Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

Image. Advertisement:

Local news >

Clan Destine Press acquires Gordon Thompson novel

Gordon Thompson Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Clan Destine Press has acquired the world rights to Kill Will: Nightbird in Sunlight by Gordon Thompson. According to the publisher, Kill Will: Nightbird in Sunlight follows as ‘a young...

Affirm Press acquires MinOn picture book

Steve MinOn Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to the picture book Make Them Say Poo by Steve MinOn under the pen name Stephen, via literary agent Martin Shaw of Shaw Literacy....

Taylor’s ‘Ruins’ to be adapted for film 

A cover of The Ruins by Amy Taylor Monday, 16 June 2025
Miramax president of film group Alexandra Loewy has acquired film rights to the forthcoming novel Ruins (A&U, July) by Melbourne-based author Amy Taylor. The novel will be adapted into a...

Perentie Press acquires first YA graphic novel

a portrait of Wendy Tyrer Monday, 16 June 2025
Perentie Press has acquired world rights to The Curator, a YA graphic novel by author/illustrator Wendy Tyrer, the first YA graphic novel acquisition for the new press. The novel asks,...

Hachette acquires Chloe Fisher memoir

Always You cover Monday, 16 June 2025
Hachette Australia has acquired Always You, a memoir from Chloe Fisher with Alley Pascoe. Always You follows Fisher’s life story as she meets and marries pro-surfer Paul Fisher, said the...

Inaugural New Voices of Aotearoa winners announced

New Voices of Aotearoa Recipients Monday, 16 June 2025
The Coalition for Books has announced the winners of the inaugural New Voices of Aotearoa competition. Chosen from over 30 nominations, the winners are: Wellington essayist Una Cruickshank Raglan journalist,...

Sharp acquires Marshall short story film rights

Shirl cover Monday, 16 June 2025
Melbourne-based filmmaker Tim Sharp has acquired the film option to Wayne Marshall’s short story ‘A Night Out’ from Marshall’s debut collection Shirl (Affirm Press), via Martin Shaw at Shaw Literary. Sharp...

ACT Literary Awards 2025 shortlist announced

ACT Literary Awards 2025 Thursday, 12 June 2025
MARION ACT has announced the shortlists for the 2025 ACT Literary Awards. The shortlisted titles are: Children’s literature shortlist (younger readers) Alphabetter (Maura Pierlot, illus by Jorge Garcia Redondo, Affirm Kids)...

Colussi wins 2025 Penguin Literary Prize 

A portrait of Mary Colussi Thursday, 12 June 2025
Penguin Random House (PRH) Australia has announced Touch Grass by Mary Colussi as the winner of the 2025 Penguin Literary Prize. Chosen from a shortlist of six, Touch Grass is...

UQP acquires Lucashenko’s first nonfiction title

Melissa Lucashenko photo (credit: Glenn Hunt) Thursday, 12 June 2025
The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has acquired ANZ rights to Not Quite White in the Head, a collection of essays and journalism by Melissa Lucashenko, via Alex Adsett of...

Byron Writers Festival announces 2025 program

Byron Writers Festival logo Wednesday, 11 June 2025
The program for the Byron Writers Festival, running 8–10 August on Bundjalung Country, has been announced. With the theme Passion and Purpose, the 2025 program features over 160 writers from...

Creative Australia launches Creative Workplaces 

Creative Workplaces logo Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Creative Australia has launched the Creative Workplaces website, a ‘free online hub of resources about pay, safety and respect, to help everyone working in the creative industries understand their rights...

Atria acquires Hortinela debut

a portrait of Joshua Hortinela Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Atria Books Australia has acquired world rights to Hate You to Love You by bookseller Joshua Hortinela in a two-book deal through Daniel Pilkington at The Pilkington Agency. ‘Hate You...

Varuna First Nations Fellowship 2025 recipients announced

2025 Varuna First Nations Fellowship winners Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Varuna, the National Writers' House has announced 12 recipients of the 2025 Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowship. The 2025 fellowship recipients are: Sharlene Allsopp Alison J Barton Skye Cusack Eugenia...

Q-Lit Festival 2025 program announced 

Q-Lit 2025 header Tuesday, 10 June 2025
The program for the 2025 Q-Lit Festival, running this year 20–28 June, has been announced. Under the theme 'What Fills Your Cup', the 2025 festival will begin with an opening...

Transit Lounge acquires Gates novel

Geoffrey Gates Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Transit Lounge has acquired world rights to The Phantom Surrealist by Geoffrey Gates. According to the publisher, the novel follows protagonist Christopher Tiffen as he ‘moves between Sydney, London, Paris, Barcelona,...

First Nations Writers Festival award winners announced 

2025 First Nations Writers Festival attendees Tuesday, 10 June 2025
The First Nations Writers Festival (FNWF) has announced the 2025 winners of the festival's book awards and short story awards. Winning titles are: Book award 'Dual' (Marshall Ericho, PNG) 'Resilient...

ASLA DANZ Children’s Book Award winners announced

Tuesday, 10 June 2025
The Australian School Library Association (ASLA) has announced the 2025 Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ) Children's Book Award winners. Winning titles, chosen from a shortlist announced in...