Weekly Book Newsletter (end March 2022)
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2 June 2021

 

The House of Shudders

‘A powerful read … I was gripped until the very end.’ —Romi Sharp, Books on Tour A bastard, a shame, a national disgrace. A child... Read more
 
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Readings YA Book Prize 2021 shortlist announced

The shortlist for the 2021 Readings Young Adult Book Prize has been announced. The shortlisted YA novels are: The F Team (Rawah Arja, Giramondo) Future Girl (Asphyxia,... Read more
 

 

Australian children’s book creators sign open letter in support of Palestine

Almost 300 publishing professionals, authors, illustrators and others with a connection to the children’s book industry have signed an open letter in support of Palestinian liberation since... Read more
 
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HarperCollins acquires Maiden book on ‘toxic Canberra bubble’ x

HarperCollins Australia has announced its acquisition of world rights to an as yet untitled book on the ‘toxic Canberra bubble’ by Walkley Award-winning journalist Samantha... Read more
 

 

HGCP to publish ‘Freedom Day’, sponsor Freedom Day Festival x

Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing (HGCP) has announced the acquisition of picture book Freedom Day, which will be released under the new Bright Light Books imprint... Read more
 
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‘The Nancys’ optioned for screen

Screen adaptation rights to crime novel The Nancys by Melbourne-based New Zealand author R W R McDonald (A&U) have been optioned by Queensland production company... Read more
 

‘World first’ UK plan to pay authors royalties on used book sales

In the UK, a collaboration between online retailers and writers’ organisations will pay authors royalties on used book sales for the first time, reports the... Read more
 

ALIA Online Storytime earns over $50k, Hassett joins Pantera

The ALIA Online Storytime pilot program has earned over $50,000 to be distributed to creators and publishers in its first three months of operation.

In personnel moves, Pantera Press has announced that Katherine Hassett will join the company as publisher, while at Booktopia, Jo Lewin and Joel Naoum have been promoted as part of the company’s merchandise teams restructure. In other news, the QBD Books chain is opening two new stores in Hervey Bay and Coffs Harbour.

This week Penguin Random House Australia announced its Write It fellowship recipients, Varuna announced its Writer’s Space fellows and the inaugural Ultimo Prize winners were revealed. Meanwhile, the Sydney Review of Books is among the recipients of the Australia Council’s Re-imagine fund and Ultimo Press’s Brigid Mullane received the Copyright Agency’s Publishing Industry Career Development grant.

Overseas, Bonnier Books UK has introduced an industry-first pregnancy loss policy, while, also in the UK, authors and illustrators have reported their earnings took a hit in 2020. Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi and Patrice Lawrence were named the winners of this year’s Jhalak prizes, and Jordanian novelist Jalal Barjas won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel Notebooks of the Bookseller.

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

 

 

July reviews round-up x

Releasing in July are two well-reviewed memoirs about family and intergenerational trauma: Dianne O’Brien’s Daughter of the River Country and Amani Haydar’s The Mother Wound.... Read more
 

 

Zoe Deleuil on ‘The Night Village’

In Zoe Deleuil’s debut novel The Night Village (Fremantle Press, August), a brief relationship and an unexpected pregnancy see Australian expat Simone suddenly living with... Read more
 

 

‘Welcome to Consent’ debuts at number six x

The Bad Guys Episode 13: Cut to the Chase is the number one book on the Australian bestsellers chart for the second week running, trailed... Read more
 

 

Empires (Nick Earls, Vintage) x

With his latest novel, Nick Earls again proves his talent for compelling and convincing storytelling. A novel in five parts, Empires tracks backwards through history... Read more
 

 

Muddy People (Sara El Sayed, Black Inc.) x

With elegant lyricism, compelling urgency and a dark sense of humour, Muddy People by Sara El Sayed is an impressive debut memoir from the young... Read more
 

 

The Night Village (Zoe Deleuil, Fremantle Press)

A year ago, Paul and Simone met at a party—young, carefree and living separate lives. Now, they’re parents to a tiny new baby and nothing... Read more
 

 

Albert Namatjira (Vincent Namatjira, Magabala) x

In his picture book biography Albert Namatjira, Vincent Namatjira paints a stoic and quietly devastating portrait of his great-grandfather Albert, one of the most iconic... Read more
 

 

Girls in Boys' Cars (Felicity Castagna, Pan) x

Felicity Castagna’s Girls in Boys’ Cars is not dissimilar to her Prime Minister’s Literary Award–winning young adult novel The Incredible Here and Now, which centres... Read more
 

 

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
 

Walker Wednesday looking for new Australian YA

This year, Walker Books is focusing on new, diverse Australian YA voices in our annual Walker Wednesday open submissions. Walker Wednesday will take place on Wednesday, 16 June.

With a strong international list of YA authors, including Patrick Ness, Angie Thomas, Cassandra Clare, Neal Shusterman and Lauren James, Walker Book Australia is looking to invest in growing our local YA author list.

Walker Wednesday is open for picture books, fiction, nonfiction and YA. All submissions for Walker Wednesday will be accepted on the submission date only. Submissions can be lodged here.

 

Text to publish new Marissa Meyer in November 2021

New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles Melissa Meyer has a new home at Text for her fantastical retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

Gilded is the first instalment in a new duology from Meyer as she returns to what she does best with a stylish, sweeping romance that turns the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale on its head. Publishing on 2 November this year, it’s a perfect way to add a little magic to the Christmas stockings of fantasy readers.

Publication will be supported by a major consumer marketing campaign. Contact Stef Italia to request an early reading copy.

 

COV-ART Fundraising Auction for WestWords

The COV-ART Fundraising Auction will be held for a second year in 2021, in support of Western Sydney Literacy organisation WestWords.

The online auction will showcase original works and signed high quality prints by Bronwyn Bancroft, Paul McDermott, Jeannie Baker, Jonathan Bentley, Elizabeth Honey, Andrew McLean, Anne James, Alison Lester, Matt Ottley, Alison Lester, Thoby Riddle, Mitch Vane, Martin Chatterton, Eloise Short, Sadami Konchi, Donna Rawlins, Leanne Mulgo Watson, Emma Quay, Alaa Alfaron, Max Hamilton, Ann James, Jennifer Goldsmith, Matt Cosgrove and Aaron Blabey.

The fundraising action closes at 9pm Tuesday, 30 June. For information on bidding, see the link at the WestWords website.

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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