Books+Publishing Weekly Book Newsletter
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11 January 2023

Please complete our Christmas survey

Books+Publishing is currently conducting its annual Christmas survey of booksellers and publishers. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey online. We are accepting submissions... Read more
 
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Release of issues paper kicks off copyright review

The Attorney-General’s Department has released an issues paper on copyright enforcement as part of a review into whether Australia’s current copyright enforcement regime is fit-for-purpose.... Read more
 

 

Affirm acquires Lord debut YA spec-fic x

Affirm Press has acquired world rights to Anomaly, the debut young adult novel by Sydney-based writer Emma Lord. Described by the publisher as Tomorrow When... Read more
 
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PMLAs 2022 winners, 2023 Indie Book Awards longlists, VPLAs shortlists x

The winners of the 2022 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards were announced in December, along with the longlists for the 2023 Indie Book Awards and shortlists for the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. Also announced were the recipients of the 2022 Tasmanian Literary Awards, and the recipients of Magabala’s 2022 fellowship, scholarships and inaugural Australian Indigenous Coffee grant winners.

The Australian Society of Authors Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship was awarded to Ashley Hay for her manuscript ‘The Running Dream’; Allen & Unwin editor Sophie Splatt is the recipient of the 2022–23 Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship; Caitlin McGregor has won the inaugural Kill Your Darlings Creative Nonfiction Essay Prize; and Mascara Literary Review has announced the winners of the inaugural Mascara Varuna Writers’ and Editors’ Residency .

At the Australian Publishers Association, Penguin Random House ANZ CEO Julie Burland is the new president, replacing Ultimo Press managing director James Kellow.

In the US, Simon & Schuster parent company Paramount still plans to sell the publisher; HarperCollins US CEO Brian Murray wrote an open letter addressing the publisher’s stalled negotiations; and Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle has stepped down from his role. Meanwhile, sales of print books in the US fell by 6.5% in 2022 compared to 2021.

 

 

Best of the best books of 2022 x

Across five major ‘best books of 2022’ articles published late last year, over 120 individual titles were mentioned by Australian critics, authors and book industry... Read more
 
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Rights round-up x

Sales Fiction Affirm Press has sold the following rights to The Bookbinder of Jericho (Pip Williams, April):  North American (Ballantine), UK (Chatto), Slovak (Vydavatelstvo Motyl),... Read more
 

 

New ‘The Fast 800 Keto’ companion book debuts in top 10 x

Top 10 bestsellers       It Starts with Us (Colleen Hoover, S&S) It Ends With Us (Colleen Hoover, S&S) Exiles (Jane Harper, Macmillan) No Plan B (Lee... Read more
 

 

Dark Mode (Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Ultimo) x

Dark Mode opens with the graphic discovery of a woman disturbingly murdered in the same way as the infamous, unsolved case of the Black Dahlia.... Read more
 

 

Once a Stranger (Zoya Patel, Hachette) x

Following on from her debut memoir No Country Woman, Zoya Patel’s novel Once a Stranger tackles the same themes of cultural bereavement, being caught between... Read more
 

 

Temperance (Carol Lefevre, Wakefield) x

Award-winning author Carol Lefevre’s latest novel, Temperance, is the touching story of a woman attempting to make sense of a childhood memory. The book begins... Read more
 

 

Downtown Sewertown (Tull Suwannakit, Ford Street Publishing) x

CBCA notable author-illustrator Tull Suwannakit has crafted his picture book Downtown Sewertown to depict a refugee experience. It is also a cautionary tale about the... Read more
 

 

Matt Formston: Surfing in the Dark (John Dickson, illus by Philip Bunting, Berbay) x

People who are blind, who achieve incredible feats, are the linchpin of ‘Big Visions’, an exciting new nonfiction picture book series from Berbay Books and... Read more
 

 

The Wish Sisters #1: The Party Wish (Allison Rushby, illus by Karen Blair, UQP) x

The Party Wish is the first book in the middle-grade series The Wish Sisters by Allison Rushby. At just under 100 pages it follows Flick... Read more
 

 

Vale Robert Adamson

Australian poet, publisher and editor Robert Adamson has died, aged 79. Born in Sydney and raised in Neutral Bay, NSW, Adamson was known as the... Read more
 

 

Vale Wendy Jenkins

Long-time Fremantle Press editor, writer and manuscript assessor Wendy Jenkins has died, aged 70. Jenkins spent 40 years at Fremantle Press, formerly known as Fremantle... 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
 

Flindell resigns from Writing WA x

Writing WA has announced Sharon Flindell has resigned as CEO of Writing WA, effective 23 December 2022. The board of Writing WA will commence a... Read more
 

HarperCollins Publishers and Cider Mill Press

Further to past announcements relating to the acquisition of Cider Mill Press, for the Australian and New Zealand Market, HarperCollins Publishers is pleased to confirm the list’s transfer from Simon & Schuster Australia. Effective 3 April 2023, Cider Mill Press will be part of the HarperCollins ANZ portfolio in Australia and New Zealand.

Please note that authorised returns of Cider Mill Press sold by Simon & Schuster Australia will be accepted at HEDS up until Friday, 30 June 2023. Beyond this date, HEDS will only accept returns for titles sold and invoiced by HarperCollins Publishers. All orders from 3 April 2023 will be invoiced under HarperCollins’ discounts and payment terms. Customers requiring further information are advised to contact HEDS commercial services on 1300 551 721.

 

The Big Folbigg Mistake—major developments in February

Media attention and controversy is assured when the Inquiry into the Convictions of Kathleen Folbigg reconvenes mid-February, following stunning revelations that Ms Folbigg’s two daughters ‘likely’ died from natural causes after new information, hot from a Danish biochemical/DNA laboratory, was tabled. Best-selling author John Kerr’s new book has the true story.

The Big Folbigg Mistake by John Kerr

Publisher: Kerr Publishing
ISBN: 9781875703524
Price ($AUD RRP): $34.95
Distributor: Woodslane

 

Thames & Hudson Australia to distribute Magic Cat Publishing in Australia and New Zealand.

Effective 1st March, 2023, Thames & Hudson Australia will commence the distribution of Magic Cat Publishing, one of the UK’s fastest growing illustrated children’s book publishers. All orders will be fulfilled via ADS from this date.

‘I’m thrilled for T&H to be partnering with such an exciting, dynamic young publisher as Magic Cat Publishing. Their children’s book and gift publishing are making waves internationally as one of fastest growing new publishers emerging from the UK. Their books are timely, child friendly and visually compelling. Rachel Williams and Jenny Broom’s vision to create an all-female owned and lead publishing house is underpinned by their extensive experience with Big Picture Press, Wide Eyed Editions and Francis Lincoln Children’s books. We’re joining forces at a time when Magic Cat is looking to take their business to the next level in ANZ and we look forward to being part of that process,’ said Daniel Watts, Managing Director Asia Pacific, Thames & Hudson.

Walker Books will continue to manage sales & distribution until January 31st, 2023, and All RA requests need to be sent to HEDS by January 31st 2023, and all approved physical returns need to be at the HEDS warehouse by 28th of February 2023. Backorders held at HEDS will not be transferred to ADS.

For all product and order enquires after the 31st of January please contact Thames and Hudson on enquiries@thameshudson.com.au or via your local Thames & Hudson Australia representative.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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