VICTORIA VANSTONE TO PUBLISH SECOND COMEDY MEMOIR WITH PANTERA PRESS
We thrilled that Victoria Vanstone, AKA Drunk Mummy Sober Mummy, will be publishing her second hilarious and heartfelt comedy memoir with Pantera Press in May!
A hilarious and painfully relatable memoir about a mum who sets out to revolutionise herself and her parenting – one failed experiment at a time.
Victoria Vanstone thought she’d be the kind of mum who would spend her days ironing names onto school shirts and who knew the best chocolate-chip cookie recipe off by heart. But as the years have ticked by, she’s got the feeling that woman isn’t going to show up. Instead, she’s the kind of mum who shouts a lot and throws plastic cups at walls.
So Victoria decides to become the mum she’s always wanted to be. She embarks on a year of parental development – enrolling in a parenting course, implementing an exercise regime, awkwardly trying to make friends as an adult, and a holiday away from her family – to reset the dials.
What follows is a year of trying, failing and trying again. But as Victoria stumbles from one misadventure to the next, she begins to realise that getting things wrong is actually where the fun begins.
Come for the laughs, stay for the reassurance: Mumming is a heartwarming celebration of the messy, wonderful, imperfect reality of raising kids – and yourself.
BETHANY LOVERIDGE’S PICTURE BOOK ACQUIRED BY LITTLE BOOK PRESS
Bethany Loveridge’s magical and fun picture book, illustrated by Chris Kennett, will be published by Little Book Press in early 2026.
NEW MARK MUPOTSA-RUSSELL NOVEL TO BE PUBLISHED BY AFFIRM PRESS
We’re excited to share the news that Mark Mupotsa-Russell’s next novel will be published in September by Affirm Press. The Wolf Who Cried Boy is a powerful, page-turning and delightful thriller with a protagonist that you’ll never forget.
In this astoundingly original story of heroes, villains and the messy reality between them, the author of The Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt has breathed life into another unforgettable narrator. Through Henry’s eyes, a world of violence and fear can be wildly funny and streaked with magic, as The Wolf Who Cried Boy explores how cycles of violence, misogyny and corruption must be broken if we ever want our children to grow up free.
LILLIAN TELFORD DEBUT ACQUIRED BY HQ/HARPERCOLLINS IN TWO-BOOK DEAL
We are thrilled to share the news that Lillian Telford’s debut novel, LOVESICK, has been acquired by HQ/HarperCollins after enthusiastic interest from multiple publishers in a two-book deal.
Raw, honest and punchy, Lovesick cleverly dissects modern love to reveal relationships characterised by passion and messiness, shaped by past traumas and power imbalance. It is perfect for fans of Diana Reid and Sally Rooney.
Coming mid-2026.
KELLY BRODIE-BROWN SELLS THIRD PICTURE BOOK TO SCHOLASTIC
We are super excited that Kelly Brodie-Brown has signed on for a third picture book with Scholastic.
A rollicking tale about a ruthlessly competitive monkey, Kelly has again written a funny and empowering story that will resonate with anyone believes that winning is all that matters.
Undefeated World Pickleball Champion Glenda just loves to win. Nothing feels better than basking in the warm glow of glory. Winning is what she’s all about and she figures ‘Who needs friends?’ when she has her medals and trophies to keep her company.
But when she meets a new contender at the annual Jungle Open and the unthinkable happens, her world falls apart…
RACHEL GIVNEY CRIME NOVEL COMING THROUGH ULTIMO PRESS
Delighted to announce that Rachel Givney’s next novel – Don’t Say His Name – will be published by Ultimo Press in August. Fast-paced, clever and darkly comic, the novel is based on the unsolved Wanda beach murders, and is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages late into the night!
As local women are found murdered on the sand dunes marked with a peculiar symbol, whispers of Tall Harry, a shadowy urban legend, begin to circulate. Don’t Say His Name is your next big crime read – a cross between Dirt Town and The Dry, with a sprinkling of urban legend.
NEW MARIJA PERICIC NOVEL TO BE PUBLISHED BY ULTIMO PRESS
We are thrilled that Ultimo Press will be publishing
Foreign Country by
Marija Peričić. Foreign Country is a lyrical work that explores the fallibility of memory and two sisters, torn apart by grief and tragedy.
Foreign Country will be published in June 2025
VALE GEMMA CAREY
We are deeply saddened to learn about the death of author and academic Gemma Carey.
Her memoir, No Matter Our Wreckage, was a beautiful, brave and powerful book about grooming and child sexual abuse, about family and grief, and we were honoured to be part of her publishing journey. Gemma was a gifted writer, generous and courageous, and a fearless advocate for victim-survivors and people with disabilities.
