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Member only guide to the Australian book industry.
Have a completed manuscript? Our successful Literary Speed Dating event series gives writers a unique three-minute opportunity to pitch to Australian publishers and agents.
18 February 2025, 10am AEDT
24 February 2025, 10am AEDT
25 February 2025, 10am AEDT
Week of 17 March 2025
20 March 2025, 5pm AEDT
21 March 2025, 5pm AEDT
26 March 2025
28 March 2025
Want to see the full 2025 Literary Speed Dating calendar? Click here.
Our Virtual Literary Speed Dating events take place online 2-3 times each year, and each event is typically held over two days. These events are exclusive to ASA members.
At each event you have the opportunity to choose which publisher or agent you’d like to pitch to. We recommend reading the list of attending publishers and agents below very closely before booking to ensure your work is a good fit for what they’re looking for.
Please note, in 2025 the Virtual Literary Speed Dating events will be open to bookings for authors of fiction and non-fiction, for adults or children.
You can book up to two pitches per event. If you are booking two pitches, then you must book them at the same time.
We’ll allocate you a specific time for your three-minute Zoom meeting with your chosen publisher or agent.
During this time, you have the rare opportunity to provide an elevator-style pitch of your work. No screen-sharing is allowed, and feedback or publisher/agent contact details will not be provided.
If the publisher or agent expresses interest in seeing your work, we’ll let you know via email one week after the event. This email will detail what material the publisher or agent wants to see from you and how to send your work to them.
Once you’ve sent the publisher or agent your material, they will get back to you within three months.
Virtual Literary Speed Dating booking cancellations are not entitled to any refund or credit, as per our refund policy, so please take care when making your booking.
Please note, if you are booking two pitches, you must book them in the same booking form.
You will be asked to select the genre of your manuscript(s) from a dropdown menu, so please ensure you select the most appropriate option. If you believe you have made an error in your booking, please email [email protected] to clarify.
Wednesday 26 March 2025
Please note, all times are in AEDT. Please check your time zone to determine your local time.
Time slot
Publisher/Agent
Accepted genres:
Specifically seeking:
10:00-11:30 am
Simon & Schuster Australia
Cassandra Di Bello | Publisher
Specified genres only.
Penguin Random House Australia
Meredith Curnow | Publisher
“Always in search of strong voices exploring the world in different ways – either through fiction or narrative non-fiction.”
Melanie Ostell Literary
Melanie Ostell | Agent/Business Owner
“Distinctive voices with accomplished storytelling; a point of difference.”
Ultimo Press
Alisa Ahmed | Managing Editor
12:00-1:30 pm
Wolf Literary Services (US)
Rach Crawford | Agent
Also seeking horromance, domestic suspense, and LGBTQIA+ works.
HarperCollins Australia – HQ Books
Johanna Baker | Commissioning Editor
“I’m looking for fiction with complex female characters, interesting perspectives, own voice stories, good pace and strong hooks in a wide range of genres, including contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, mystery, thriller and romance.”
Sarah McKenzie Literary Management
Sarah McKenzie | Agent
“Actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices and First Nations authors.”
Echo Publishing
Juliet Rogers | Managing Director/Publisher
“We are looking for strong, well-written stories by fresh and original voices.”
Scribe Publications
Marika Webb-Pullman | Publisher
2:00-3:30 pm
Allen & Unwin
Alex Craig | Publisher
Text Publishing
Penny Hueston | Senior Editor
“Adult fiction (commercial and literary) or non-fiction, but no self-help or heavily illustrated larger format books (cookbooks, gardening etc.).”
UWA Publishing
Kate Pickard | Publisher
“Creative and inspiring stories from diverse backgrounds.”
Melbourne University Press
Foong Ling Kong | Publisher & CEO
“Voice, play on form, well argued and structured narrative, that certain je ne sais quoi.”
a4 Literary
Michaela McGuire | Agent
4:00-5:30 pm
Shaw Literary
Martin Shaw | Agent
“Outstanding literary fiction, irresistible commercial fiction and strong non-fiction.”
The Jacky Winter Group
Naomi Perry | Agent
“Children’s and YA graphic novels: particularly interested in coming of age stories, mysteries to be solved, well-paced adventure stories and for YA, I love a bit of romance I can ship!
For adult graphic novels: I love a contemporary setting but a historical setting is not an immediate deal breaker; I don’t mind elements of fantasy but my taste veers toward speculative fiction rather than hard genre fantasy/sci-fi. Overall I just want a solid point of view and confident voice.”
Key People Literary Management
Lou Johnson | Co-founder & Agent
“Pitches with a distinct point of view that will appeal to diverse audiences.”
Friday 28 March 2025
What I’m looking for:
Jane Pearson | Senior Editor
“Great writing and great stories. Diverse voices very welcome.”
Pan Macmillan Australia
Danielle Walker | Executive Editor
“Commercial adult fiction (will consider crossover literary). Modern and contemporary fiction (a la Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth). Psychological thrillers, crime, mystery, smart genre fiction, rom-coms and Romantasy. I’m looking for smart adult fiction with a strong hook and compelling characters and plot.”
Samantha Forge | Associate Publisher
“Fresh and vibrant manuscripts for kids of all ages, with an authentic voice, strong characters and a compelling narrative.”
Affirm Press
Laura Franks | Editor
“Affirm enthusiastically welcomes Own Voices stories, but otherwise we’re generally looking for work with a strong commercial hook.”
Also seeking literary speculative fiction, magic realism, and thrillers.
High Spot Literary
Catherine Wallace | Agent
“Catherine is looking for nonfiction, romance, crime, thriller, mystery and book club fiction. A great submission will have a really interesting original concept with a strong voice. She’s definitely interested in adult commercial fiction that is full of twists, turns, gasps and chills; psychological thrillers where nothing is what it seems and there’s a unique idea behind the story; groundbreaking thrillers where the mystery is a game played with the reader and genres are blurred; cosy crimes that are whodunnits with heart and beautifully written plus imaginatively conceived high-concept book club fiction.”
Puncher & Wattman
Ed Wright | Publishing Director
“Books that are surprising and take risks.”
Hachette Publishing
Annie Zhang | Editor
Elizabeth Weiss | Publisher Adult Non-Fiction
“Australian content.”
Alex Adsett Literary Agency
Alex Adsett | Owner & Agent
“Highly commercial adult fiction (in any genre), literary fiction with a strong narrative hook, exciting narrative non-fiction with a great hook, crime/mystery, romance (above 70,000 words, especially with a dash of mystery or SF), rom-com and commercial women’s fiction, science fiction/fantasy, YA fiction (genre or contemporary). NOT looking for memoir, short stories, poetry, satire or parody, middle grade, junior fiction or picture books.”
Emma Rafferty | Editorial Manager
“Original stories which have been well developed and are ready to submit to a publisher for consideration. From commercial fiction to narrative non-fiction and literary fiction, Hachette looks for the very best writing and emerging voices so we can connect readers everywhere with the very best books.”
Annette Barlow | Publisher
“I’m looking for fresh storytelling that compels me to keep turning the pages of your manuscript in order to find out what happens to whom and why.”
UNSW Press/New South Publishing
Paul O’Beirne | Senior Editor
“UNSW Press/NewSouth Publishing is interested in general, scholarly and literary non-fiction. We love books that are unafraid to ask big questions and challenge us to think in new ways.”
