British Science Fiction Association Awards 2014 announced
The British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) announced the winners of its 2014 BSFA Awards in Glasgow, Scotland, on 20 April. The Best Novel award was tied between Ack-Ack Macaque (Gareth...
Barnes shortlisted for Gemmell Fantasy Award
Australian author Mark T Barnes has been shortlisted in the Gemmell Fantasy Awards, announced at the British national science-fiction convention EasterCon. Barnes has been shortlisted for the Morningstar Award for Best Debut Novel for...
Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2014 shortlist announced
In the UK, the shortlist for the 2014 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize has been announced. The shortlisted titles are: The Iraqi Christ by Hassan Blasim, translated by Jonathan Wright (Comma Press);...
Oz, NZ festival of literature and arts events announced, tickets on sale
The ‘first wave of events’ for the inaugural Australian and New Zealand Festival of Literature and Arts in London have been announced and tickets are now on sale.The four-day program,...
Blackwell’s announces ‘digital learning service’ for students
In the UK, academic bookselling chain Blackwell’s has announced a new ‘digital learning service’ for students, reports the Bookseller. Unveiled at the London Book Fair on 8 April, the service,...
International Library News
Four libraries to reopen in NewcastleIn the UK, four libraries in Newcastle, England, are set to reopen, reports the Bookseller. In early March, Newcastle City Council approved a plan to...
Comments from abroad: The overseas children’s and YA book market
How does the children’s and YA book market in Australia compare with those overseas? Three children’s books experts currently based in the UK and the US share their observations. Marisa PintadoMarisa...
Amazon, Apple and Google must pay UK taxes from 2015
Multinational corporations such as Amazon, Apple and Google will no longer be able to avoid paying 20% value-added tax (VAT) on online sales within the UK after the government legislates to close...
Arthur C Clarke Award 2014 shortlist announced
In the UK, the shortlist for this year’s Arthur C Clarke Award for science fiction has been announced. The shortlisted titles are: The Disestablishment of Paradise (Philip Mann, Victor Gollancz); The...
POD supplier launches Great British Bookshop as alternative to Amazon
In a bid to offer an alternative to Amazon that champions and supports independent publishers, Print on Demand Worldwide (POD-W) has launched a new online bookstore called the Great British...
Carnegie, Greenaway 2014 shortlists announced
The shortlists for this year’s Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals, presented by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) in the UK, have been announced. Eight books have...
Millard shortlisted for 2014 UKLA Book Awards
Australian author Glenda Millard has been shortlisted for the 2014 UK Literacy Association (UKLA) Book Awards for her book The Naming of Tishkin Silk (illus by Caroline Magerl, ABC Books)....
Ebooks by Sainsbury’s sells aNobii brand to Mondadori
In the UK, eBooks by Sainsbury’s has sold the brand of ebook website aNobii to Italian publisher Mondadori, reports the Bookseller. On 11 March, the aNobii board, which includes HarperCollins and Penguin Random...
International Library News
UK and French libraries launch pilot ‘twinning project’Church Street Library in London, UK, and Place des Fêtes Library in Paris, France, have launched a pilot ‘twinning project’, reports the Guardian....
Saunders wins inaugural Folio Prize
In the UK, US author George Saunders has won the inaugural Folio Prize for his short-story collection Tenth of December (Bloomsbury). Saunders was announced as the winner of the £40,000...
Smart appointed MD of Ebury Publishing
Rebecca Smart, CEO of the Osprey Group, has been appointed MD of Ebury Publishing, part of the Penguin Random House Group, reports the Bookseller. Smart will take over from current...
International Library News
UK public library elending pilot announcedIn the UK, the Publishers Association (PA) and the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) have announced a year-long public library elending pilot. Four public library...
UK Independent Publishing Awards winners announced
The UK’s Independent Publishers Guild has announced the winners of this year’s Independent Publishing Awards at its annual conference in Oxford, reports the Bookseller. Children’s publisher Usborne Publishing won the Independent Publisher of...
Penguin Random House launches UK author portal
In the UK, Penguin Random House has opened an author portal for Random House UK authors and agents, reports the Bookseller. The UK Random House Author Portal, which is modelled...
Diagram Prize 2014 shortlist announced
In the UK, the shortlist for the 2014 Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year, presented by the Bookseller, has been announced. The six titles shortlisted for the...