monday, 7 August 2023
In the US, numerous news outlets are reporting the sale of Simon & Schuster (S&S) will be announced as soon as this week, reports Publishers Weekly. Reuters is reporting the...

Ned Kelly Awards 2023 shortlists announced

the logo for the 2023 Ned Kelly Awards, featuring Ned Kelly's helmet and a quill Monday, 7 August 2023
The Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) has announced the shortlisted titles for the 2023 Ned Kelly Awards. The shortlists for the awards’ four categories include the following titles: Best true...

NSW Premier’s History Awards 2023 shortlists announced

Monday, 7 August 2023
The State Library of NSW (SLNSW) has announced the shortlists for the 2023 NSW Premier’s History Awards. The shortlisted titles in each category are: Australian history prize Elizabeth and John:...

Ultimo acquires de Monchaux’s debut novel 

Friday, 4 August 2023
Ultimo Press has acquired world rights to Annie de Monchaux's debut novel Audrey's Gone AWOL, via Sarah McKenzie at Sarah McKenzie literary management, which it describes as ‘a charming story...

First ArtsPay recipients announced

Friday, 4 August 2023
The ArtsPay Foundation has announced its first grants for independent artists, funded by merchants that have chosen to use ArtsPay as their payment processor. Among the recipients are two writers,...

Lloyd, Sandiford join UQP 

Thursday, 3 August 2023
University of Queensland Press (UQP) has appointed Kate Lloyd as sales and distribution manager, and Erin Sandiford as rights and contracts manager. Loyd was most recently sales and marketing manager...

‘The Idea of Australia’ to become doco 

Thursday, 3 August 2023
A documentary series based on The Idea of Australia: A search for the soul of the nation (Julianne Schultz, A&U) has received funding from Screen Australia. The four-part SBS series...

Pantera acquires Glenn debut thriller in two-book deal 

Thursday, 3 August 2023
Pantera Press has acquired world rights for Susannah Glenn’s Between Husbands and Wives, a ‘gripping’ domestic thriller set in Far North Queensland, in a two-book deal. Between Husbands and Wives...

QBD Books opens Dubbo store

Thursday, 3 August 2023
Bookselling chain QBD Books will open its 87th store in the NSW central west town of Dubbo, at the shopping centre Orana Mall on 12 August. QBD Books CEO Nick...

Queensland Literary Awards 2023 shortlists

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
The shortlists for the 2023 Queensland Literary Awards have been announced. The shortlisted titles in each category are: Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance We Come with...

Meet the Rising Stars 2023: Genevieve Nelsson 

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
The Australian Publishers Association Rising Star award recognises an emerging talent in Australian publishing who has spent less than 10 years in the industry. In the lead-up to the winner announcement at...

Thank you Mark Rubbo, from a sales rep 

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
Mark Rubbo retired as Readings MD on 28 July, after 50 years in the books business. Hardie Grant Books area manager, Victoria and Tasmania, Mandy Wildsmith reflects on working with...

Booker Prize 2023 longlist announced

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
The longlist for the 2023 Booker Prize has been announced. The 13 books longlisted for the £50,000 (A$96,700) prize are: A Spell of Good Things (Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Canongate) Old God’s...

Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize shortlist announced

ABR logo Tuesday, 1 August 2023
The Australian Book Review (ABR) has announced the shortlist for the 2023 Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. The shortlisted stories are: ‘Black Wax’ by Winter Bel (France/UK) ‘The Mannequin’ by Rowan Heath (Victoria) ‘Our...

UQP acquires Figueroa Barroso debut 

Tuesday, 1 August 2023
UQP has acquired world rights to debut novel Hailstones Fell without Rain by Natalia Figueroa Barroso. Hailstones Fell without Rain is a semi-autobiographical novel that focuses on the experiences of...

Rewell wins 2023 Furphy Literary Award

Monday, 31 July 2023
The winners of the 2023 Furphy Literary Award have been announced. Journalist and copywriter Jen Rewell won this year's $15,000 award for ‘Away to Me’, which judges described as an...

Nib Literary Award 2023 longlist announced

Monday, 31 July 2023
The longlist for the 2023 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award, worth $40,000, has been announced. The longlisted titles are: An Intimate History of Evolution: The story of the...

Audiobook publisher RBmedia to be sold

Monday, 31 July 2023
In the US, private equity firm KKR is selling the audiobook publisher RBmedia to investment firm H.I.G Capital, reports Publishers Weekly. RBmedia is reportedly being sold for more than US$1...

Lagardère Publishing sales grow 2.5% in first half

Friday, 28 July 2023
Hachette parent company Lagardère Publishing’s sales grew 2.5% in the first six months of 2023, while higher costs pushed profits down, reports Publishers Weekly. Lagardère’s recurring EBIT (earnings before interest...

Kingsolver, Pinkckney win James Tait Black Prizes

Thursday, 27 July 2023
In the UK, Barbara Kingsolver and Darryl Pinckney have been awarded the James Tait Black Prizes for fiction and biography respectively. Kingsolver was awarded the fiction prize for Demon Copperhead...