Scribe acquires Woollett’s ‘The Newcomer’
19 February 2020
Scribe has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Laura Elizabeth Woollett’s third book, The Newcomer, via Grace Heifetz at Left Bank Literary. Inspired by a real-life murder on Norfolk Island,...
‘The Absolute Book’ sold to US following rave review, sales spike
18 February 2020
Victoria University Press has sold North American rights to New Zealand author Elizabeth Knox’s fantasy novel The Absolute Book following a rave review. Dan Kois’ review of The Absolute Book,...
Pantera acquires narrative nonfiction ‘The Psychic Test’
17 February 2020
Pantera Press has acquired ANZ rights to journalist Gary Nunn’s debut The Psychic Test: An investigation into the supernatural industry, via Benython Oldfield at Zeitgeist Agency. A work of narrative...
2015 novella ‘Panthers and the Museum of Fire’ sold to US
14 February 2020
Martin Shaw, agent at Alex Adsett Publishing Services, has sold US and Canadian rights to Sydney author Jen Craig’s novella Panthers and the Museum of Fire (Spineless Wonders) to LA-based...
Scribe acquires world English rights to German bestseller to publish in ANZ, UK and US
11 February 2020
Scribe has acquired world English-language rights to million-copy bestseller The Diet Compass: the 12-step guide to science-based nutrition for a healthier and longer life by German science journalist Bas Kast....
Brow Books acquires graphic novel ‘Stone Fruit’
6 February 2020
Brow Books has acquired ANZ rights to debut graphic novel Stone Fruit by Montreal-based Australian comics artist Lee Lai. Stone Fruit follows queer couple Bron and Ray who ‘enjoy their...
Oz publishers heading to Bologna in final year of funding
5 February 2020
Twelve independent publishers will take part in the Australian collective stand at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which runs from 30 March to 2 April. The 2020 fair marks...
Black Inc. acquires Manning’s biography of Lachlan Murdoch
5 February 2020
Black Inc. has acquired world rights to The Unauthorised Biography of Lachlan Murdoch by author and journalist Paddy Manning. The publisher said the book will investigate Murdoch—the eldest son of...
‘You Can Change the World’ sold in multiple territories
5 February 2020
Pantera Press has sold rights in several territories to Lucy Bell’s You Can Change the World, an illustrated practical guide ‘designed to empower kids to make changes in their lives...
Brill’s forthcoming novel ‘Symphony for the Man’ optioned for film
4 February 2020
Sparkplug Films has optioned the film rights to Sarah Brill’s forthcoming novel Symphony for the Man (Spinifex, March). Spinifex describes the novel as ‘a poignant and gritty tale of homelessness...
HarperCollins acquires rights to Maley’s debut ‘The Truth About Her’
30 January 2020
HarperCollins has acquired ANZ rights to journalist Jacqueline Maley’s debut novel The Truth About Her, in a two-book deal via Jeanne Ryckmans at Cameron’s Management. The Truth About Her follows...
Pantera acquires Emanuel’s ‘The Covered Wife’
24 January 2020
Pantera Press has acquired ANZ rights to Lisa Emanuel’s debut novel The Covered Wife, via Catherine Drayton at InkWell Management. Emanuel’s novel follows an ambitious young lawyer who falls under...
Adaptation of Winton’s ‘Blueback’ gets Screen Aus funding
23 January 2020
A feature film adaptation of Tim Winton’s 1997 novella Blueback (Penguin) has received production funding from Screen Australia in its latest funding round. Writer/director Robert Connolly of Arenamedia will work...
Hachette acquires Byrne’s book on family history
22 January 2020
Hachette Australia has acquired world rights to a new book by journalist and TV personality Jennifer Byrne, based on the lives of two 14th-century English regal women who are Byrne’s...
NewSouth acquires van Zweden’s memoir
21 January 2020
NewSouth has acquired world rights to Sam van Zweden’s memoir Eating with My Mouth Open, which recently won the 2019 Kill Your Darlings unpublished manuscript award. Commissioning editor Harriet McInerney said: ‘Sam...
