NEWS – Sarah McKenzie Literary Management

SCOTT STUART’S MY SHADOW IS PINK NAMED IN TOP FIVE OF THE GUARDIAN’S BEST AUSTRALIAN PICTURE BOOKS

After more than 100,000 votes were cast over two weeks to find Guardian Australia’s best children’s picture book of all time, we are thrilled to announce that Scott Stuart’s groundbreaking book, My Shadow is Pink, has come in at Number Five! Scott’s book was the only title in the Top Five to be written in the last twenty years. That makes this book, officially, a modern classic!

KATIE NEWTON SELLS DEBUT NOVEL TO SUMMIT/S&S

We are thrilled to share the excellent news that her debut novel, People Will Get Hurt By This, has been acquired by Summit Books for publication in early 2027.

What if some women just aren’t supposed to be mothers? What if it’s better if some mothers just walk away?

People Will Get Hurt By This is a darkly funny, feistily feminist story about bad role models, worse decisions and what happens when women don’t do what they’re expected to do.

LOUISE WOLHUTER WINS WA PREMIER’S BOOK AWARDS FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR

Huge congratulations to Louise Wolhuter and Shadows of Winter Robins, the winner of the WA Premiers Fiction Book of the Year!

The judges described the book as “beautifully written … utterly engaging … lyrical and evocative, filled with psychological suspense, emotion and moments that keep the reader eagerly turning the pages”.

CAMP COPE’S KELLY HELLMRICH SELLS DEBUT BOOK TO PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

We are thrilled to share the news that Kelly Hellmrich, bass player of trail-blazing all-girl punk group Camp Cope, has sold world rights to her debut book to Penguin Random House, following enthusiastic interest from multiple publishers.

Kelly’s book blends cultural commentary, personal reflection and interviews with Australia’s most influential and impactful female and gender-diverse musicians to paint a picture of the music industry that will illuminate, enrage and inspire. Traversing a broad range of topics including creative processes and starting out, sexual harassment and gender inequality, and motherhood, body image and representation, this book is about the artists who have lifted each other up, held the door open for the next person, and built something better than what was there before.

REBECCA TIMMIS SIGNS A NEW TWO-BOOK JUNIOR FICTION SERIES WITH PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

We are thrilled to share the news that author-illustrator Rebecca (RJ) Timmis has signed a new two-book deal with for a spook-tacular junior fiction series with Penguin Random House. The new series is scheduled for publication in 2027.

ALISTER NICHOLSON’S NEW PICTURE BOOK, A DEVIL OF A TIME, TO BE PUBLISHED BY HARDIE GRANT

In partnership with the AFL and the Tasmania Devils, A Devil of a Time is a joyous, inclusive picture book that celebrates the history and evolution of the Tasmania Football Club, ahead of its entrance to the AFL in 2028. Alister Nicholson, one of the country’s most beloved sports journalists, has again paired up with illustrator Tom Jellett for this beautiful story, coming in September through Hardie Grant Publishing.

MURRAY MIDDLETON’S SHORT STORY COLLECTION, U WANT IT DARKER, TO BE PUBLISHED BY PAN MAC

U Want It Darker is Vogel-winning author, Murray Middleton’s, second short story collection and is a bold and darkly humorous exploration about artists struggling with their egos, facing their failures and redeeming their bad behaviour.

To be published by Pan Macmillan in August, Murray draws us deeper into the absurdities of creative life, inhabiting dingy painters’ studios, anarchic movie sets, depraved pizza restaurants and grimy comedy clubs, as he tries not to plunge into the abyss himself.

Daring, original and shot through with pathos, these stories are a gulp of fresh air from a Vogel Award-winning literary talent.

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.

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