Ilsa Evans’ 15th novel, Family Baggage, to be published by HarperCollins HQ
Ilsa Evans’ latest novel, Family Baggage, will be published by HarperCollins/HQ in March 2023. A deeply insightful and wryly funny story perfect for readers of Meredith Jaffe and The Weekend by Charlotte Wood.
Ultimo Press to publish Marija Pericic’s Exquisite Corpse
We are so excited that Ultimo Press will be publishing Vogel award-winning Marija Pericic’s next novel in mid-2023.
Exquisite Corpse is a literary psychological thriller and one of the most fascinating and frightening books we’ve read in a long time – about love and obsession, coercion and control.
Weaving Country to be published by Walker Books
We are delighted to announce that Walker Books Australia will be publishing Weaving Country by Aunty Kim Wandin, Chris Joy and Ashleigh Pugh in 2024 – a joyful picture book about respecting Country, intergenerational knowledge transmission, and the work of women and girls. The work is a collaboration between Aunty Kim Wandin, a Wurundjeri Elder, senior knowledge holder and master-weaver, Chris Joy, who has worked for many years in the cultural and environmental education sector, and Ashleigh Pugh, a young, award-winning Noongar artist.
Pantera Press acquires Victoria Vanstone’s memoir in two-book deal
We’re excited to share the news that Pantera Press has snapped up ANZ rights to Victoria Vanstone’s hilarious and heartfelt memoir, A Thousand Wasted Sundays in a two-book deal. Best known as Drunk Mummy Sober Mummy, host of the hugely popular Sober Awkward podcast and founder of the Cuppa community, Victoria is one of Australia’s leading media commentators on issues of motherhood, sobriety and alcohol-free living. Her book will be released in 2024.
Ultimo Press to publish Louise Wolhuter’s debut novel in December
We are thrilled to share the news (and the stunning cover) of Louise Wolhuter’s debut novel, An Afterlife for Rosemary Lamb. This beautifully written and completely engrossing mystery will be published by Ultimo Press in December.
Kitty Black’s next picture book acquired by Affirm Press
Kitty Black’s new picture book will be published by Affirm Press. A fun and affirming story about starting school, this will be Kitty’s sixth picture book.
Rebecca Timmis’ junior fiction series Jawsome
We’re excited to share the news that super-talented writer/illustrator Rebecca Timmis has a new junior fiction series, Jawsome, coming next year with Albert Street Books / Allen & Unwin.
B.M. Carroll’s next psychological thriller sells to Affirm Press
Affirm Press has snapped up rights to All Her Inconsistencies, the latest psychological thriller from B.M. Carroll.
This will be Ber’s eleventh book, and will be published in May 2023.
Liz Ledden’s next picture book acquired by Bright Light
We are excited to share the news that Liz Ledden’s newest picture book will be published by Bright Light / Hardie Grant in 2023.
Inky and Quack is a sweet and very funny story about the importance of diversity and representation in literature.
The Brothers by S.D. Hinton to be published by HarperCollins
We’re so happy to share the news – and the brilliant cover – for The Brothers by S.D. Hinton, which will be published by HarperCollins Books Australia in August 2022.
An isolated house. A mysterious note. Someone is watching …
An absorbing, atmospheric mystery about families, secrets and the bonds of brotherhood set on the Victorian south coast.
Debut children’s author, Dani Colvin, to be published by Walker Books
We are excited to announce that author/illustrator Dani Colvin’s debut picture book will be published by Walker Books Australia in 2023 – a powerful and uplifting story that will foster resilience, self-belief and courage.
Julie Janson’s Madukka, The River Serpent acquired by UWAP
We are delighted to announce that Julie Janson’s next novel – Madukka, The River Serpent – has been acquired by UWAP.
A unique contemporary crime story exploring Aboriginal deaths in custody, climate change and water theft, it will published in November 2022.
Scott Stuart’s Alone to be published by Bright Light / Hardie Grant
We are thrilled to announce that best-selling author/illustrator and all-round superstar Scott Stuart’s next book, Alone, will be published through Hardie Grant’s Bright Light imprint.
Alone is a beautiful story about how sometimes our worst moments can lead to the best things in life.
Sonia Henry’s memoir to be published by Allen & Unwin
We are thrilled to announce that Allen & Unwin has secured the rights to Sonia Henry’s next book.
Following on the heels of her best-selling novel, Going Under, Sonia’s newest book is a funny, eye-opening and deeply personal memoir about her experiences working as a solo GP in remote Australia.
