The ABIAs celebrate the professionals in the book business – the dedicated individuals and teams who bring stories to life, and books to the right readers.

Congratulations to the new Hall of Fame recipients, and the companies shortlisted for the six Business Awards, all recognising outstanding contributions to the industry.

Hall of Fame: Lloyd O’Neil Award – Tim Winton

Tim Winton has published 29 books over his 40 year literary career. He has been twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize and has won numerous awards, including Miles Franklin Literary Awards for Shallows, Cloudstreet, Dirt Music, and Breath. The influence of his writing has seeped into our collective consciousness, reflected in conversations from the arts, education and community activism to the environment and marine conservation. Most recently, he was a writer, narrator, and executive producer of the nature documentary Ningaloo Nyingguluc.

On receipt of the award, Tim said, ‘It’s a lovely thing to be honoured by the writers, publishers and booksellers who keep our precious book culture alive, and I’m really touched to be given this award in my 40th year in the caper.’

Hall of Fame: Pixie O’Harris Award – Lisa Berryman

Lisa Berryman is one of Australia’s most renowned publishers of children books from picture books to young adult titles. With a career spanning over 40 years, she is an enthusiastic and motivating champion for children’s literature and has been instrumental in bringing the voices of numerous successful Australian children’s book authors into the public eye as well as caretaking beloved Australian classics such as The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay, The Muddleheaded Wombat by Ruth Park and The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall.

Her faith in the transformative power of words, stories, and books is at the core of her achievement. The Pixie O’Harris Award is presented to a distinguished individual who has shown tireless support for children’s literature – Lisa embodies that dedication.

On receipt of the award, Lisa said, ‘What an extraordinary honour it is to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the many years I have spent pursuing my passion for children’s books.’

ABIA 2023 Business Awards Shortlists

Warm wishes to all those shortlisted for Bookshop and Book Retailer of the Year, and Publisher and Small Publisher of the Year, and the new Marketing Strategy and Commissioning Editor/Publisher of the Year Awards.

Bookshop of the Year

• Where The Wild Things Are Bookshop
• Matilda Bookshop
• Readings Emporium
• Boffins Books
• Bookgrove, Stacey Moore(Bookgrove)

On bookshops, the judging panel said: ‘All the entries were impressive, and the shortlisted stores all demonstrated how independent bookstores are an important part of the community engaging with notable initiatives and outreach activities to encourage reading and literacy within our communities. Passion, energy and hard work was synonymous will all on the shortlist.’

Book Retailer of the Year

• QBD
• Target Australia
• Dymocks
• Big W
• Harry Hartog Bookseller

On book retailers, the judging panel said: ‘The judging panel was impressed by the depth of range and support for books with investment in stores, events, displays and charitable activities that all go towards making reading accessible for many Australians. Their contribution to the entire book industry built on staff care and building on dedicated customer relationships cannot be understated.’

Small Publisher of the Year

• Magabala Books
• University of Queensland Press(UQP)
• Scribe Publications
• Black Inc.
• Pantera Press

On Small Publisher of the Year, the judges said: ‘Every small publisher offers something unique to the cultural landscape of Australia. The judging panel was impressed by the commitment to diversity and representation and the willingness to publish in an exciting range of formats and genres.’

Publisher of the Year

• Simon & Schuster Australia
• Allen & Unwin
• Penguin Random House Australia
• HarperCollins Publishers
• Pan Macmillan Australia

On Publisher of the Year, the judges said: ‘Despite the global challenges of distribution and supply chains, our Australian publishers have all sought to find solutions for supply chain coverage and to get books out to readers. They worked to improve staff support and diversity and inclusion within the industry, with notable progress.’

 

New ABIA Business Awards for 2023

Commissioning Editor/Publisher of the Year

The inaugural Commissioning Editor Award recognises the importance of an editor or publisher who provides excellence in the support of their authors, and the acquisition and commission of new titles that not only meets the needs of the publishing house but enriches the Australian publishing landscape.

• Rebecca Saunders (Hachette Australia)
• Jane Palfreyman (Allen & Unwin)
• Rebecca Young (Scholastic Australia)
• Vanessa Radnidge (Hachette Australia)
• Mandy Brett (Text Publishing)

On the Commissioning Editor Award, the judging panel said: ‘The judging panel was impressed by year’s exceptional shortlist contenders all of whom have championed their authors and delivered strong commercial publishing programs. There is evidence of literary success and a commitment to publishing a good representation of Australian voices.’

