'It has been a tough couple of months, led by the (very abrupt) announcement of the closure of Five Mile and Bonnier Australia. What the Bonnier situation - and others - throws into sharp relief for many younger professionals in this industry is how elusive job security is, and even when those opportunities present themselves, how difficult it can be to balance early-career wages with high costs of living. In the three-and-a-half years I've been at Books + Publishing, I've seen a number of talented people leave publishing to work in adjacent fields or to start anew entirely. Burnout is real, and younger arts workers are increasingly talking openly about the viability of their careers. To this end, it was pleasing to see the ABIAs recognise the achievements of this industry's younger cohort with the launch of the Rising Star award. Recognition might not be able to fix things, but it's a start.' (Jackie Tang : Editorial introduction)
Contents indexed selectively.
'Affirm press publisher Martin Hughes (with senior editor Ruby Ashby-Orr) explores what it means to shape a better culture and create safer workplaces.' (Publication abstract)
'Bonnier Publishing, the publishing arm of Swedish media company Bonnier Group, has restructured its business in Australia, with 35 out of the 36 staff at Bonnier Publishing Australia entering redundancy consultation.' (Introduction)
'The Wheeler Centre has partnered with the Aesop Foundation to launch a $150,000 initiative for developing writers called The Next Chapter.' (Introduction)
'Danielle Binks explores the rising demand for homegrown board books.'
'Rising numbers of book clubs at bookstores and libraries show there is still 'a voracious appetite for concentrated group discussion'. Elizabeth Flux investigates what makes a good club work.' (Introduction)
'Jackie Tang asks publishers, booksellers and librarians if three is an increased demand in foreign-language children's books.'
'Angela Elizabeth finds out how local publishers are committing to poetry beyond the 'Instapoetry' trend.'
'In 2017, the LoveOzYA committee conducted a survey into the reading habits of the Australian YA community. Committee chair Stacey Malacari reports on the survey's findings.' (Introduction)
'Oxford University Press director of School Publishing Lee Walker reflects on 26 years in the publishing industry and what she hopes to achieve as the newly appointed president of the Australian Publishers Association.' (Publication abstract)
'Nielsen Book associate director Julie Winters talks to Jackie Tang about the sales effect of Australia's biggest literary prizes.' (Publication abstract)
''A school library is at the very centre of creative school communities,' writes teacher-librarian and book blogger Megan Daley. She shares her career journey.' (Introduction)
'Nathania Gilson asks publishers and booksellers about the art of rejacketing a children's book series.' (Introduction)
'Riverbend Books owner and Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) founder Suzy Wilson was awarded the Lloyd O'Neil Award for outstanding service to the Australian book industry at the 2018 ABIAs. In this edited excerpt of her acceptance speech, Wilson shares her thoughts on a life lived with books.' (Publication abstract)
'Jeremy Lachlan's middle-grade adventure Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds is 'a thrilling story set in a universe made up of multiple worlds' that features at its heart the bond between a daughter and her father. Reviewer Angela Crocombe spoke to the author.' (Introduction)
'Emily Gale's I Am Out with Lanterns intertwines the points of view of several teenagers to create a story that is 'nuanced, complex and thoroughly devourable', writes Jordi Kerr. She spoke to the author.' (Introduction)
'Moreno Giovannoni's The Fireflies of Autumn is a collection of loosely connected short stories, describing life in the Tuscan village of San Ginese. Reviewer Chris Saliba spoke to the author.' (Introduction)
'Christian White's The Nowhere Child tells the story of a Melbourne woman caught up in the investigation a a decades-old kidnapping case in Kentucky. Reviewer Deborah Crabtree spoke to the author of this highly anticipated debut.' (Introduction)