Black Inc sells world rights to ‘Solved!’
21 January 2020
Black Inc. has sold world rights (ex ANZ) to Andrew Wear’s book Solved!: How other countries have cracked the world's biggest problems and we can too to Oneworld UK. Black...
Gannon’s ‘The Mothers’ sold to US, optioned for TV
21 January 2020
Jeanne Ryckmans from Cameron’s Management has sold North American rights to journalist Genevieve Gannon’s novel The Mothers (A&U) to William Morrow. The novel has also been optioned for television by...
PRH sells ‘The Tiny Star’ to US
17 January 2020
Penguin Random House Australia has sold North American rights to Mem Fox’s picture book The Tiny Star (illus by Freya Blackwood) to Knopf Books for Young Readers. Editorial director of...
UQP acquires Christopher Raja memoir in ‘spirited’ auction
16 January 2020
The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired world rights to a memoir by Melbourne-based author Christopher Raja, in what literary agent Martin Shaw of Alex Adsett Publishing Services described...
Ventura sells UK rights to ‘Paris Savages’
15 January 2020
Ventura Press has sold UK rights to Katherine Johnson’s novel Paris Savages to independent publisher Allison and Busby. Paris Savages, which was written as part of Johnson’s PhD, is based...
A&U acquires ANZ rights to Marney’s new YA novel
15 January 2020
Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to a new YA thriller by Ellie Marney. None Shall Sleep, which A&U described as a YA Silence of the Lambs, is...
HQ Fiction acquires Fiona Lowe novels in two-book deal
11 December 2019
HarperCollins imprint HQ Fiction has acquired ANZ rights to two new novels by Victoria-based author Fiona Lowe in a 'substantial' deal. A Home Like Ours, the first novel in the...
MidnightSun acquires Steve Heron picture book
5 December 2019
MidnightSun has acquired world rights to the picture book Ling Li’s Lantern, by Steve Heron and illustrated by Benjamin Johnston. Ling Li’s Lantern follows Ling Li on a quest that...
Big Sky sells six children’s titles to US imprint Windmill Books
5 December 2019
Big Sky Publishing has sold North American and US territories rights to six children’s titles to Windmill Books, an imprint of independent educational publishing house Rosen Publishing. The deal, which...
Marchetta’s ‘On the Jellicoe Road’ to be adapted for drama series
4 December 2019
Melina Marchetta’s 2006 young adult novel On the Jellicoe Road (Penguin) is being adapted for a young adult drama series, reports Deadline. The project is a co-production by the US’s...
Hardie Grant Travel acquires Steffensen’s book on Indigenous fire management
4 December 2019
Hardie Grant Travel has acquired world rights to Fire Country, the memoir of Indigenous fire practitioner Victor Steffensen. Steffensen is a Tagalaka descendant from Far North Queensland who is dedicated...
‘The Book Ninja’ optioned for film
4 December 2019
Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus’ novel The Book Ninja (S&S) has been optioned for film by producers Chris Brown of Pictures in Paradise and Veronica Fury of Fury Film Co....
UQP acquires two new nonfiction titles by Foley, Bond
2 December 2019
The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired world rights to two books by leading Indigenous scholars, visual artist Fiona Foley’s Biting the Clouds and public intellectual Chelsea Bond’s Another...
‘The Strays’ to be adapted into six-part drama series
28 November 2019
Emily Bitto’s Stella Prize-winning novel The Strays (Affirm) will be adapted into a six-part drama series as a co-production of See Pictures and Apogee Pictures. Beatrix Christian (Picnic at Hanging...
Hardie Grant Egmont acquires Alex Dyson’s debut YA novel
28 November 2019
Hardie Grant Egmont has acquired world rights to the debut young adult novel by former triple j breakfast presenter Alex Dyson. When it Drops follows social outcast and bedroom musician...