Marketing Strategy

The inaugural Marketing Strategy Award recognises the important work of marketing professionals in showcasing their talent and individual product lines and lists with imaginative, innovative and effective campaigns that have captured the imagination of Australian readers.

• Stolen Focus by Johann Hari (Bloomsbury Publishing)
• Runt by Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (Allen and Unwin)
• Barefoot Kids by Scott Pape (HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Lisa by Lisa Curry & Ellen Whinnett (HarperCollins Publishers)

On the Marketing Strategy Award, the judging panel said: ‘Across the board the judging panel was impressed by the well-executed, multi-channel marketing programs presented. They all sort to leverage the author’s reputation to engage with their audience with innovative solutions as well as connect them with a wider audience-base.’

We are thrilled to announce the Book Awards shortlists for the 2023 ABIAs!

The ABIAs showcase the best talent in the business, with exceptional collaborations between publishers, authors, editors, illustrators, marketers and designers in bringing quality books to Australian and international markets.

The winners will be announced at the red-carpet ABIA Ceremony, to be held on Thursday 25 May at Doltone House (Darling Island) in Sydney.

Don’t miss out on this special night – get your tickets now!

Audiobook of the Year

• Ten Steps to Nanette, Hannah Gadsby; narrated by Hannah Gadsby (Wavesound)
• Life: What Nat to Do: A hot take on advice you never asked for, Nat’s What I Reckon; narrated by Nat’s What I Reckon (Penguin Random House Australia, Random House AU Audio Adult)
• The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, Grace Tame; narrated by Grace Tame (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia Audio)
• Lisa, Lisa Curry with Ellen Whinnett; narrated by Lisa Curry (HarperCollins Publishers, HarperAudio)
• The Whitewash, Siang Lu; narrated by Tim Potter, Nick Ravenswood, Siang Lu, Tom Hart, Berlin Lu, Eva Seymour, James Huang, Jamie Hart, Jing-Xuan Chan, Keith Brockett, Marty Rhone, Yen Nguyen, Ichigon and Daniel Qin (Wavesound)

Biography Book of the Year

• My Dream Time, Ash Barty (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Ten Steps to Nanette, Hannah Gadsby (Allen & Unwin)
• The Boy from Boomerang Crescent, Eddie Betts (Simon & Schuster Australia)
• Heartstrong, Ellidy Pullin (Hachette Australia)
• The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, Grace Tame (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)

Book of the Year for Older Children (ages 13+)

• If You Could See the Sun, Ann Liang (HarperCollins Publishers, HQ Young Adult)
• The Jammer, Nova Weetman (UQP)
• Blood Traitor, Lynette Noni (Penguin Random House Australia)
• Unnecessary Drama, Nina Kenwood (Text Publishing)
• Sugar, Carly Nugent (Text Publishing)

Book of the Year for Younger Children (ages 7-12)

• The Bookseller’s Apprentice, Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press)
• Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1, Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard (Allen & Unwin; Albert Street Books)
• A Girl Called Corpse: An Elston-Fright Tale, Reece Carter, illustrated by Simon Howe (Allen & Unwin)
• Runt, Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (Allen & Unwin)
• Waiting for the Storks, Katrina Nannestad (HarperCollins Publishers, ABC Books)

Children’s Picture Book of the Year (ages 0-6)

• What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say, Davina Bell and Hilary Jean Tapper (Hachette Australia, Lothian Children’s Books)
• Floof, Heidi McKinnon (Allen & Unwin, Albert Street Books)
• Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country, Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, illustrated by David Hardy (Allen & Unwin)
• Be Careful, Xiao Xin!, Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng (HarperCollins Publishers, Working Title Press)
• Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth, Melissa Greenwood (HarperCollins Publishers, ABC Books)

General Fiction Book of the Year

• Dirt Town, Hayley Scrivenor (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• The Tilt, Chris Hammer (Allen & Unwin)
• Exiles, Jane Harper (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• Day’s End, Garry Disher (Text Publishing)
• Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson (Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph)

General Non-fiction Book of the Year

• Reasons Not to Worry, Brigid Delaney (Allen & Unwin)
• The Space Between the Stars, Indira Naidoo (Murdoch Books)
• Bedtime Story, Chloe Hooper (Simon & Schuster Australia, Scribner Australia)
• Bulldozed, Niki Savva (Scribe Publications, Scribe)
• Investing with She’s on the Money, Victoria Devine (Penguin Random House, Penguin Life)

