Keep an eye out in February 2016 for the most exciting release for the new year!

Squishy Taylor is a new series for all young readers featuring the brave and relatable Squishy (real name Sita, aged 11). Along with being a solver of problems and mysterious mysteries with a daredevil flair for anything ninja-esque, Squishy has a big heart with a soft spot for anyone needing help.

Perfect for ages 6 and up, Squishy Taylor is a compelling series with storylines which include appropriate and age relevant decision-making. Squishy is also from a mixed race background, and is part of a blended family. The first book deals with her new step-sisters who go from 95% annoying (and 5% really, really annoying) to something much more positive – bonus-sisters!

This new series comes from the awesome talent Ailsa Wild (who wants to run away from the circus to become a writer), with illustrations by superstar Ben Wood.

Stay tuned for the release of the first two titles in Feburary 2016 – Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters and Squishy Taylor and a Question of Trust.

For more information about Squisy and her world, visit Hardie Grant Egmont

This morning we were delighted to wake up with the fantastic news which comes with the announcement of The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards!

A big hearty Booked Out congratulations to Claire Zorn who won the Young Adult Fiction prize for The Protected, and to David Metzenthen and Michael Camilleri who won the Children’s Fiction prize for their picture book, One Minute’s Silence.

The awards were announced last night by PM Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield in Sydney.

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards recognise the contribution of Australia’s authors to the richness of Australian cultural life in the following categories: fiction, non‐fiction, young adult fiction, children’s fiction, poetry and Australian history.

To read more, including the Judges’ comments on all prize winners, please visit http://arts.gov.au/node/13242

Exciting news for Amie Kaufman this week! She and her co-writer Jay Kristoff have just signed a deal to have their book Illuminae adapted to the big screen by Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment.

Plan B Entertainment are responsible for World War Z and Twelve Years a Slave.

Illuminae is the first book in the The Illuminae Files trilogy, which was released on October 20th, and immediately shot to number 3 on the The New York Times’ Young Adult Hardcover Bestseller list.

To read more, visit the Sydney Morning Herald

To read more about Illuminae, visit http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/illuminae/index.php

We are delighted to congratulate Corinne Fenton on the exciting unveiling of her book Little Dog and The Christmas Wish in the Myer Christmas Animated Windows. This delightful book, tells the story of Little Dog who has found himself lost and alone in the big city on Christmas Eve.

There are six windows, each depicting elements of the story in iconic Melbourne locations with incredible detail. Myer states that original blueprints were sourced for locations such as Flinders Street Station, the Block Arcade facade and the W Class Tram and over 800 hours of research were undertaken to ensure historical references and sites were accurate. There are 132 characters in the windows, each with their own custom made outfits reflecting the styles of the 1950’s.

The windows officially opened on the 10th of November and will be on show from 7.30am  – 1am daily until the 6th of January.

To read more, visit the Myer website

Maggie Hamilton appeared on Four Corners last Monday night to contribute to a conversation about Australian teenagers, and how one in four of them say they worry about the future constantly.

When anxiety and depression rates in young people is so high, Four Corners asked, why are our teenagers so stressed?

Essential viewing for teachers, parents and any one who works with teens. Maggie Hamilton is also available to be booked via Booked Out

Click on this link to view the program.

Last night saw the opening of Elise Hurst’s latest exhibition, A Secret World. Many fans gathered to see her collection of 24 exquisite oil paintings in No Vacancy Gallery, QV.

A Secret World is an exhibition of oil paintings from Elise Hurst’s latest picture book – Adelaide’s Secret World – set in a beautiful world of flying ships and melancholy bears.

A Secret World runs from the 11th – 22nd November, No Vacancy QV, 34-40 Jane Bell Lane, Melbourne 3000

For further details visit no-vacancy.com.au

This year’s Young Australian’s Best Book Awards (YABBA) took place on Tuesday at Sacre Coeur in Glen Iris.

The celebratory morning saw over 20 authors and illustrators come together to celebrate 30 years of children’s literature.

Booked Out would like to congratulate the organisers on a wonderful event, and the winners of course!

The winners were:

Picture Storybooks

Pig the Pug – Aaron Blabley, Scholatic

Fiction for Younger Readers

You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove – George Ivanoff, Random House

Fiction for Older Readers

The 52-Storey Treehouse – Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton, Pan

Fiction for Year 7-9

Two Wolves – Tristan Bancks, Random House

The winners of this years awards were chosen through the Reading & Enjoying Australian Literature (REAL) Awards shortlist.

In recognition of his long-time support of the YABBAs, Richard Bennet was awarded The Graham Davey Citation, presented in memory of the former YABBA president.

The YABBAs have been running since 1985, and seek to provide children with a voice in the Australian book industry by encouraging them to read, recommend, rate and reward the books they enjoy the most.

Please click here if you would like more information about the YABBAs.

Be sure to tune in to Insight on SBS tonight at 8:30 pm to catch Dr Arne Rubinstein!

The program will take a look at the transition from boy to man, and the many diverse, fascinating, dangerous and sometimes painful rituals which mark this transition.

Jenny Brockie will be speaking to a range of males, including Dr Arne Rubinstein about what helped shape their identity as a man, and whether boys need rituals to successfully transition into manhood.

Booked Out extends congratulations to Michael Robotham who has taken out the British Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger for the best crime novel of the year.

He received the award in London for Life or Death.

Stephen King has described Life or Death as ‘…a nerve-shredding thriller with the heart and soul so often missing from lesser crime and suspense novels. I couldn’t stop reading, yet I didn’t want Audie’s story to end. Robotham is an absolute master.’

To read more excellent reviews, visit http://www.michaelrobotham.com/index.asp?pagename=books+life+or+death

Wednesday September 9th saw a stellar line up of young adult writers, teachers, librarians, publishers gather at the 100 Story Factory in Redfern to launch the Stella in Schools program in New South Wales.

It was an enthusiastic audience who heard from authors Randa Abdel-Fattah, JC Burke, Emily Maguire and Erin Gough on a panel moderated by Bec Kavanagh and introduced by Aviva Tuffield.

The Stella in Schools program is designed for girls and boys years 7 – 12 and includes school visits by notable Australian writers, educators and publishers, writing workshops, teaching notes on all Stella Prize shortlisted books (years 10 – 12), resources for all secondary levels and PD opportunities for teachers and librarians.

There was a spirit of great camaraderie amongst the writers and their supporters with everyone sharing the desire to raise the profile of women writers… not just on the curriculum in each state but in the community and press. It was a festive event to launch Stella into NSW schools.

Pictured from left to right: Randa Abdel-Fattah, JC Burke, Erin Gough, Emily Maguire and Bec Kavanagh. Photograph by Connor Tomas O’Brien