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Canberra Writers Festival moves to October 

Canberra Writers Festival logo Wednesday, 21 February 2024
The 2024 Canberra Writers Festival will run from 23–27 October. With the new dates occurring late in the year, organisers said that the 2024 festival is planned to ‘kick off...

Graham longlisted for Carnegie Medal for Illustration

Cover of Concrete Garden by Bob Graham Wednesday, 14 February 2024
In the UK, Australian author Bob Graham has been longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration (previously known as the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration), which was announced along with...

‘Meanjin’ announces two new residencies

Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Literary journal Meanjin has announced two new residencies, offered in partnership with non-profit arts and cultural organisation InPlace, to ‘support writers of shorter works with dedicated writing time, much-needed funds, and...

Rippin appointed Australian Children’s Laureate 2024–25

Wednesday, 7 February 2024
The Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation (ACLF) has named Sally Rippin as the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2024–25. Rippin has written over 100 books for children and young adults, including the...

Hamilton to leave Writers Victoria 

Wednesday, 7 February 2024
Writers Victoria has announced CEO Lucy Hamilton will step down from the role and leave the organisation in March after three-and-a-half years. Said Hamilton: ‘I’m proud of my time at...

Vallance promoted to CYA publisher at UQP 

Wednesday, 7 February 2024
At University of Queensland Press (UQP), Cathy Vallance has been promoted to the role of children’s and young adult publisher. Vallance, who has been with UQP for about 10 years,...

Larrikin acquires Betoota Advocate series 

Wednesday, 7 February 2024
Larrikin House has acquired world rights to an as-yet-untitled nonfiction series from satire publication the Betoota Advocate. The publisher said the series, which is for readers aged 8 to 12,...

Adelaide Writers’ Week announces 2024 program

Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) has announced its 2024 program, running from 2 to 7 March. Held in Adelaide's Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden, the week features 194 writers across 135 sessions, under...

Forrest wins Newcastle Short Story Award

Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Western Sydney writer Patrick Cruz Forrest has taken first place in the 2023 Newcastle Short Story Award for his short story ‘Kuya’. The winners, which will be published in an...

Gecko Press acquired by Lerner Publishing Group 

Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Aotearoa New Zealand publishing house Gecko Press has been acquired by US Lerner Publishing Group, reported the Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ). According to an...

Hachette acquires Hampton, Daniher picture books 

A photograph of Taylor Hampton and Jacinta Daniher and their family in an outdoor environment Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Hachette has acquired world rights to two picture books celebrating First Nations culture by Taylor Hampton and Jacinta Daniher via Rochelle Fernandez at Alex Adsett Literary. According to the publisher,...

Hogan wins 2024 ABR Peter Porter Poetry Prize 

Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Australian poet Dan Hogan has won the Australian Book Review (ABR) 2024 Peter Porter Poetry Prize for their poem ‘Workarounds’. Hogan receives $6000, while the other four shortlisted poets—Judith Nangala Crispin,...

HarperCollins acquires Dalgarno novel 

Photograph of Paul Dalgarno in front of a wooden fence Wednesday, 17 January 2024
HarperCollins has acquired ANZ rights to The Travelling Library by Paul Dalgarno, in a deal brokered by Martin Shaw of Shaw Literary. The Travelling Library is 'a tender coming-of-age story...

Küster appointed as director of CSIRO Publishing 

Photograph of Arend Kuster in front of greenery Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Arend Küster has been appointed as director of CSIRO Publishing. Previously in the role the director, academic affairs at Springer Nature, Küster had focused on building strategic relationships with government...

Australian book market down 2.1% in value 

Wednesday, 17 January 2024
The book market was down in Australia by 2.1% in value and 1.7% in volume, according to figures from Nielsen BookData's BookScan service. Nielsen's 2023 snapshot, covering 1 January to...

Indie Book Awards 2024 shortlists announced

logo for the Indie Book Awards Wednesday, 17 January 2024
The shortlists for the 2024 Indie Book Awards, presented by Leading Edge Books, have been announced. The titles shortlisted in each category are: Fiction Lola in the Mirror (Trent Dalton, Fourth...

100 Story Building among Creative Ventures Program recipients

Wednesday, 10 January 2024
The 100 Story Building in Footscray, Victoria, is among the funding recipients of the Creative Ventures Program, a Creative Victoria program that provides two-year grants to small creative organisations. The program...

Local creators nominated for 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Four local authors, illustrators and organisations have been announced as candidates for the 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world’s richest prize for children’s literature. The Australian candidates are: Ursula...

HarperCollins acquires Katherine Collette duology 

Author photograph of Katherine Collette Wednesday, 13 December 2023
HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Shellsville, a duology for early middle-grade readers by Katherine Collette, via Danielle Binks and Jacinta di Mase of Jacinta di Mase Management. Described by...

Wiley acquires Dalla-Camina nonfiction book 

An author photograph of Megan Dalla-Camina Wednesday, 13 December 2023
Wiley has acquired world rights to a nonfiction title from Megan Dalla-Camina, titled Women Rising, via Lou Johnson at Key People Literary Management. The publisher described the title as ‘the...

Hachette updates and expands inclusive policies

Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Hachette Australia has announced the introduction of several new and updated inclusive policies, which it said ‘promote a safe and supportive environment for all employees; and recognises the critical role...

MUP appoints Kong as publisher 

Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Melbourne University Publishing (MUP) has appointed Foong Ling Kong as its new publisher. Kong’s appointment comes after the MUP board split the role of CEO and publisher following Nathan Hollier’s...

Haldane to retire; Hume, Ractliffe, Rae join T&H 

Portraits of Justin Ractliffe, Amanda Rae and Clair Hume Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Thames & Hudson has announced several staff changes to take effect in the coming months. Head of product and operations Mark Haldane has announced that he will retire on 5...

Aotearoa publishers receive audiobook funding 

Wednesday, 29 November 2023
The successful recipients of the first round of funding in the Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage audio publishing seed program in Aotearoa New Zealand have been announced by...