Illustrated Book of the Year

• First Nations Food Companion, Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan (Murdoch Books)
• Lune, Kate Reid (Hardie Grant Publishing, Hardie Grant Books)
• Cressida Campbell, National Gallery of Australia (National Gallery of Australia)
• Yiayia Next Door, Daniel and Luke Mancuso (Pan Macmillan Australia, Plum)
• RecipeTin Eats: Dinner, Nagi Maehashi (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)

International Book of the Year

• The Marriage Portrait, Maggie O’Farrell (Hachette Australia, Headline)
• Young Mungo, Douglas Stuart (Pan Macmillan, Australia Picador)
• The Bullet That Missed, Richard Osman (Penguin Random House, Viking UK)
• Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus (Penguin Random House, Doubleday UK)
• Stolen Focus, Johann Hari (Bloomsbury Publishing)

Literary Fiction Book of the Year

• All That’s Left Unsaid, Tracey Lien (HarperCollins Publishers, HQ Fiction)
• The Sun Walks Down, Fiona McFarlane (Allen & Unwin)
• Horse, Geraldine Brooks (Hachette Australia)
• Seeing Other People, Diana Reid (Hardie Grant Publishing, Ultimo Press)
• Limberlost, Robbie Arnott (Text Publishing)

Small Publishers’ Adult Book of the Year

• Humanity’s Moment, Joëlle Gergis (Black Inc.)
• Cold Enough for Snow, Jessica Au (Giramondo Publishing)
• The Dreaming Path, Paul Callaghan (Pantera Press)
• Tell Me Again, Amy Thunig (UQP)
• Warlpiri Encyclopaedic Dictionary, Mary Laughren, Kenneth Hale, Jeannie Nungarrayi Egan, Marlurrku Paddy Patrick Jangala, Robert Hoogenraad, David Nash and Jane Simpson (Aboriginal Studies Press)

Small Publishers’ Children’s Book of the Year

• My Shadow is Purple, Scott Stuart (Larrikin House)
• Koori Princess, Anita Heiss (Magabala Books)
• A Tiny Light, Alison Lester (UQP)
• Off to the Market, Alice Oehr (Scribe Publications, Scribble)
• The Brink, Holden Sheppard (Text Publishing)

Social Impact Book of the Year

• Come Together, Isaiah Firebrace, illustrated by Jaelyn Biumaiwai (Hardie Grant Publishing, Hardie Grant Explore)
• How Many More Women, Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida (Allen & Unwin)
• The Boy from Boomerang Crescent, Eddie Betts (Simon and Schuster Australia)
• Not Now, Not Ever, Julia Gillard (Penguin Random House, Australia Vintage)
• Freedom, Only Freedom, Behrouz Boochani, anthology editors Moones Mansoubi and Omid Tofighian (Bloomsbury Publishing, Bloomsbury Academic (AUS))

The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year

• Tell Me Again, Amy Thunig (UQP)
• WAKE, Shelley Burr (Hachette Australia)
• Dirt Town, Hayley Scrivenor (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, Grace Tame (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• Root & Branch: Essays on inheritance, Eda Gunaydin (NewSouth Publishing, NewSouth)
• All That’s Left Unsaid, Tracey Lien (HarperCollins Publishers, HQ Fiction)

The shortlist for the 2022 Publishing Rising Star, proudly supported by MediaSuper, has been announced.

These six industry professionals commenced their careers in publishing over the past ten years and are being recognised as emerging talents to watch in the Australian publishing arena.

Kate Lloyd

Kate Lloyd is the sales and marketing manager at Text Publishing. She has worked in the Australian publishing industry for six years. Kate developed her marketing and publishing experience at Major Street Publishing under Lesley Williams, while studying and interning at the Stella Prize and Melbourne Writers’ Festival. Her next role was at Text as marketing coordinator, where she worked on promotional campaigns across the list, including for books by Graeme Simsion, Nina Kenwood and Garry Disher. Kate became the marketing manager in 2020 and helped foster the connection between the company and its authors during the lockdown periods. Kate has experience in building community through books and reading on social media and has been part of Australia’s #bookstagram community for almost a decade. She co-created the online bookish marketplace Nook and Burrow, boosting the profile of Australian authors on her Instagram account. As marketing manager, Kate has developed dynamic campaigns for Amanda Lohrey, Jennifer Down and Helen Garner.

