The Deal Sheet · Rights & acquisitions

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Acquisitions, pre-empts and rights sales across Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific, each with a card you can share.

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The Book Source5 November 2026Screen optionThe WorkBri LeeA long-distance love affair between a New York gallerist and a Sydney antiques appraiser, each trying to get ahead in the art world.Optioned by Dollhouse PicturesAgent: Grace Heifetz, a4 LiteraryThe Book Source5 November 2026TV rightsThree Reasons for RevengeDervla McTiernanThree mysterious gifts arrive at three Melbourne houses, each chosen to wreck the life of the person who receives it.Optioned by Easy Tiger ProductionsAgent: Dan Conaway, Writers HouseThe Book Source28 October 2026World rightsCheatercockSuri MatondkarMemoir and critique on English, power and identity, from a writer who grew up in Goa speaking her native language.Acquired by University of Queensland PressMentorship Prize winner · July 2027The Book Source26 October 2026ANZ rightsExchangeMegan CheongAutofiction about a young woman who moves to Berlin with little German, searching for the person she hopes to become.Sold to UWA PublishingAgent: Bella Suckling, Annabel Barker AgencyThe Book Source20 October 2026Fiction Prize contractSoftPenny RichardsA debut novel set in Christchurch as the city rebuilds after the earthquakes, and winner of the publisher's 2026 Fiction Prize.Acquired by Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand$10,000 advance · Mid-2027The Book Source10 September 2026Second novelThe HerdGeorge KempGeorge Kemp's second novel, which uses an outbreak of bird flu as its lens.Acquired by University of Queensland PressSoft Serve NA rights to EuropaThe Book Source2 September 2026World rightsLaughing RiverN. J. MaddenIn Victoria's goldrush era, a boy grows up to become a feared bushranger, then faces a moral and spiritual crisis.Acquired by UWA PublishingDebut novel · April 2027The Book Source24 August 2026World rightsUQP acquires second verse novel by CBCA Honour Book winner Sandy BignaSandy BignaA verse novel about an eleven-year-old boy called Spitfire who tracks down an elusive moth species to protect a snow gum.Sold to University of Queensland PressAgent: Danielle Binks, Jacinta Dimase Management

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Date	Title and author	Acquired by	Agent	Rights	Deal
5 Nov	The WorkBri Lee	Allen & Unwin	Grace Heifetz, a4 Literary	Screen (television) rights	Screen option · TV series · Screen Australia support
5 Nov	Three Reasons for RevengeDervla McTiernan	FilmInk (public notice)	Dan Conaway, Writers House	TV	Won at auction · Shaun Grant to write
28 Oct	CheatercockSuri Matondkar	University of Queensland Press	Not stated	World	Mentorship Prize winner · July 2027
26 Oct	ExchangeMegan Cheong	UWA Publishing	Bella Suckling, Annabel Barker Agency	ANZ	Novella · Second half of 2027
20 Oct	SoftPenny Richards	Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand	Not stated	Not stated	Fiction Prize contract · $10,000 advance · Mid-2027
10 Sep	The HerdGeorge Kemp	University of Queensland Press	Not stated	Soft Serve NA to Europa	Second novel
2 Sep	Laughing RiverN. J. Madden	UWA Publishing	Not stated	World	Debut novel · April 2027
24 Aug	Searching for StarwingsSandy Bigna	University of Queensland Press	Danielle Binks, Jacinta Dimase Management	World	Verse novel · June 2027
27 Jul	Perpetual StewGeorgie Harriss	UWA Publishing	Not stated	World	Novel · February 2027
26 Jun	The DepartmentDan Dixon	University of Queensland Press	Not stated	World	Debut novel · March 2027
12 Jun	InsolenceThuy On	UWA Publishing	Not stated	World	Poetry
9 Jun	your father was a bastardTim Loveday	University of Queensland Press	Not stated	World	Debut poetry · May 2027
19 May	Hoods LandingLaura Vincent	Pushkin Press	Not stated	World, all languages, excluding New Zealand	World ex NZ · Debut novel · UK Nov, US 2027
15 May	UWA Publishing has acquired world rights to Nic Gill's Sniff Squad seriesNic Gill	UWA Publishing	Sarah McKenzie Literary Management	World	Four books · From 1 Sep 2026
4 May	SaltbloodNicole Lenoir-Jourdan	Wakefield Press	Martin Shaw, Shaw Literary	ANZ	Debut YA novel · March 2027
26 Mar	I Can't Tell You But I WillMagda Szubanski	Text Publishing	Not stated	Not stated	Second memoir · September 2026
6 Mar	DisciplineRanda Abdel-Fattah	Oneworld Publications	Not stated	World English excluding ANZ	World English ex ANZ · Novel · Late 2026