Our hearts go out to her husband, young son, and all those who loved her.
ALLEN & UNWIN ACQUIRE TWO NEW ROM-COMS FROM NATALIE MURRAY
We’re thrilled that Allen & Unwin has acquired not one, but two new rom-coms by Natalie Murray.
Lights, Camera, Love will be published in January 2025 and is a playful, spicy and hilarious grumpy x sunshine story. Natalie’s second book will follow 12 months later and is an enemies to lovers rom-com.
ALITA BRYDON’S NONFICTION BOOK ACQUIRED BY HARPERCOLLINS
Social media superstar Alita Brydon
has sold the rights to her nonfiction book to HarperCollins Australia.
Part memoir, part guidebook, this hilarious, feisty and relatable book will help you rewrite the narrative on love, bodies and self-esteem.
KELLY BRODIE-BROWN SELLS TWO PICTURE BOOKS TO SCHOLASTIC
We are excited
to share the news that Kelly Brodie-Brown has sold not one, but two picture books to Scholastic Australia.
Both are joyous, sometimes-absurd and very funny stories about breaking stereotypes.
HOLLY BRUNNBAUER’S DEBUT TO BE PUBLISHED BY HARPERCOLLINS
We are delighted to share the news that Holly Brunnbauer’s debut romcom will be published in August 2025 by HarperCollins Australia. This novel is feisty, fun and totally captivating.
MURRAY MIDDLETON’S NOVEL NO CHURCH IN THE WILD TO BE PUBLISHED BY PICADOR
Vogel-award winning writer, Murray Middleton’s complex and powerful novel, No Church in the Wild, will be published in April 2024 by Picador/Pan Macmillan.
From the vial-studded stairs of the inner-city high-rises to the mud-sucking jungle of Kokoda, No Church in the Wild is a fierce interrogation of contemporary Australian society and the prejudices that still underpin it.
SHERRYL CLARK’S NEXT CRIME THRILLER TO BE PUBLISHED BY HQ/HARPERCOLLINS
HQ/HarperCollins has acquired award-winning writer, Sherryl Clark’s, brilliant new crime novel, Woman, Missing.
To be published in July 2024 by HQ/HarperCollins, this twisty, gritty and unputdownable thriller is perfect for readers of Sarah Bailey and Jane Caro’s The Mother.
She’s the one to turn to when you need saving. But first she has to save herself…
ANTONY ELWORTHY MIDDLE GRADE NOVEL ACQUIRED BY WALKER BOOKS
Author, illustrator and animator Antony Elworthy’s debut middle grade novel has been acquired by
Walker Books and will published in 2024. This absurd, smart and heartfelt story will be perfect for readers of David Walliams and Morris Gleitzman.
“With his grandson as his skeptical audience, Gramps likes to relate the adventures of his youth. He’s had what they call a Chequered Career, and some of his tales would leave you wondering.
There was the occasion when Gramps was selling ice-creams at the beach and a freak wave swept his van out to sea. Then there was the time as he was digging his way out of a collapsed coal-mine and discovered a fortune of diamonds. But perhaps his most astonishing adventure was when Gramps used to ply his trade as an itinerant magician known as The Astounding Alfredo…”
IAN W. SHAW’S 12th Book coming THROUGH SIMON & SCHUSTER
We are thrilled to share the news that Simon & Schuster will be publishing Ian W Shaw’s next (and 12th!) book – a page-turning and carefully-researched account of Frank Gardiner.
Considered the godfather of Australian bushranging, Frank Gardiner was a complex character within Australian colonial history – equal parts gentleman and felon.
This is the story of a man who, with a hand-picked band of followers, would control the roads leading to and from Australia’s richest goldfields for almost two years. A man who planned and directed the greatest armed robbery in Australia’s history. And a man who then walked away from crime to start a new life with the woman he loved.
The book will be published in the second half of 2024.
ANNIE DE MONCHAUX DEBUT NOVEL SOLD TO ULTIMO PRESS
We are so pleased to announce the news that
Ultimo Press has acquired the rights to Annie de Monchaux’s debut novel, Audrey’s Gone AWOL, in a two-book deal. We adore this book, which will be published in April 2024.
Audrey and her husband are empty nesters, and as she nears sixty, she is feeling invisible to her family, society, and disturbingly, even herself. When she discovers her husband is contemplating an affair, she flees to her aged aunt’s place in France. There begins Audrey’s journey to finding the courage to live on her own terms…
Publisher, Alex Craig, says: ‘In Audrey, Annie has created an unforgettable heroine. I can’t wait for readers to discover this uplifting and funny novel in which it’s never too late to change your life.’
