It happens every time. Whenever we cross paths with HarperCollins, George R.R. Martin’s Australian publisher, the conversation invariably leans towards A Song of Ice and Fire. When will the next book be coming? Is it this year? It’s this year isn’t it? Blink once if it’s this year. Was that a blink? But it appears it wasn’t a blink after all, as Martin’s UK publish... Read more

Last night’s Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (the AACTA awards for those short of breath) had a particularly bookish feel. The Babadook, the acclaimed thriller about a mother and son haunted by a mysterious storybook, shared Best Film honours with Russell Crowe’s directorial debut The Water Diviner, which was recently adapted into a novel by screenwriter Andr... Read more

One of Australia’s most popular authors, Colleen McCullough, has passed away aged 77. Her novel The Thorn Birds is still the highest selling Australian novel ever written. Her popularity remained immense for the duration of her career, only last week being voted one of Australia’s 50 Favourite Authors in our nationwide readers poll. In 2012 we were lucky enough to interview Colleen ... Read more

Really, it’s about time. 44 years, 85 characters and more 120 million copies after Roger Hargreaves wrote his first book, inspired by his son asking what a tickle looked like, film rights for the Mr Men and Little Miss characters have been secured by Fox Animation, the studio behind the Ice Age and Rio franchises. Fox Animation president Vanessa Morrison added: “The Mr Men and Littl... Read more

The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards have just been announced at a function in Melbourne. Let’s take a look at the winners! FICTION To Name Those Lost by Rohan Wilson From the bestselling author of The Roving Party, comes a moving father and son story set amidst the beauty and the violence of the poor and preyed upon of our colonial past. Summer 1874, and Launceston teeters on th... Read more

A group of American critics have named Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a take on the life of an overweight Dominican-American nerd, as the best novel of the 21st century to date. BBC Culture, the arts section of the international BBC site, polled several dozen US critics to find the greatest novels written so far this century, with 156 novels in all named by experts from pape... Read more

Before anything, we want to extend a HUGE thanks to everyone involved with this poll. To all authors, we owe you thanks on so many levels, but on this occasion thank you for rallying your fans and supporting other authors with such vigour. Oh, and for writing the books that we adore. We love you all. To the publishers, we couldn’t have done this without your tireless support, and your inc... Read more

A passion for telling stories and tireless advocacy for children with learning difficulties has made Jackie French the 2015 Senior Australian of the Year. “A book can change the world,” she said. “Every book a child reads creates new neurons in that child’s brain,” she told the crowd as she received her award. “If you want intelligent children give them a boo... Read more

Booktopia is proud to announce, after thousands of your nominations and over 100,000 votes from Australian readers, that Australia’s Favourite Author for 2015 is… 1. John Flanagan John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia hoping to be a writer. It wasn’t until he wrote a highly uncomplimentary poem about a senior executive at the agency where he worked, however, that his talent was... Read more

The day has arrived. Today we announce Australia’s Top 10 Favourite Authors, as voted by you. Before anything, we want to extend a HUGE thanks to everyone involved with this poll. To all authors, we owe you thanks on so many levels, but on this occasion thank you for rallying your fans and supporting other authors with such vigour. Oh, and for writing the books that we adore. We love you ... Read more