Publishing without borders

Australian publisher Hinkler Books and UK publisher Bookoli have announced they are launching a new mass-market publisher based in the UK. Curious Universe UK, a 50-50 joint venture between the two companies, will publish adult and children’s titles and stationery for the UK, Irish and co-edition markets when it launches this month. Hinkler Books CEO and publisher Stephen Ungar said the move was a ‘unique opportunity to attract the best of the best people in our industry and to construct a global entrepreneurial publishing powerhouse’.

Australian editor and consultant Philippa Donovan—who splits her time between the UK, the US and Australia—has been appointed literary scout for production and entertainment company FremantleMedia Australia. ‘The streaming market is very international right now, and there is a heavy focus on co-production, so literary scouts cannot be not curtailed by territory as they once were,’ said Donovan. ‘Book-to-film and TV is wide open. Who knows where the next big hit will come from!’

A number of international authors will be heading to Australia next month for the Melbourne Writers Festival, which runs from 24 August to 2 September. This year’s guests include US author, journalist and Black Panther comic book writer Ta-Nehisi Coates; UK writer and founder of the counter-extremism organisation Quilliam, Ed Husain; and US YA novelist Juno Dawson. The full program will be released on 17 July.

Andrea Hanke
Editor
Think Australian
books.publishing@thorpe.com.au

Category: Think Australian editorial