ANNOUNCEMENT: Wakefield Press acquires exciting debut novel

Wakefield Press acquires Troy Hunter's YA debut, Gus and the Winter Boy

We’re delighted to officially announce the acquisition of world rights to Gus and the Winter Boy, a young adult crime novel by debut author Troy Hunter, acquired from the Jane Novak Literary Agency. Gus and the Winter Boy will be published by Wakefield Press in September 2023.

Troy Hunter’s true crime buff Gus becomes a detective overnight when he finds a picture of a missing kid online that rocks his world. Together with his best friends, he sets out to investigate a cold case that could reveal the secrets of his past.

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Cover Reveal: Introducing Sara Haghdoosti and Sunburnt Veils

Cover reveal, Sunburnt Veils

We’re delighted to officially reveal the cover to Sara Haghdoosti‘s YA debut novel, Sunburnt Veils, a ‘love story with a hijabi twist’, which Wakefield Press will publish in April 2021.

Sunburnt Veils is a smart, funny, character-based exploration of Islamophobia through a heroine who’s the kind of girl who reads at parties, but pushes herself to take a visible stand against racism after a fellow student calls in a bomb threat on her first day of university.

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Wakefield acquires second YA novel in Olivia Grace mystery series by author Lisa Walker

We’re delighted to officially announce the acquisition of world rights to Trouble is My Business, the second Olivia Grace mystery by author Lisa Walker, acquired from the Jane Novak agency. The young adult fiction novel will be published by Wakefield Press in September 2021.

Trouble is my Business follows Lisa’s previous instalment in her mystery series about Gold Coast teen PI Olivia Grace. The first book, The Girl with the Gold Bikini, was published by Wakefield Press in February 2019.

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Wakefield acquires YA novel from critically acclaimed Adelaide author Allayne Webster

Wakefield Press acquires Allayne Webster's THAT THING I DID

We’re delighted to officially announce the acquisition of world rights to Allayne Webster’s young adult fiction novel, That Thing I Did, which Wakefield Press will publish in March 2022.

That Thing I Did is a rollicking road trip with a serious core, exploring issues like the dark side of social media use, teen sexuality and consent, superficiality and authenticity, mental health and friendship.

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Four contributors chosen from national competition to join all-star Australian YA horror anthology … just in time for Halloween!

Four stories chosen from a competitive national open call-out will join some of Australia’s most celebrated YA authors for Hometown Haunts, a YA horror anthology published by Wakefield Press and funded by the Australia Council’s 2020 Resilience Fund – Create.

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CELEBRATE TEEN FICTION: Indigo Owl publication day

Indigo Owl, Charlie Archbold

Today we are celebrating the publication of new teen novel Indigo Owl, the long-awaited second book from Charlie Archbold. Charlie’s debut Mallee Boys was awarded Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Awards 2018.

Indigo Owl is smart, thoughtful YA fiction for modern teens. Equal parts thrilling entertainment and thought-provoking social commentary, Indigo Owl discusses the ‘what ifs’ around the future of the human race.

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DEBUT AUTHOR JOURNAL: Writing a follow up to my debut

Poppy Nwosu, Debut Author Journal: Does a book contract change how you write?In 2020, Poppy Nwosu is the published author of two young adult contemporary novels, Making Friends with Alice Dyson and Taking Down Evelyn Tait. Yet back in 2018, she had just signed her first publication contract for her debut book, and she really had no idea what the future might bring.

This collection of blog posts (originally written by Poppy between March 2018 and March 2019) chronicles her experience during that strange year of limbo between signing a contract and seeing her first book released into the world by Wakefield Press.

In today’s post, Poppy speaks about her attempts to write a follow up novel before her debut had even been published.

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES for Hometown Haunts: #LoveOzYA Horror Tales

Hometown Haunts: Submissions

Wakefield Press is delighted to announce our October 2021 short story anthology Hometown Haunts: #LoveOzYA Horror Tales, showcasing established and new voices in YA.

Four YA horror stories will be selected from an open call-out across Australia.

Read on to find out how you can enter.

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DEBUT AUTHOR JOURNAL: Does a book contract change how you write?

Poppy Nwosu, Debut Author Journal: Does a book contract change how you write?In 2020, Poppy Nwosu is the published author of two young adult contemporary novels, Making Friends with Alice Dyson and Taking Down Evelyn Tait. Yet back in 2018, she had just signed her first publication contract for her debut book, and she really had no idea what the future might bring.

This collection of blog posts (originally written by Poppy between March 2018 and March 2019) chronicles her experience during that strange year of limbo between signing a contract and seeing her first book released into the world by Wakefield Press.

In today’s post, Poppy speaks about how receiving a book contract can change the way you write new manuscripts.

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