Emily Cook

Emily Cook is the Community and Media Manager at Ultimo Press, which has been operating since September 2020. Emily was Senior Publicist at Penguin Random House, where she produced well-rounded publicity campaigns for a cross-section of authors and books while working on special campaigns to increase awareness of the company’s brand and titles. She has managed communications and events at the Irish Writers Centre, assisted with business development, training and marketing at the Independent Publishers Guild, a trade organisation for independent publishers in the United Kingdom, and worked as Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator at Imperial College Business School and as a sales, marketing and publicity intern at Melbourne University Press.

Mika Tabata

Mika Tabata initially studied sculpture at university then transferred to design. The day she saw a documentary about book design things finally clicked for Mika. With a fresh new focus, she gained an internship at Allen & Unwin in 2013 as a marketing designer, producing material for upcoming releases. This led to a similar role at Walker Books Australia in 2014, and when a role for a junior book designer came up in 2017, she jumped at it. Working closely with the publishers and project editors, Mika designed covers and interiors for picture books, junior fiction and young adult titles from the initial concept to finished art. In 2019 she took on part-time work as Production Designer at Allen & Unwin and she continues in that role to the present day, enjoying a satisfying mix of technical and creative work. She also does freelance design work. In 2020 Mika was shortlisted for the Best Designed Children’s Series at the Australian Book Design Awards and in 2021 she won the Deb Brash Emerging Designer Award.

Crystal Corocher

Crystal Corocher is a children’s book editor and literacy educator with a passion for reading engagement. Prior to working with the Larrikin House team, Crystal’s experience as a freelance journalist spanned radio, television, newsprint and online. She supports reading engagement at a school of more than 1800 students and uses this to help inform decisions about what to produce from a publishing perspective. Over the past two years at Larrikin House, Crystal’s role has been diverse. Initially joining as Publicist in 2020, she has helped the burgeoning publishing house find a voice and has segued into her role as editor, working with the small in-house team on everything from picture books to the upcoming release of a new junior fiction range, reading engagement programs and an array of projects in between.

Sam van der Plank

Sam van der Plank has become Monash University Publishing’s all-around data guru. Over his 2.5 years at the press, Sam’s can-do attitude and initiative has seen him undertake a series of projects that have improved the company’s publishing capacities significantly. These include single-handedly implementing, and training staff to use, the BooksoniX database; establishing and refining metadata feeds; streamlining the royalties process; working with the university’s complex finance system to ensure authors get paid quickly and with minimum fuss; and establishing clear profit/loss sales data. Sam has done this largely by upskilling himself through the Australian Publishers’ Association training program and gathering information on other company practices. While those with a talent for operations often remain behind the scenes, Sam is the very definition of a team player, and his intelligence, ingenuity and commitment to improve Monash Publishing is truly exceptional. He has a bright career ahead.

Emily Hart

Emily Hart first encountered the publishing industry as a reader, as a childhood maker of folded-paper books, and then as a Year 10 work-experience student at Wakefield Press in Adelaide. While studying at the University of Adelaide, Emily ghost-wrote a political memoir for Melbourne University Press, which led her to MUP as an editorial intern. From there she went to Dillons Bookshop in South Australia as a bookseller, and back to Wakefield Press as an events manager. At Wakefield, she trained and worked as an editor across history, art, food and literary fiction (while also selling rights, writing newsletters and answering the phones, among other things). In 2017, Emily moved to Melbourne, becoming an editor at Hardie Grant Books and working across both narrative and illustrated non-fiction. She convened the inaugural Hardie Grant Books x RMIT Spark Prize for narrative non-fiction, worked on Hardie Grant’s inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan, volunteers for the Stella Count and is a 2022 REP alumnus.

 

Congratulations to the Rising Star shortlist!

The judges said:

“The variety of professions on the Rising Star shortlist this year is testament of the amazing talent base the Australian publishing industry has on offer. Each one has displayed unique skills, ideas, and career trajectories and all are very worthy of recognition. The future of publishing is in good hands.”

The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on 9 June.

Follow Books and Publishing to read interviews with each of the Rising Star shortlist between now and the event.

Get your tickets here to be in the room when the winner of the Rising Star award is announced.

