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Around the world 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Among the stories added to our Around the World blog in the past week: O'Neill wins PEN/Faulkner Award for FictionKlein wins inaugural Warwick Prize for writing‘The Neverending Story' continues?Final Harry...

Quote of the week 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
‘Last year when we had the pleasure of hosting the magnificent Germaine Greer at an event in Melbourne, our marketing manager, Emily Harms, had the temerity to ask Ms Greer...

Rights round-up 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
In rights news this week: FictionScribe has acquired the first English-language rights to 640-page Spanish ‘literary page-turner' El Mapa Del Tiempo (The Map of Time), by Felix J Palma, winner...

Brays Books celebrates 40 years 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Brays Books in Balmain is celebrating 40 years of operation. Founded by Philip Bray and Margaret Bray and now owned and managed solely by Philip, Brays Books has seen many...

Burgess joins A&U, Wasmuth to Leading Edge 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
As reported in a WBN special bulletin last week, Allen & Unwin has announced the appointment of Leading Edge Books general manager Chris Burgess to the role of sales director....

Dromkeen Medal presented at annual dinner 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
The annual Dromkeen Dinner, a fundraising event hosted by the Dromkeen Society, was held at Dromkeen on Saturday 28 February. Jane Stanley, Dromkeen education officer, told WBN that the theme...

In brief 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Hanrahan and Dennett become sole owners of Rockpool Publishing Lisa Hanrahan and Paul Dennett are sole owners of Rockpool Publishing after purchasing shares from Gary and Kristy Allen. Rockpool is...

HarperCollins to launch new Blue Door imprint 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
HarperCollins has announced it will launch a new imprint in June 2009. Blue Door, established by UK publisher Patrick Janson-Smith, who was responsible for launching the Black Swan imprint at...

Crowe wins Margaret Mahy Medal 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
New Zealand's top children's literature prize, the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal, has been awarded to natural history writer and photographer Andrew Crowe. The annual award will be presented this year...

‘Stand-out year’ for Harlequin 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Despites losses suffered by parent company Torstar, Harlequin has recorded a strong fourth quarter worldwide, with sales of C$126 million (AU$154 million) up over 18 percent from a year ago,...

NZ Post Book Awards 2009 finalists announced 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
The finalists for the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have been announced. The finalists in the four categories are:Picture bookDuck's Stuck! (Kyle Mewburn, illus....

Bestsellers this week 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
A New Earth: Create A Better Life by Eckhart Tolle is the ‘highest new entry' this week. Tolle's approach is to ‘let go of fear, anxiety and the eternal quest...

Forthcoming events 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Trade events coming up over the next week, as shown on our events calendar, include: Brussels Book Fair, 5-9 March, BelgiumTo view these and more forthcoming events, and submit your...

RiP Kilmeny Niland 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Andrew Berkhut head of publishing at Scholastic Australia writes: 'Talented illustrator, Kilmeny Niland, the daughter of Ruth Park and D’arcy Niland passed away last week. Her outstanding list of successes...

RiP Conchita Cintron 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Chilean bullfighter Conchita Cintron, author of Memoirs of a Bullfighter, has died, aged 86.

Vale Sandy Campbell 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
As reported in last week's WBN Sandy Campbell passed away on the 19 February.Margaret Hamilton writes: 'Sandy was a passionate advocate for the CBCA, both at NSW branch level and nationally....

RiP Philip Jose Farmer 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Science-fiction author Philip José Farmer has died, aged 91. Farmer is best known for his ‘Riverworld' series including To Your Scattered Bodies Go, The Fabulous Riverboat, The Dark Design, The...

RiP Bill Holm 

Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Bill Holm, poet and essayist, has died, aged 65. His books included Coming Home Crazy, Boxelder Bug Variations, Playing the Black Piano, The Windows of Brimnes and The Heart Can...

Around the world 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Among the many stories added to our Around the World blog in the past week: Atwood admits leaping ‘into a dog's breakfast' in festival boycottIPA ‘deeply concerned' at Vietnamese publishing...

Rights round-up 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
In rights news this week:  FictionA&U sold UK rights to Tender Morsels (Margo Lanagan) to Random House UK where the book will be published as a young adult novel under...

Publishers off to an impressive start for 2009 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Australia's publishers are off to a flying start to 2009, according to Bookseller+Publisher's reviews pages. Among the most highly rated titles for the issue was Things We Didn't See Coming...

Quote of the week 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
‘The impact of the open market in New Zealand has been somewhat muted by the Australian conditions, but the introduction of an open market there could cause multi-national publishers to...

Laville-Moore appointed director A&U NZ 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Allen & Unwin has announced the appointment of Melanie Laville-Moore to the role of New Zealand director. Laville-Moore has been in the role of New Zealand manager for the past...

Bestsellers this week 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay graces the top of the Highest New Entries chart this week. For those not in the know, the ‘Dexter’ in the title refers to...

Forthcoming events 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Trade events coming up over the next week, as shown on our events calendar, include: Reed Gift Fairs - Sydney, 21-25 FebruaryThe Death Mook launch, Melbourne, 26 FebruaryEmirates Airline International...

RiP Sandy Campbell 

Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Rowenna Brown CBCA (NSW) committee member writes: 'Children's literature has lost one of its most passionate and dedicated advocates this week. Sandy Campbell spent her life working to promote good...