At nearly 35, after having her heart broken by a heart surgeon, Sonia escaped to the middle of the West Australian desert, to the land of ‘blackfella’ and ‘whitefella’, where seasons consist only of ‘wet’ and ‘dry’, where healthcare is chronically underfunded and under-resourced. Through Pilbara and the Kimberley, to Lightning Ridge and North West NSW, Sonia discovers things not only about herself, but about our land and our country, and how a healthcare system tailored for white people fails Indigenous Australians.
My Shadow is Purple to be published by Larrikin House
The much anticipated sequel to the international best-selling picture, My Shadow is Pink, will be released in May 2022 by Larrikin House.
My Shadow is Purple is a heartwarming and inspiring book about being true to yourself, by best-selling children’s book creator Scott Stuart. This story considers gender beyond binary in a vibrant spectrum of colour.
Elise Hearst debut acquired by HarperCollins/HQ in competitive two-book deal
We are very excited to announce that HarperCollins HQ has acquired Elise Hearst’s debut novel in a hotly-contest two-book deal.
HQ head of publishing Jo Mackay described the novel as ‘fiercely honest and fearless … a deep dive into the complex questions that surround culture, identity politics and generational trauma in contemporary Australia. This novel is both a sadly affectionate and brilliantly unsparing examination of the glorious, awkward, messiness of life.’
The novel will be published in early 2023, with Elise’s second book to follow 12 months later.
Shelley Burr sells debut novel to Hachette/Hodder & Stoughton in hotly contested international auction
We are THRILLED to announce that we’ve sold world rights to Shelley Burr’s debut Wake in hotly contested international auctions in Australia, the UK and US.
The substantial, six-figure, two-book deal will see Hachette Australia publishing Wake in May 2022, with Hodder & Stoughton (UK) and William Morrow (US) publishing the book in July 2022.
Wake won the CWA Debut Dagger in 2019 and was previously shortlisted for both the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award and the Bath Novel Award. It is described by the publishers ‘as a searing crime novel where the grief and guilt surrounding the unsolved disappearance of a nine-year-old twin girl still haunt a small NSW farming community almost twenty years later’.
Yvonne Sewankambo sells four picture books to Walker Australia
We are so happy to share the news that Walker Books Australia has acquired world rights to FOUR picture books by the very talented Yvonne Sewankambo.
First There Was Me, Then There Was You and Good Hair will be the first two books, to be published in 2023.
Scholastic Australia acquires two more picture books by Scott Stuart
The good news continues with Scholastic Australia acquiring world rights to not one, but TWO, new picture books by Scott Stuart – a sequel to Who’s a Goose, and a touching and funny book exploring the battle between a risk-averse, controlling brain and an impulsive but sensitive heart.
Jackie Bailey’s auto-fictional novel to be published by Hardie Grant
We are thrilled to announce that Hardie Grant have acquired world rights (ex-US) to Jackie Bailey’s debut auto-fiction, The Eulogy – a stunning book exploring themes of family, faith, identity, trauma, illness and death, with levity and lightness.
The Eulogy follows the story of Kathy as she sits down to write her sister Annie’s eulogy and reflects on the complexities that shaped their family and their identities.
It will be published in June 2022.
Ultimo Press acquires dual narrative memoir by Shaimaa Khalil and Shelly Davidow
We are thrilled to announce that Ultimo Press will be publishing the ground-breaking dual narrative memoir by BBC journalist Shaimaa Khalil and acclaimed author Shelley Davidow.
Runaways tells a story of an improbable female friendship between two women from either ends of Africa. Traversing issues of race and religion, family and friendship, this is a poetic, timely and vitally important story told by two women whose friendship transcends historical, social, geographical and temporal boundaries.
Coming May 2022
Kitty Black’s middle grade series Everglade to be published by Affirm
We’re delighted to announce that Affirm Press have snapped up world rights to Kitty Black’s delightful middle grade trilogy, Everglade – a brilliant series with echoes of Buffy and Marvel, combining magic, black comedy, neuro-divergence and beautiful tween-age friendships.
Scott Stuart’s junior fiction series acquired by Scholastic
We are excited to share the news that best-selling picture book author Scott Stuart will be branching out into junior fiction! Scott has signed a three-book deal with Scholastic Australia to publish the sassy, fun Sapphire Sparks series.
Fun, funny and empowering, this is the story of a sassy young girl, Sapphire, who comes from a long line of not-very-successful monster hunters. Together with her nonbinary friend, Jasper, they embark on a chaotic adventure to catch a monster, enabling her family to finally join The Society for the Hunting of Monsters which are Definitely Evil. Things don’t go to plan, however, when Sapphire realises that maybe monsters aren’t as evil as she was taught to believe.
