2007 in Australian literature


This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 2007.

Events

  • Surrender by Sonya Hartnett, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak are named as Honor Books in the 2007 American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.
  • "The Guardian" newspaper from the UK reports that Borders plans to sell its Australian stores.
  • The small township of Clunes, about 20 kilometres north of Ballarat in Victoria, decides to try to set up Australia's first dedicated booktown. The first weekend event takes place on 20 May.
  • AustLit, the major Australian literature resource for research and teaching housed at the University of Queensland, announces the commencement of "Black Words", a literary website specialising in Australian Indigenous writers and storytellers and their works.
  • Federal Education minister, Julie Bishop, announces that the Australian Government will allocate funds to A$1.5m to create a Chair of Australian Literature in an Australian university.
  • Charlie Rimmer, Group Commercial Manager for Angus and Robertson bookshops, writes to a number of Australian independent publishers indicating that the bookshop chain will refuse to stock their books without compensation.
  • Lonely Planet, the iconic Australian publisher of travel guides, is sold to the commercial division of the BBC in a deal reportedly worth A$200 million.
  • Australia's new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announces a major new literary prize of $100,000 in both fiction and non-fiction categories.
  • Australia-Asia Literary Award established.

Major publications

Literary fiction

Children's and Young Adult fiction

Crime and Mystery

Romance

  • Anna Campbell – Claiming the Courtesan
  • Emma Darcy – The Billionaire's Scandalous Marriage
  • Lilian Darcy – Cafe du Jour
  • Kimberley Freeman – Duet
  • Anna Jacobs – Tomorrow's Promises
  • Melanie La'Brooy – Serendipity
  • Tamara McKinley – ''Lands Beyond the Sea''

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Drama

Poetry

Non-fiction

Children's and Young Adult Non-fiction

Biographies

  • Philip Dwyer – Napoleon: The Path To Power 1769–1799
  • Kim Huynh – Where the Sea Takes Us
  • Mark Kurzem – The Mascot
  • Brenda Niall – Life Class: The Education of a Biographer
  • Craig Sherborne – Muck
  • Jeff Sparrow – ''Communism: A Love Story''

Awards and honours

Drama

Deaths

  • 13 February – Elizabeth Jolley, author
  • 22 February – Joyce Lee, poet
  • 2 March – David A. Myers, poet and publisher
  • 23 May – John Croyston, poet
  • 11 July – Glenda Adams, author
  • 11 July – Noel Rowe, poet
  • 1 August – Mona Brand, playwright
  • 24 August – Philip Grundy, translator
  • 16 October – Steve J. Spears, author and playwright
  • 31 October – Eric Rolls, author
  • 24 December – Jan McKemmish, author