The CA/ASA Developmental Leadership Program is now open for applications from Australian writers and illustrators! Thanks to the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund, this program builds on the successes of the ASA’s long-running Award Mentorship Program. Apply now: www.asauthors.org.au/award/award-...

We are pleased to announce that entries are now open for the 2026 ASA/HQ Fiction Prize, offering one winner a publishing contract with HQ and a $10,000 advance against royalties. Entries close on 30 January 2026! Find out more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/2026-as...

Contribute to our review of the ASA’s School Appearances Rates of Pay by sharing your experiences and the rates you’ve been paid in 2024-25. Your feedback is crucial to help us advocate for fair pay and set minimum recommended rates for creators.

Save the date: We are pleased to announce that entries are opening soon for the 2026 ASA/HQ Fiction Prize, offering one winner a publishing contract with HQ and a $10,000 advance against royalties. Entries open on 26 November! www.asauthors.org.au/award/asa-hq-commercial-fiction-prize/

We are delighted to announce that Jennifer Mills has been appointed Chair of the ASA Board of Directors. Outgoing Chair, Sophie Cunningham, will remain on the Board as Deputy Chair, continuing her valued contribution to the ASA. www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-welcomes-new-chair-jennifer-mills/

Helen Garner has won The Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction for 'How to End a Story', her collection of diaries. Helen is an ASA life member and ASA Medal recipient, and we offer our warmest congratulations to her for being awarded this major international prize!

‘We thank the Attorney-General for this crucial decision and commitment to stand behind the creative industries and protect the rights of authors and illustrators. This represents a clear message from government that creators should be paid for their work.' www.asauthors.org.au/news/austral...

The ASA is thrilled to share that Ann-Marie Priest is the 2025 recipient of the Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship for her biography 'Tell it Slant: The Life and Loves of Henry Handel Richardson'. Lenny Bartulin is this year’s runner-up for his manuscript 'A Calendar of Vandemonian Saint'. Read more:

The ASA welcomes the Albanese Government’s decision to rule out a Text and Data Mining (TDM) exception to Australian copyright law, which would have allowed for AI training on authors’ work. aapnews.aap.com.au/news/copyrig...

Lots of worthy arts orgs to support today - @asauthors.bsky.social is one of them! Help us fight AI theft and stand up for writers’ rights ✊🏼 www.asauthors.org.au/news/back-bo...

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton has placed first in Radio National's Top 100 Books of the 21st century countdown, with The Book Thief by Markus Zusak taking the second spot!

Today the NSW government launched a nation-leading literature strategy which puts authors at the heart of investment. The Stories Matter strategy is the state's first writing and literature strategy, and promises a $3.2m commitment to the sector.

We are delighted to announce Kirsty Murray as the 2025 ASA Medal recipient, awarded annually to an Australian author or illustrator with a significant body of work who has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literary culture, both as a creator and an advocate. Read more:

AusArt Day, a new national day of giving to the arts, is being held on Thursday 23 October. Join us to celebrate Australian artists and organisations, with over 100 artists and arts organisations taking part, including the ASA. All are invited to show their support and donate. Find out more:

The settlement website in the Bartz v Anthropic class action is now live and can be found here: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com. It includes comprehensive information about the case and settlement, including a searchable tool to see if your books are included in the settlement and a claim form.

We are pleased to announce the 2025 Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship shortlist! – Lenny Bartulin – Mark Brandi – Kate Kruimink – Kate McCaffrey – Ann-Marie Priest Congratulations to the shortlisted authors. www.asauthors.org.au/news/2025-blake-beckett-trust-scholarship-shortlist-announced/

A formidable coalition of Australian creators and book industry organisations attended a Senate Inquiry hearing yesterday to strongly oppose the Productivity Commission’s proposal for a text and data mining exception for AI training. Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/its-not...

In our submission to the Productivity Commission we strongly oppose the Commission's proposal for a TDM exception to copyright laws, calling for the introduction of a mandatory Code of Conduct. Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-rejects-productivity-commission-proposal-for-tdm-exception/

We have launched our annual survey and we want to hear from you! The survey is open to all authors and illustrators, including ASA members and non-members. www.surveymonkey.com/r/asasurvey25

The $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement has been delayed, with Judge Alsup scheduling another hearing on 25 September. Prior to the settlement announcement, Anthropic was facing billions of dollars in damages for using pirated books to train its AI model. Read more: apnews.com/article/anth...

The ASA is dismayed by the news that literary journal Meanjin will cease publishing this year, with the final issue due to be released in December. Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-dismayed-over-meanjin-closure/

The ASA is thrilled to announce the 2025 Tasmanian Writers and Illustrators Mentorship Program recipients! www.asauthors.org.au/news/2025-tasmanian-writers-and-illustrators-mentorship-program-recipients

The results of our debut Picture Book Matchmaker event are in!✨ We are thrilled to report that 50% of those pitches have received an expression of interest from a publisher or agent following the event! Read our full wrap up here: www.asauthors.org.au/news/match-m...

While it is reasonable to expect professional standards of behaviour from authors conducting events, this situation represents another instance of overreach in codes of conduct for public appearances ... Read our full statement: www.asauthors.org.au/news/author-concerns-about-bwf-code-of-conduct/

In this engaging one-hour workshop, Sunil Badami will share insider tips on how to plan a successful book launch. He'll cover working with booksellers or other venues, promoting the event, amplifying sales and avoiding stress. Book your spot 👉 www.asauthors.org.au/events/how-to-launch-your-book/

We have heard from concerned members about the Bendigo Writers Festival speaker Code of Conduct. We invite affected authors and illustrators to get in touch with us via [email protected] or through our Member Advice Service: www.asauthors.org.au/member-advice/

Tomorrow at 1pm AEST Digital Rights Watch is hosting an online town hall, Stolen Property: Big Tech’s Push to Mine Our Culture, which will look at the Productivity Commission’s proposal to give AI companies a ‘right to mine data’. You can register to attend here: events.humanitix.com/stolen-prope...