The ABIAs celebrate the professionals in the book business – the dedicated individuals and teams who bring stories to life, authors’ dreams to reality, and books to the right readers.

Congratulations to the new Hall of Fame recipients, the shortlist for the 2022 Rising Star Award and the shortlist for the 2022 Business Awards, all recognising outstanding contributions to the industry.

Lloyd O’Neil Hall of Fame Award

The Lloyd O’Neil Hall of Fame Award recognises outstanding service to the Australian book industry by an individual from within its ranks.

The 2022 Hall of Fame inductee is publisher Sandy Grant.

Sandy has spent his working lifetime in books and publishing. He has worked in educational and trade publishing, in Australia and in the United Kingdom, starting at Pitman Publishing in 1977 and rising to become Chief Executive of Reed Books in his thirties. Sandy and his partner, Fiona Hardie (and a young Julie Pinkham), launched Hardie Grant 24 years ago. Since then, the business has grown to a turnover of $120 million, 280 staff with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, London and San Francisco.

In addition to his own career and business, Sandy has contributed to the broader publishing community as a Director of Meanjin, Chair of the Melbourne Writers’ Festival, a member of the Book Industry Study Group, a member of Melbourne’s UNESCO City of Literature Bid Committee, President of the APA, and Chair of the Copyright Agency.

Pixie O’Harris Award

The Pixie O’Harris Award recognises publishers, editors, creators, booksellers, publicists and other industry representatives who have worked consistently in the field of children’s literature, demonstrated commitment beyond the call of duty, and who have developed a reputation for their contribution to the children’s book sector.

The 2022 Award goes to author Libby Hathorn.

For more than fifty years, Libby Hathorn, writer and former teacher-librarian, has been one of Australia’s most acclaimed authors of books for children and young people, as well as a tireless advocate for the importance of children’s literature. Through her writing and mentoring, Libby has helped to shape Australia’s reading culture across generations, raising the profile and standard of Australian children’s books and sparking a love of language and words in countless children.

Libby has published over eighty books across many genres, including poetry, textbooks on writing, picture books and novels. Translated into several languages and adapted for stage and screen, Libby’s books are often concerned with the rights of children and the importance of nurturing them in every way. Her work has won honours in Australia and around the world.

Bookshops and booksellers are key to the success of the industry. Congratulations to each of the businesses shortlisted for National Retailer of the Year and Bookshop of the Year for 2022. Congratulations also to the contenders for the Small Publisher and Publisher of the Year Awards.

National Retailer of the Year shortlist

Proudly presented by XL Express

• Readings
• Harry Hartog Bookseller
• Booktopia
• Dymocks
• Big W

The judging panel was impressed by the reach of retailers that tap into non-traditional book-buying markets, that seek new customers and support their local communities. Across the shortlist, judges saw a great commitment from book retailers to children’s bookselling, First Nations voices, staff care and building dedicated customer relationships. These qualities are key to the success of the Australian book industry.

Bookshop of the Year shortlist

Proudly presented by Alliance Distribution Services

• Open Book (Mosman Park, WA)
• Matilda Bookshop (Adelaide, SA)
• Potts Point Bookshop (Sydney, NSW)
• Avenue Bookstore Albert Park (Victoria, VIC)
• Avid Reader Bookshop (Brisbane, QLD)
• Paper Bird Children’s Books & Arts (Fremantle, WA)

The judging panel noted that “all the entries were impressive, and the shortlisted stores are shining examples of how small businesses can innovate and overcome adversity. From sales trend analytics, shifts to online retailing, staff care and cultivation of a sense of community, settling on a shortlist was a difficult task for the panel, never mind picking a winner.”

Publishers large and small are also celebrated for their professionalism, efforts and successes in bringing books to life. This year the shortlists for the Publisher of the Year and the Small Publisher of the Year are:

Small Publisher of the Year

Proudly presented by Readings

• Pantera Press
• Scribe Publications
• Black Inc.
• University of Queensland Press (UQP)
• Monash University Publishing
• Melbourne University Publishing

The judges have said, ”Every small publisher offers something unique to the cultural landscape of Australia. Their strength in the market is growing and they are undeniably creative in their publishing.”

The Judging panel were impressed by the commitment to diversity, environmental issues, and promotion of Australian storytelling along with their innovative approaches to reaching
new audiences and finding new voices.

