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Member only guide to the Australian book industry.
Have a picture book manuscript or illustration portfolio you’d like to get in front of publishers and agents? This event gives picture book authors, author-illustrators, and illustrators a unique six-minute opportunity to pitch their work to Australian publishers and agents, and forge connections with key book industry professionals.
The picture book market can be highly competitive because only a limited number of picture books are published each year due to the small size of the Australian market. It is therefore vital to ensure publishers and agents can find the kinds of creators they are actively seeking for their lists. That’s why, incorporating feedback from publishers and creators, we’ve created this pitching event specifically designed to help picture book authors, author-illustrators, and illustrators make meaningful connections in the industry for potential future work.
Please note, applications for Picture Book Matchmaker are not yet open. When applications open, they remain open for 10 days.
3 February 2026, 10:00 am AEDT
6 February 2026, 10:00 am AEDT
9 February 2026, 10:00 am AEDT
19 February 2026, 4:00 pm AEDT
20 February-27 March 2026
Week of 30 March 2026
16 April 2026, 4:00 pm AEST
22 April 2026
24 April 2026
Bookings for our two-week Pitch Perfect: Picture Books course are now open! You’ll learn all about the Australian publishing landscape and picture book market; how to make sure your manuscript, project, or illustration portfolio is ready for submission; and how to craft your pitch.
Picture Book Matchmaker is part of the ASA’s Virtual Literary Speed Dating event series which has been designed specifically for picture book creators, including authors, author-illustrators, and illustrators.
Picture books are a unique format within the book industry, often requiring more intensive collaboration between the publisher, author, and illustrator over a longer period of time. Due to the type and cost of production required to make picture books in Australia, publishers are often limited in the total number they can publish each year.
Developed in consultation with Australian publishing professionals, this event offers picture book creators a six-minute opportunity to pitch to Australian children’s publishers and agents and forge connections for potential ongoing collaboration. This format accommodates screen-sharing, ensuring you can showcase your work clearly and effectively. Think of this as more of a first date than speed dating.
Our Picture Book Matchmaker events take place annually and each event is typically held over two days. This event is exclusive to ASA members, and is open to authors, author-illustrators, and illustrators of children’s picture books.
At each event you have the opportunity to be matched with an attending publisher or agent and meet with them for a six-minute pitch appointment.
Our Picture Book Matchmaker event has an application process, to ensure that you are paired with the right publisher or agent – this is the ‘matchmaking’ part of the process.
Booking applications are assessed by two external assessors with extensive experience in Australian picture book publishing. The criteria for assessment is: the potential for publication, readiness for publication, and whether you and your work are the best fit for the attending publisher or agent.
Pitch appointments are limited at Picture Book Matchmaker, so bookings will be offered only to those creators whose application best fits the assessment criteria.
Booking offers will be issued via email to the successful applicants. In the event of a booking offer being declined or cancelled, waitlist offers will be emailed to picture book creators shortlisted by the assessors.
During the six-minute pitch appointment, you have the rare opportunity to pitch your work in a more informal, conversational setting than in the ASA’s Virtual Literary Speed Dating events. All pitch appointments are via Zoom and screen-sharing is accommodated, so you can showcase your materials effectively. The longer appointment length offers increased scope for receiving feedback from, and establishing a rapport with, the publisher or agent.
If the publisher or agent expresses interest in seeing more of your work or keeping in contact with you, 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. If you’ve sent the publisher or agent any requested material, they will get back to you within three months.
Learn more about the specific application process for you by following the appropriate link below.
Check the eligibility requirements that apply to you and your application by following the appropriate link below.
The booking application fees will be paid to the judging panel for the work of assessing your application. The booking fee for your pitch appointment will be used to help cover the cost of ASA staff to administer the event.
