‘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...
Amazon removes King Charles titles reportedly generated by AI
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
In the UK, Amazon has removed from its website several titles about King Charles, which reportedly were written using artificial intelligence and were said to contain false information about the...
Stuart Kells on ‘Alice™’
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Stuart Kells (co-author of Sold Down the River, author of Penguin and the Lane Brothers: The untold story of a publishing revolution) is an adjunct professor at La Trobe University’s...
Abadee, Barnes, Mayo join Indigenous Literacy Foundation board
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) has announced the appointment of Nicole Abadee, Amara Barnes and Thomas Mayo to the ILF board. Abadee was a barrister and then a legal academic...
Robinson receives Scotland fellowship
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Varuna has announced Brooke Robinson is the recipient of the 2024 Cove Park International Fellowship. Robinson’s debut novel, The Interpreter, was published in 2023 with Harvill Secker/Penguin Random House (PRH)...
Spears memoir most listened to as Spotify pays publishers ‘tens of millions’
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Spotify said it has paid audiobook publishers ‘tens of millions’ since launching its limited-streaming audiobook offer to subscribers in the UK, Australia and the US last year, reported the Bookseller....
Bundyi acquires Stan Grant memoir
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Simon & Schuster (S&S) imprint Bundyi has announced that it has acquired world rights to A Song of Time, a memoir by author, media commentator and public intellectual Stan Grant....
Booktopia reports first-half results down, revises forecast
Monday, 12 February 2024
In a trading update, Booktopia has announced 'results were down year-on-year' to the end of the first half of the 2024 financial year. While the company experienced revenue growth year-on-year...
Ena Noël Award 2024 shortlists announced
Monday, 12 February 2024
The shortlists for the biennial Ena Noël Award has been announced by the Australian branch of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The shortlisted authors and illustrators are:...
Affirm acquires Micallef anthology
Monday, 12 February 2024
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to Slivers, Shards and Skerricks, a comedy anthology from television personality and author Shaun Micallef. The publisher described Micallef’s forthcoming anthology as ‘a spectrum...
Bookseller, authors argue for fixed price law
Monday, 12 February 2024
In an opinion piece for the Sydney Morning Herald, journalist Raymond Bonner, a co-owner of Bookoccino Bookshop in Avalon, has called for a 'fixed-price' law in Australia. Stating that fixed-price laws...
Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2024 shortlists announced
Monday, 12 February 2024
In the UK, the shortlists for the 2024 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize have been announced. The shortlisted titles in each category are: Illustrated books The Queen Next Door (Marcela Ferreira,...
Rural and regional writers’ festival programs announced
Thursday, 8 February 2024
Several rural and regional writers’ festivals have revealed programs for their 2024 events. After a seven-year hiatus, the Whitsundays Writers Festival is returning to Airlie Beach in Queensland from 6...
European publishers welcome EU agreement on AI Act
Thursday, 8 February 2024
In Europe, the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) has welcomed the European Union voting in favour of what the FEP calls the 'world's first concrete regulation of AI', reported the Bookseller....
How international markets performed in 2023
Wednesday, 7 February 2024
In the US, a fall of 'only' 2.6% in unit sales was a relief, while many European markets achieved modest growth despite falling volume sales, thanks to price increases. In...
New York Publishers’ Program 2024 to take place next week
Wednesday, 7 February 2024
Creative Australia’s 2024 New York Publishers’ Program will take place between 12 and 16 February, with nine delegates to accompany Creative Australia senior officer, literature projects, Jo Simpson as part...
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...
Indigo considers offer to take chain private
Wednesday, 7 February 2024
In Canada, the board of the Indigo Books & Music bookselling chain, headed by former Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle, has established a special committee of independent directors to...
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,...
Writers SA to launch national literary journal
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
Writers SA is launching a national literary journal. With the title and online presence to be announced in May 2024, the journal will publish new fiction, nonfiction, poetry and literary...
Upswell sells Ekhō to Soft Skull Press
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
Upswell Publishing has sold world English-language rights (ex ANZ) to Ekhō (Roslyn Orlando) to Soft Skull Press. The deal was brokered between Sophy Williams, publisher and international director at Black Inc....
Fellowship prize added to City of Fremantle Hungerford Award
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
The prize for the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award has increased in value, with the addition of a new writing fellowship from the Centre for Stories. In addition to the $15,000...
Hugo board members censured, resign, after Gaiman, Kuang, Zhao deemed ineligible in 2023 awards
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
In the US, science fiction authors and readers have been shocked by revelations that works by authors including Neil Gaiman, R F Kuang, and Xiran Jay Zhao were deemed ineligible...
Johnstons ‘positive about the future of Hill of Content’ in Melbourne
Monday, 5 February 2024
The Hill of Content bookshop in Melbourne’s CBD faces potential relocation or closure, with the building that houses the bookshop going up for sale, reports the Age. The Hill of...
McKenzie wins Victorian Premier’s History Award
Monday, 5 February 2024
Carmel McKenzie received the 2023 Victorian Premier’s History Award for the book St Kilda 1841–1900: Movers and shakers and money-makers (Manneton Publishing). St Kilda 1841–1900 explains how St Kilda was...
Gumnior joins Scribe
Monday, 5 February 2024
Tina Gumnior has joined Scribe as its publicity manager. Gumnior replaces Cora Roberts, who left the role of publicity director in January after more than 12 years at the company. With...
Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize shortlist announced
Monday, 5 February 2024
Overland has announced the shortlist for the 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize. Shortlisted stories are: ‘Ad Nauseam’ by Gillian Hagenus ‘Committal’ by Bridget Webster ‘Fledgling’ by Madison Godfrey ‘Mandarin...
Judith Wright Poetry Prize shortlist announced
Monday, 5 February 2024
Overland has announced the shortlist for the 2023 Judith Wright Poetry Prize. Shortlisted poems include: ‘Because a Wind Blazes’ by Dženana Vucic ‘Celestial Tree’ by Andrew Brooks ‘Febrile’ by William...