ALISTER NICHOLSON’S NEXT PICTURE BOOK ACQUIRED BY ALLEN & UNWIN
We can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on Alister Nicholson’s gorgeous, fun-filled new picture book, The Backyard Games, in late 2024. Written by one of Australia’s most respected sports journalists, illustrated by the excellent Tom Jellett and published by the wonderful team at Allen & Unwin, this book celebrates the joy and inclusivity of kids’ sports.
B.M. CARROLL’S NEXT THRILLER TO BE PUBLISHED BY AFFIRM
We’re excited to share the news that B.M. Carroll will have a new novel out with Affirm Press in May 2024.
One of Us is Missing is another psychological thriller that pulses with fast-paced, ever-twisting intrigue. It follows Ber’s 2023 release, The Other Side of Her.
MARK MUPOTSA-RUSSELL DEBUT NOVEL TO BE PUBLISHED BY AFFIRM PRESS
Debut author Mark Mupotsa-Russell’s very excellent noir crime thriller will be published by Affirm Press in August 2024.
Sinners Like Me is an acerbic, darkly funny and completely unique novel that will have you gasping. Think ‘Killing Eve’ meets ‘Mr Inbetween’ but with hippies, hipsters and bogans.
GLENNA THOMSON THRILLER ‘GONE’ ACQUIRED BY PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
We’re very happy to share the news that Glenna Thomson’s next novel will be published by Penguin Books Australia.
Gone is a gripping and sophisticated rural crime thriller that will keep you up late at night. Coming February 2024.
JULIE JANSON’S NEXT NOVEL TO BE PUBLISHED BY MAGABALA BOOKS
We’re thrilled to share the news that Julie Janson’s next historical fiction novel, Compassion, will be published by
Magabala Books.
Compassion is a follow-up to Benevolence, which was shortlisted for the Barbara Jefferis Award, nominated for the NIB Literary Award and the Voss Literary Award.
“All the women danced together in a line, spiraling, a long twisting rope of human hair gripped in our hands joining us to country and to our mother’s mothers. We sang for the ancient ones, unending and forever, and I shuddered, knowing I had come home, and I was one of them.”
AWARD RECOGNITION FOR SMLM AUTHORS
We are proud and delighted to share some recent award wins and announcements for SMLM authors, including:
– Shelley Burr, winner of the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year
– Jackie Bailey, The Eulogy, winner for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Multicultural NSW Award category, and shortlisted for the Glenda Adams Award for New Writing
– Scott Stuart, My Shadow is Purple, shortlisted for the ABIA Small Publisher Children’s Book of the Year
– Julie Janson, Madduka the River Serpent, longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award
Kate Talbot’s picture book to be published by Allen & Unwin
We are very excited to announce that author/illustrator Kate Talbot’s picture book How to Draw a Dragon will be published in 2024 by Allen & Unwin.
This gorgeous, clever and very sweet story is about art, imagination and resilience.
Scott Stuart’s 10th book COMING IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS
By popular demand, Scott Stuart has a new book coming in time for Christmas!
Scott’s bedtime stories for hard days went viral on social media – the first story being viewed over three million times on Instagram! – and now they are being published as a collection by Bright Light / Hardie Grant.
Shelley Davidow’s next novel sold to HQ/HarperCollins
We are delighted to share the news that Shelley Davidow’s next novel will be published by HQ/HarperCollins.
A literary love story set set against the backdrop of Berlin in the 1980s and the deeper background of WW2, this gorgeous novel about music, gender, history and inherited trauma will be published in 2024.
My Shadow is Pink in TV development
We are proud and excited to announce that Scott Stuart’s best-selling picture book My Shadow is Pink is being developed into a TV series!
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and CBC/Radio-Canada have announced that My Shadow is Pink is one of two projects selected from over 180 submissions to receive developmental funding under the Kindred ABC/CBC Animation Collaboration.
The series has been created by Scott Stuart and Ken Cuperus, with Headspinner/Sticky Pictures.
We are thrilled to share the news that Lillian Telford’s debut novel, LOVESICK, has been acquired by HQ/HarperCollins after enthusiastic interest from multiple publishers in a two-book deal.
has sold the rights to her nonfiction book to HarperCollins Australia.
Vogel-award winning writer, Murray Middleton’s complex and powerful novel, No Church in the Wild, will be published in April 2024 by Picador/Pan Macmillan.
HQ/HarperCollins has acquired award-winning writer, Sherryl Clark’s, brilliant new crime novel, Woman, Missing.