Publisher of the Year

Proudly presented by Overdrive

• Hachette
• Penguin Random House Australia
• Pan Macmillan Australia
• Hardie Grant Publishing
• Allen & Unwin
• Thames & Hudson Australia

The judges said, “It has been another difficult year for anyone in the business of manufacturing and distribution. Publishers in Australia have faced that head on and had magnificent results in the past 12 months. The shortlisted publishers have grown sales, sought out new routes to market, focused on staff care and improving the diversity and inclusion of the industry.”

Meet the Rising Stars who have made the 2022 Awards shortlist.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 9 June.

Get your tickets here to be in the room when the winners of the Business Awards are announced.

We are thrilled to announce the Book Awards shortlists for the 2022 ABIAs.

The ABIAs demonstrate the exceptional collaborations occurring between publishers, authors, editors, illustrators, marketers and designers in bringing quality books to Australian and international markets.

The ABIA Academy, comprising more than 250 publishers, booksellers, agents, media and industry representatives, has selected the shortlists from books published over the past calendar year, across 13 categories. It’s fair to say that the quality of works has made selection tough, and every shortlisted title is a worthy contender.

The winners will be announced at the publishing industry’s red-carpet Awards night, to be held on Thursday, 9 June at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney.

Who will be the winners in each category? Don’t miss out on this special night – get your tickets now!

Get your tickets for the ABIAs awards ceremony.

Audiobook of the Year

• Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray: River of Dreams, Anita Heiss; narrated by Tamala Shelton (Network Ten, Simon & Schuster Australia, Simon & Schuster Australia)
• Emotional Female, Yumiko Kadota; narrated by Yumiko Kadota (Penguin Random House Australia Audio, Penguin Random House Australia)
• The Performance, Claire Thomas; narrated by Edwina Wren et al. (Squaresound, Hachette Australia, Hachette Australia)
• Devotion, Hannah Kent; narrated by Emily Wheaton (Macmillan Australia Audio, Pan Macmillan Australia)
• SPANIAN – The Unfiltered Hoodlife, Spanian, Christopher Kevin Au; narrated by Spanian, Amos Phillips (Squaresound, Hachette Australia, Hachette Australia)

Biography Book of the Year

• Emotional Female, Yumiko Kadota (Penguin Random House Australia, Viking)
• The Mother Wound, Amani Haydar (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• Turns Out, I’m Fine, Judith Lucy (Simon & Schuster Australia, Scribner Australia)
• It Wasn’t Meant to be Like This, Lisa Wilkinson (HarperCollins Publishers, HarperCollins Publishers)
• My Adventurous Life, Dick Smith (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)

Book of the Year for Older Children (ages 13+)

• The Prison Healer, Lynette Noni (Penguin Random House Australia, Penguin Books)
• Anything but Fine, Tobias Madden (Penguin Random House Australia, Penguin Books)
• The Boy from the Mish, Gary Lonesborough (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)
• The Gaps, Leanne Hall (Text Publishing, Text Publishing)
• Welcome to Consent, Yumi Stynes, Dr Melissa Kang (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)

Book of the Year for Younger Children (ages 7–12)

• Exit Through the Gift Shop, Maryam Master, illustrated by Astred Hicks (Pan Macmillan Australia, Pan Australia)
• The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature, Sami Bayly (Hachette Australia, Hachette Australia)
• The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia’s First Peoples, Corey Tutt (Hardie Grant Publishing, Hardie Grant Explore)
• Dragon Skin, Karen Foxlee (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)
• Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, Katrina Nannestad (HarperCollins Publishers, HarperCollins Publishers)

Children’s Picture Book of the Year (ages 0–6)

• Day Break, Amy McQuire and Matt Chun (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, Bright Light)
• Bedtime Sorted!, Jimmy Rees, illustrated by Briony Stewart (Affirm Press, Affirm Press)
• Winner Winner Bin Chicken Dinner, Kate and Joel Temple, illustrated by Ronojoy Gosh (Scholastic, Scholastic Press)
• Somebody’s Land: Welcome to Our Country, Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, illustrated by David Hardy (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)
• Boss of Your Own Body, Byll and Beth Stephen, illustrated by Simon Howe (HarperCollins Publishers, HarperCollins Children’s Books)

