News | Books+Publishing

Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

Monday, 26 October 2020
Michael Robotham has won the 2020 UK Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Gold Dagger for Good Girl Bad Girl (Hachette). Good Girl Bad Girl was one of six titles shortlisted for...

Papas wins 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award

Monday, 26 October 2020
Perth writer Maria Papas has won the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award for an unpublished manuscript for 'I Belong to the Lake', a work of literary fiction about a family's...

Scribe to publish first graphic novel, acquires two more book-length comics

Thursday, 22 October 2020
Scribe Publications has acquired world rights to two book-length comics: a work of graphic nonfiction by artist and organiser Sam Wallman, and a graphic novel written by Luke C Jackson...

McGuire wins 2020 Ray Koppe Residency

Thursday, 22 October 2020
Melbourne writer Tim McGuire has won the Australian Society of Authors (ASA)’s 2020 Ray Koppe Young Writers Residency for his manuscript ‘Game Farm’. McGuire's literary suspense novel is a creative...

‘Flames’ to be adapted for screen

Thursday, 22 October 2020
Flames, the debut novel by Robbie Arnott (Text), will be developed into a six-part television series with Tasmanian government funding of $20,000. The project, which will be produced by Jungle...

Two in three UK authors, illustrators report loss of income

Thursday, 22 October 2020
In the UK, a Society of Authors (SoA) survey of the financial impact of Covid-19 has found 65% of authors, illustrators and literary translators have reported a loss of income—up...

No ‘Daily’ on Friday

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Please note that due to Victoria's AFL Grand Final public holiday on Friday, 23 October, the next 'Daily' newsletter will be published on Monday, 26 October.

Ampersand Prize 2020 shortlist announced

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing (HGCP) has announced the shortlist for its 2020 Ampersand Prize for unpublished young adult and middle-grade fiction. The five shortlisted authors and their works are: Conan...

US$75k Cundill History Prize 2020 finalists announced

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
The three finalists for the Cundill History Prize have been announced. Chosen from a shortlist of 10, the finalists are: Tacky’s Revolt: The story of an Atlantic slave war (Vincent Brown,...

S&S creates new audiobook role as audio sales on track to double

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Simon & Schuster Australia (S&S) has promoted Anthea Bariamis to a new position focusing on local audio titles, among a number of staff changes designed to support the publisher’s local...

Buchmesse buzz: how bestsellers originate at Frankfurt

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Publishing academics Beth Driscoll and Claire Squires conducted fieldwork at Frankfurt Buchmesse 2017–2019 to examine what makes a bestseller at the fair. The result was The Frankfurt Book Fair and...

McLean receives inaugural $10k Albert Ullin Award

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Andrew McLean is the winner of the inaugural Albert Ullin Award. The $10,000 biennial award, created with a bequest from the late The Little Book Room co-founder Albert Ullin, is...

Celebrating in a pandemic: 30 years of independence at A&U

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Several publishers had big plans for significant birthdays this year, until Covid came along. In the third of a series of birthday profiles, we hear about 30 years of independence...

Craig appointed Ultimo Press publisher

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Former Picador Australia publisher Alex Craig has been appointed publisher of Ultimo Press. Craig spent 12 years at Pan Macmillan, including five as Picador publisher, before resigning from the company...

Rewriting the long lunch

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
In the Australian publishing landscape, the long lunch occupies a contentious space, provoking a mixture of envy, nostalgia, delight and judgement. Books+Publishing's columnist Veronica Sullivan asks: is the practice a...

Scribner acquires Lucy’s ‘Turns Out, I’m Fine’

Tuesday, 20 October 2020
Scribner Australia has acquired ANZ rights to comedian Judith Lucy’s new book Turns Out, I’m Fine, from Kevin Whyte at Token Artists. ‘For a while, Judith didn’t know what this...

Nielsen report: over a third of listeners new to audiobooks

Tuesday, 20 October 2020
A new report from Nielsen Book Australia has found that 37% of Australian audiobook consumers began listening to audiobooks for the first time in the past year. The report also...

Watkins appointed Ultimo Press publishing director

Tuesday, 20 October 2020
Hachette Australia head of literary and head of illustrated Robert Watkins has been appointed publishing director of new Hardie Grant–backed independent publisher Ultimo Press. Watkins joined Hachette as commissioning editor...