Book News: Updates on Awards & #AuthorsForFireys & 2019 Book Sales in Australia and New Zealand

#AuthorsForFiries

The #AuthorsForFiries #AuthorsForFireys Twitter auction raised thousands of dollars for state fire services. The auction was the idea of YA writers, Emily Gale and Nova Weetman, and supported by over 500 authors, illustrators and industry professionals who donated books and services. We wrote about the event here.

New Zealand: holding firm*

Kiwi book sales for 2019 hit $1.14 billion which was up 2.3 percent from the previous year. Top 3 categories were Management, Business, Economics and Industry, Mathematics and sciences, and Fiction related items such as true crime.

The highest selling title by value was Blue Moon by Lee Child.

Australia: A drop in book sales*

Australian book sales for 2019 hit $1.14 billion which was down -3 per cent from the previous year. Non fiction book sales, which made up 48 per cent of the market, were down -6.2 per cent, while adult fiction dropped by -3.4 per cent. But it’s not all bad news. Children’s books made up 30 per cent of the market share and sales were up 3 per cent.

The highest selling title by value was Scott Pape’s The Barefoot Investor. No doubt Scott is putting all his money where his mouth/pen is and investing those royalty cheques well.

*Data from Nielsen BookScan

Shortlist announced 2020 Indie Book Awards 

In exciting news just in the shortlist for the 2020 Indie Book Awards has been announced. There are many of our favourites that have made the list, books we have loved and we know you have too – because you told us!

We all love our local bookshops and booksellers are an invaluable source when it comes to recommendations. Established in 2008, the Indie Book Awards recognise and celebrate this country’s incredible talent and the role independent booksellers play in supporting and nurturing Australian writing.

The twenty-four shortlisted books will be vying for the top spot as the Overall Indie ‘Book of the Year’. Panels of expert judges (all indie booksellers and avid readers) will choose the winners in the six book categories and independent booksellers from around the country will then vote to select their favourite book of the year from the six category winners.

You can take a look at the full list here.