Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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RiP Charles Ellis 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Charles Ellis, who served as president and CEO of John Wiley & Sons from 1990 to 1998, has died aged 72.

RiP Nuala O’Faolain 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Irish journalist and memoirist Nuala O’Faolain has died in Dublin aged 68. Her novels included My Dream of You and The Story of Chicago May.

Five Mile recalls Farquharson true crime title 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
The Five Mile Press has issued an urgent recall of the title Killer in the Family by true crime author Lindy Cameron. The book explores 19 criminal cases including that...

Boost for would-be ‘book town’ 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Victoria may not be too far away from its own Hay on Wye. Currently boasting five bookshops for its 1000 residents, the picturesque Gold Rush town of Clunes is aiming...

Abdel-Fattah wins Kathleen Mitchell Award 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Only six books were entered in this year's $7500 Kathleen Mitchell Award for Young Writers, which was won by Randa Abdel-Fattah for Ten Things I Hate about Me (Pan). The novel...

Pundyk wins Watermark Fellowship 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
The author of The Honey Spinner (Murdoch Books), a nonfiction look at honey production around the world, has won the Watermark Fellowship. Grace Pundyk will spend six weeks as a...

In brief 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
New literary agency opens in SydneyA new literacy agency was launched in Sydney this week by the novelist and former Hickson Associates literary agent, Gaby Maher. The Naher Agency will...

Quote of the week 

Tuesday, 13 May 2008
‘Large publishers are in a position to become better booksellers than some retailers, and this will be increasingly apparent with the take-up of electronic content.'--Andrew Crawford, managing director of online...

Around the world 

Monday, 12 May 2008
Among the items added to our Around the World blog this week:Borders UK chief upbeat about the future of printUK booksellers attack 'green excuse' on publishers' firm-sale plansDigital experimentation pays...

Kenny to leave Pan Mac 

Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Paul Kenny, marketing director at Pan Macmillan, has announced his resignation. Kenny, who has been at Pan Macmillan for 14 years ‘almost to the day’ will finish at the publisher...

APA celebrates 60 years 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
The APA celebrated its 60th anniversary last Wednesday, with a special dinner in Sydney. At the dinner, 21 publishing figures were honoured in the inaugural George Robertson Awards. Named after...

ABIA shortlist announced 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
The shortlist for this year's Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) has been announced. The shortlist is as follows: Chain Bookseller of the Year 2008, sponsored by The ECN GroupDymocks Sydney...

Robotham named Books Alive ambassador for 2008 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Australian crime author Michael Robotham has been announced as the ambassador for the 2008 Books Alive campaign. Robotham, whose first novel The Suspect sold more than 1 million copies, has...

A&R launches ‘smart’ rewards card 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Angus&Robertson has recently launched a rewards program, centered on a rewards card. The basic offer is that for a one-off $10 joining fee, members of the rewards program will receive...

Dymocks strikes direct e-book deal with Pan Mac 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Over 400 Pan Macmillan titles, including novels by Matthew Reilly, Di Morrissey, Ken Follet, Andy Griffiths and Wilbur Smith, have been added to Dymock?s digital books list at Dymocks.com.au. Dymocks...

Text announces new YA prize 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Text Publishing has announced a new prize for writers of YA literature. The Text Young Adult Prize comprises a publishing contract with Text and a $10,000 advance against royalties. It...

APA AGM: Changes to board 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
The Australian Publishers Association (APA) held its annual general meeting in Sydney last week. Marking the association's 60th anniversary, APA president Juliet Rogers told the meeting that the APA's membership...

Lefevre wins Kibble; Dobbie to Foxlee 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
The winners of the 2008 Kibble and Dobbie Awards were announced last night at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Sydney. First-time novelist Carol Lefevre took out the Kibble Award...

ABA welcomes new predatory pricing laws 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
New ABA CEO Malcolm Neil has welcomed moves to outlaw predatory pricing in the Trade Practices Act. The federal government's proposed amendments will strengthen the ACCC's powers to investigate big...

Around the World 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Among the many items added to our Around the World blog in the past week: Amazon fights NY tax lawIs Olsen about to leave Random US?‘Down River' tops Edgar AwardsNY...

Bestsellers this week 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
The popularity of 4 Ingredients continues, with the title staying at number one this week, making two weeks at the top, closely followed by Marian Keyes’ This Charming Man. Eckhart Tolle’s A New...

Forthcoming events 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Trade events coming up over the next week, as shown on our events calendar, include: In the First Person conference, National Library of Australia, Canberra, 10-11 MayInternational Publishers Association's 28th...

RiP John Williamson Hooker 

Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Bob Sessions from Penguin writes: When John Hooker died suddenly from pneumonia, Australian publishing and writing lost a true 'one off'. While he gave a good impression of a hard-drinking,...

In brief 

Tuesday, 29 April 2008
'Five Bells' up for saleThe copyright on one of Australia's best-known poems, Five Bells by Kenneth Slessor, is up for sale. Slessor's son, Paul, plans to use the proceeds from selling...

Revenue slightly down at Elsevier 

Tuesday, 29 April 2008
The chairman of Reed Elsevier Jan Hommen has hailed a ‘year of significant achievement and strategic development' for the multinational, despite revenue from Elsevier textbooks dropping £18 million pounds to...