General Fiction Book of the Year

Proudly presented by BorrowBox

• The Younger Wife, Sally Hepworth (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• Apples Never Fall, Liane Moriarty (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, Anita Heiss (Simon & Schuster Australia, Simon & Schuster Australia)
• Before You Knew My Name, Jacqueline Bublitz (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)
• When Things are Alive They Hum, Hannah Bent (Ultimo Press, Ultimo Press)

General Non-Fiction Book of the Year

Proudly presented by the Copyright Agency

• Toxic: The Rotting Underbelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry, Richard Flanagan (Penguin Random House Australia, Penguin)
• She’s on the Money, Victoria Devine (Penguin Random House Australia, Penguin Life)
• Heartsick: Three stories about love and loss, and what happens in between, Jessie Stephens (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• So You Think You Know What’s Good for You?, Norman Swan (Hachette Australia, Hachette Australia)
• Love Stories, Trent Dalton (HarperCollins Publishers, HarperCollins Publishers)

Illustrated Book of the Year

• Still Life, Amber Creswell Bell (Thames & Hudson Australia, Thames & Hudson Australia)
• Death to Jar Sauce, Nat’s What I Reckon (Penguin Random House Australia, Ebury Australia)
• You’re Doing it Wrong: A History of Bad and Bonkers Advice to Women, Kaz Cooke (Penguin Random House Australia, Viking)
• Everything I Love to Cook, Neil Perry (Murdoch Books, Murdoch Books)
• Costa’s World, Costa Georgiadis (HarperCollins Publishers, ABC Books)

International Book of the Year

• These Precious Days, Ann Patchett (Bloomsbury Publishing, Bloomsbury Publishing)
• Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love, Yotam Ottolenghi and Noor Murad (Penguin Random House, Ebury Press)
• The Storyteller, Dave Grohl (Simon & Schuster US, Simon & Schuster Australia)
• Beautiful World, Where Are You, Sally Rooney (Faber, Faber)
• Still Life, Sarah Winman(HarperCollins Publishers, HarperCollins Publishers)

Literary Fiction Book of the Year

• Devotion, Hannah Kent (Pan Macmillan Australia, Picador Australia)
• Love Objects, Emily Maguire (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)
• Wild Abandon, Emily Bitto (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)
• The Truth About Her, Jacqueline Maley (HarperCollins Publishers, HarperCollins Publishers)
• Love & Virtue, Diana Reid (Ultimo Press, Ultimo Press)

Small Publishers’ Adult Book of the Year

• Wild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foragers, Alison Pouliot and Tom May (CSIRO Publishing, CSIRO Publishing)
• The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison, Sean Kelly (Black Inc. Books, Black Inc. Books)
• Dropbear, Evelyn Araluen (University of Queensland Press, University of Queensland Press)
• Caught in the Act, Shane Jenek (Pantera Press, Pantera Press)
• Black and Blue: A Memoir of Racism and Resilience, Veronica Gorrie (Scribe Publications, Scribe Publications)

Small Publishers’ Children’s Book of the Year

Proudly presented by McPherson’s

• The Edge of Thirteen, Nova Weetman (University of Queensland Press, University of Queensland Press)
• Let’s Eat Weeds!, Annie Raser-Rowland and Adam Grubb, illustrated by Evie Barrow (Scribe Publications, Scribble)
• Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day, Davina Bell, illustrated by Allison Colpoys (Scribe Publications, Scribble)
• Albert Namatjira, Vincent Namatjira (Magabala Books, Magabala Books)
• Kunyi, Kunyi June Anne McInerney (Magabala Books, Magabala Books)

The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year

Proudly presented by Simpsons Solicitors

• Before You Knew My Name, Jacqueline Bublitz (Allen & Unwin, Allen & Unwin)
• The Truth About Her, Jacqueline Maley (HarperCollins Publishers, HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Mother Wound, Amani Haydar (Pan Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Australia)
• When Things are Alive They Hum, Hannah Bent (Ultimo Press, Ultimo Press)
• Love & Virtue, Diana Reid (Ultimo Press, Ultimo Press)

Our warm congratulations to all the shortlisters, and grateful thanks to all our sponsors and supporters. We look forward to welcoming you all at the Awards Ceremony on 9 June 2022.

Join industry colleagues and peers as Australian publishing comes together for the BookUp Conference on the same day as the ABIAs.

At BookUp you’ll find a day full of experts from publishing and beyond, sharing thought-provoking ideas and actionable insights to address current and future industry challenges.

Book your tickets now!