Weekly Book Newsletter (end March 2022)
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8 July 2020

Australian book sales down 2% for year to June x

Strong sales during the second quarter of 2020 have largely cushioned the overall Australian book market from the effects of Covid-19, with Australian book sales... Read more
 
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ABA: Online conference commences, Love Your Bookshop Day on 3 October

The first of the Australian Booksellers Association’s (ABA) 2020 online conference events took place on Monday, 6 July, with ABA CEO Robbie Egan in conversation... Read more
 

Canberra Writers Festival 2020 program launched

The Canberra Writers Festival, which will run from 12 to 16 August, has launched its 2020 program. In a statement, the festival said artistic director... Read more
 
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Walker launches biannual ‘Walker Wednesday’ to discover new writers

Walker Books will accept unsolicited manuscripts on two specific dates in 2020 via an online portal as part of its new ‘Walker Wednesday’ initiative to... Read more
 

 

‘Real Pigeons’ to be adapted for TV by James Corden

Real Pigeons Fight Crime (Andrew McDonald, illus by Ben Wood, Hardie Grant Egmont) is being developed by host of the The Late Late Show James... Read more
 
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Melbourne libraries re-close as second lockdown begins

In line with the stage three restrictions announced by Victorian premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, Melbourne libraries including State Library Victoria (SLV) and all City... Read more
 

Gardners owner makes Bertrams asset purchase x

The Little Group, owner of UK book wholesaler Gardners, has agreed to an asset purchase of book wholesaler the Bertram Group, which went into administration... Read more
 

 

Johnson wins 2020 PEN Pinter Prize

In the UK, poet and reggae artist Linton Kwesi Johnson has been awarded the 2020 PEN Pinter Prize. Prize judge Claire Armitstead said: ‘Once we... Read more
 

Ingram to open new Melbourne printing plant, research into accessible content and more

Online literary journal Verity La is taking a break from publishing to ‘reflect on the ways in which the journal has been complicit with systemic racism, sexism and disablism’ following condemnation of its decision to publish a creative nonfiction piece by Stuart Cooke.

A new project researching the production of accessible content in Australia has launched, with publishers being asked to contribute by completing a survey. Meanwhile, Ingram Content Group has announced it’s building a new printing plant in Melbourne, which it expects to be operational in the Australian spring.

In awards news, shortlists were announced for the Furphy Literary Award, the Speech Pathology Australia book awards and the Queensland Poetry Festival Awards, as was the longlist for the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award. In the UK, Australian author Amanda O’Callaghan was longlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize, while Derek Owusu was named winner of the the Desmond Elliott Prize for first time novelists.

For all the latest localinternational and rights news, sign up to our Daily newsletter here.

 

 

Sensitive subjects: The value of sensitivity reading x

Australian authors are increasingly employing sensitivity readers to ensure their representations of diverse characters are respectful and authentic. But who is regulating the practice, and... Read more
 

 

Observational humour: Remy Lai on ‘Fly on the Wall’

Remy Lai’s middle-grade graphic novel Fly on the Wall (Walker, September) follows 12-year-old Henry Khoo, who goes on a solo international flight to Singapore without the... Read more
 

 

Rights round-up x

Acquisitions Nonfiction Text has acquired ANZ rights to Scottish sports broadcaster Andrew Cotter’s book Olive, Mabel and Me: Life and Adventures with my Canine Companions.... Read more
 

 

Bestsellers: Anti-racism titles dominate fastest movers chart x

After two weeks in the number one spot All About Bluey, the latest Bluey board book, has slipped to second, replaced by Bluey colouring book... Read more
 

 

Bluebird (Malcolm Knox, A&U) x

A shaggy array of characters populate Malcolm Knox’s ambitious novel, with 50-year-old Gordon Grimes at the centre. An erstwhile journalist and estranged husband, Gordon is... Read more
 

 

Ordinary Matter (Laura Elvery, UQP) x

Award-winning Brisbane author Laura Elvery (Trick of the Light) now brings us Ordinary Matter, a short story collection inspired by the 20 times women have... Read more
 

 

Under the Rainbow: The life and times of E W Cole (Richard Broinowski, MUP) x

Edward William Cole (1832—1918), arguably Australia’s most famous bookseller, started his career by accident. Trying to hawk his self-penned pamphlets door-to-door in East Melbourne, a... Read more
 

 

Fly on the Wall (Remy Lai, Walker) x

When Henry Khoo isn’t trolling his school as anonymous cartoonist ‘Fly on the Wall’, he is being babied at home by an overprotective family. To... Read more
 

 

The Lost Library (Jess McGeachin, Puffin) x

This is unashamedly a story for every child (and adult) who loves books and reading—and it reaches out to encourage every reader to fit that... Read more
 

On creating a community free from racism, sexism and discrimination

‘I don’t wish to exist in a literary community that relies on a whisper network to warn others. Many have fallen through the cracks. If we all have more courage, more accountability, there won’t be a need for a whisper network. There will be more safe spaces, a safe community.’Eileen Chong on racism, sexism and discrimination in the Australian literary community, following widespread condemnation of literary journal Verity La’s decision to publish Stuart Cooke’s creative nonfiction piece ‘About Lin’.

 

 

Read the latest Publishers Weekly x

Books+Publishing is partnering with US trade news magazine Publishers Weekly to provide our subscribers with exclusive access to the weekly digital edition of PW magazine.... Read more
 

Beekman joins Affirm Press x

Sasha Beekman has joined Affirm Press on maternity leave cover in the role of production and publishing coordinator. Beekman previously interned at Affirm and is... Read more
 

Hunt joins Affirm Press x

Rosanna Hunt has joined Affirm Press as publicist on a maternity leave cover contract.
 

Mary L. Trump’s book arriving in stores from July 15

Due to high demand and extraordinary interest Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump (S&S) will now be arriving in stores from 15 July 2020.

In this revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him, Mary L. Trump shines a bright light on the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the world’s health, economic security, and social fabric.

Trade paperback ISBN 9781471190148 $32.99

eBook ISBN 9781471190155 $22.99

Audio ISBN 9781471199158 $28.99

 

Walker Books Australia to distribute North South in ANZ from September

Walker Books Australia is delighted to announce that they have taken on the Australian and New Zealand distribution of award-winning Swiss publishing house, North South, beginning September, 2020.

Peribo will continue to manage sales & distribution until the 31 August 2020. All customer return requests to be received by the 31 August 2020. Peribo will aim to have all authorized returns received and processed by 30 September 2020. Email return requests to returns@peribo.com.au or phone 02 9457 0011.

For all product and order enquires after 31 August 2020 please contact your local Walker Sales Manager or our Head Office on 02 8666 8311. Alternatively email any orders to orders@harpercollins.com.au or phone 1300 551 721.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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