We are dismayed by the Productivity Commission report raising the prospect of a text and data mining exception to Australia’s Copyright Act that would enable Australian authors' work to be used for AI training, without permission or payment. www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-opp...

Sydney Writers' Festival has announced a partnership with SLNSW to establish a dedicated literature hub in Sydney with year-round programming. This is welcome news for authors and illustrators, who receive a much-needed income boost from paid appearances.

We’re thrilled to congratulate Siang Lu on winning the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award for his novel Ghost Cities. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/24/siang-lu-miles-franklin-literary-award-2025-winner

Applications are now open for the Elevate: First Nations Storytelling and Literature Fund, a career development grant open to Australian First Nations writers, poets, and illustrators. creative.gov.au/investments-opportunities/elevate-first-nations-storytelling-and-literature-fund

Applications are now open for the Blake-Beckett Trust Scholarship. The $35,000 scholarship is offered annually to an Australian author to provide them with valuable time to work on a current manuscript. One runner-up will receive $15,000. www.asauthors.org.au/award/blake-beckett-trust-scholarship

Following the release of an external report into its governance, decision-making and risk management processes in relation to the 2026 Venice Biennale, Creative Australia has reinstated the Artistic Team for Venice, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino. Read more: creative.gov.au/news-events/...

We are thrilled to see a strong author voice represented on the Writing Australia Council through the inclusion of authors Larissa Behrendt, Sarah Holland-Batt, Sally Rippin and Christos Tsiolkas. creative.gov.au/news-events/news/welcoming-inaugural-members-writing-australia-council

Last week, nearly 18,000 PLR/ELR payments were made to Australian writers, illustrators and publishers, totalling over $28 million. For the second year, the payments included ebooks and audiobooks. The ASA successfully campaigned for PLR in 1975, ELR in 2000, and digital lending rights in 2023.

There is still time to book your spot for Friday's event with author Holden Sheppard and illustrator Heath McKenzie. Holden and Heath will reveal what really goes on behind the scenes of book adaptations! www.asauthors.org.au/events/book-to-screen-adaptations-the-author-and-illustrator-perspective

If you’re renewing your ASA membership or joining before 1 July, you can enter our member giveaway for a chance to win one of 12 literary prize packs. To find out more, including entry details, visit www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-member-giveaway

Disregarding concerns from over 400 creative professionals and book industry leaders, the UK's Data Bill passed through the House of Commons and is expected to pass the House of Lords without proposed amendments concerning transparency about the use of copyrighted works.

Do you have a picture book manuscript or illustration portfolio you’d like to get in front of publishers and agents? 📚 Booking applications are now open for Picture Book Matchmaker! ASA members have until 23 June to apply. Find out more 👉 www.asauthors.org.au/picture-book-matchmaker

We are delighted to announce that 18 new illustrators have joined the ASA Style File, following the 2025 round of submissions www.asauthors.org.au/news/new-illustrators-featured-on-the-asa-style-file-2025-round/

Industry opportunities are at our member’s fingertips in the ASA’s Book Industry Directory, a comprehensive, member-only digital resource of Australian publishing industry organisations, opportunities, and services. www.asauthors.org.au/news/a-new-look-industry-directory

Are you a published writer or professional editor with manuscript assessment experience? We are seeking new assessors to join the register of industry experts for our manuscript assessment service. Download the EOI form and apply ✏ www.asauthors.org.au/news/work-with-us-manuscript-assessors

Applications are now open for the 2025 Tasmanian Writers and Illustrators Mentorship Program, offered thanks to the support of the Tasmanian Government through Arts Tasmania. Find out more and apply ✏ www.asauthors.org.au/award/tasmanian-writers-and-illustrators-mentorship-program

Join Leonie Norrington and Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs to learn about understanding and implementing respectful storytelling practices when working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples or ICIP. www.asauthors.org.au/events/consultation-and-consent-writing-australian-historical-fiction

We're launching a new event for picture book creators – Picture Book Matchmaker – giving creators a unique opportunity to pitch their work to publishers and agents. Want to know more? Join us on 6 June for a free info session. www.asauthors.org.au/events/introducing-picture-book-matchmaker

Do you know an Australian author or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to Australian culture as both a creator and an advocate? Nominations for the 2025 ASA Medal close on 23 May 🏅 www.asauthors.org.au/award/asa-medal/

There are only a few days left to apply for the ASA Style File, a curated portfolio site for illustrators to showcase their work. With the long weekend approaching, now is the perfect time for illustrators to prepare portfolios for submission by 5pm on 21 April. www.asauthors.org.au/asa-style-file/

We are heavy-hearted with news of the passing of accomplished author and lawyer Kerry Greenwood OAM, who was also a longtime member of the ASA. We extend our condolences to her family, friends, readers and the writing community. Vale Kerry. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...

Do you want to help shape the future of Australia’s book industry by helping authors and illustrators pursue sustainable creative careers? We’re seeking an empathetic and enthusiastic supporter of writers with book industry knowledge to join our team. www.asauthors.org.au/news/work-wi...

Ahead of the federal election, the ASA is joining publishers, librarians, and booksellers in a shared election platform for the book industry. bookscreate.com.au