We can help with:
Accelerate your career
Join us today
Book an event
Pitch your work at our flagship Literary Speed Dating events.
Learn how to nail your pitch to publishers and literary agents.
We advocate for members
Stay in the know
Stay in the know with industry news and ASA views.
Search our resources
Find ASA members
FAQs on publishing and more.
Member only guide to the Australian book industry.
We strongly recommend you study the schedule of attending publishers and agents and make sure you understand what they are accepting at this event. Your manuscript should match the genres/categories the publisher or agent is seeking. We share this schedule, and the valuable information contained within it, to give you the best chance at preparing for the booking and pitching process.
Read our guidelines for choosing which publishers and agents to book at Virtual Literary Speed Dating, and make sure you’re best placed to nab the pitch spot you want when bookings open.
Wednesday 22 July 2026
Please note, all times are in AEST. Please check your time zone to determine your local time.
Time slot
Publisher/Agent
Accepted genres:
Specifically seeking:
10:00-11:30 am
Hachette Publishing
Katherine Hassett | Senior Editor
Specified genres only.
Melanie Ostell Literary
Melanie Ostell | Agent/Business Owner
“Distinctive voices and original, compelling storytelling.”
Text Publishing
Jane Pearson | Senior Editor
12:00-1:30 pm
Sarah McKenzie Literary Management
Sarah McKenzie | Agent
“Page-turning stories, compelling voices, unique perspectives. Actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices, and First Nations authors.
No picture books.”
Penguin Random House Australia
Beverley Cousins | Publisher, Fiction
“Fiction with original concepts and plotlines, preferably Australian content.”
Pan Macmillan Australia
Danielle Walker | Executive Editor
“I’m an editor who specialises in compulsive commercial Romantasy for adult and YA readers. Whether it’s romantic fantasy or fantasy romance, deliciously dark academia, paranormal romance, romantic dystopian or just plain dystopian, I devour it all. I’m on the lookout for books with a hook or a twist; unique and surprising with authentic voices; something that leans into the popular tropes but also loves to subvert them. I want to lose myself in wondrous worldbuilding; read propulsive plots with a healthy dose of action and adventure; meet strong, independent heroes; and be utterly entranced by swoon-worthy love interests in all shades of grey.”
The Naher Agency
Gaby Naher | Agent/Director
“I’m looking for high concept, intelligent fiction with a distinct voice and strong narrative.”
2:00-3:30 pm
Allen & Unwin
Genevieve Buzo | Associate Publisher
“I’m actively building my list with a particular focus on titles for millennial and Gen Z readers. I am looking for fiction that sits anywhere interesting or unexpected along the literary-commercial spectrum, whether that’s voice-driven with a hooky story engine, or elevated concepts accessibly told (think Tina Brown’s highbrow-lowbrow matrix). I’d love to see family sagas, particularly about mothers/sisters; novels about friendship and friend groups; novels that reveal juicy secrets about hidden worlds, from cults to schools to restaurants.
I’m open to accessibly written genre fiction (specifically fantasy, romance, romantasy, speculative and historical) a la Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time, and am looking for horror, particularly feminist horror, gothic horror, haunted houses, dark academia or witchcraft (or any combination). I’m drawn to fresh, suspenseful voices in crime and thriller and I’m also interested in publishing authors from diverse backgrounds.”
Annabel Barker Agency
Bella Suckling | Associate Agent
UWA Publishing
Kate Pickard | Publisher
“We are seeking Australian own voices stories to inform and delight.
HarperCollins Australia – HQ Books
Zoe Walton | Publisher
“I’m looking for vibrant, high-quality commercial or literary fiction with a strong voice and hook, including women’s fiction, romantasy, suspense, thriller or mystery, from Australian or New Zealand authors. From award-winning literary fiction to ground-breaking commercial novels, crime to historical, HQ’s books entertain, inspire, innovate, inform and illuminate. Find more about HQ’s books at https://www.harpercollins.com.au/hq/.”
Friday 24 July 2026
What I’m looking for:
Emma Rafferty | Commissioning Editor
“I am looking for commercial and crossover fiction, voice-led narrative non-fiction and children’s books for older readers that inspire a lifelong love of reading. Among my favourite genres are crime, domestic noir, and general, historical and millennial fiction. I’m passionate about working with debut authors and publishing diverse voices and stories that truly reflect Australia.
Melbourne University Press
Foong Ling Kong | Publisher & CEO
“We go for voice-led, ideas-led books, underpinned by sound research. Books in the MUP list are twice peer-reviewed.
Illustrated pitches are advised to look at MUP’s Miegunyah Press titles for an idea of what we publish — no lifestyle, no cookbooks.
Please ensure you view MUP’s submissions page prior to booking to ensure MUP is the right home for your work.”
Rebecca McRitchie | Children’s Publisher
No picture books.
Simon & Schuster Australia – Atria Australia
Anthea Bariamis | Publisher, Atria Australia
Ultimo Press
Alisa Ahmed | Managing Editor
“I’m looking for character and voice driven fiction with a key point of difference – Own Voices and diverse casts are particularly interesting to me. I’d love to find accessible literary fiction that is propulsive, and commercial fiction that explore issues pertinent to our society – particularly by writers of colour.”
Annette Barlow | Publisher
“I’d love to find an unputdownable novel with mostly Australian content.”
Hardie Grant Publishing
Pam Brewster | Publishing Director
Alex Adsett Literary Agency
Alex Adsett | Owner & Agent
NewSouth Publishing
Harriet McInerney | Publisher
“Narrative and literary non-fiction. In particular history, politics, popular science, environment, essays and experimental approaches to non-fiction.”
HarperCollins Australia
Anna Valdinger | Fiction Publisher
“Strong, character-driven commercial fiction across all genres.”
Affirm Press
Laura Franks | Editor
“‘Weird’ fiction, and works from diverse voices based long-term in Australia.”
UQP
Cathy Vallance | Children’s Publisher
“I’m looking for high-quality literary children’s and YA books with a unique hook and distinctive voice. I’m looking for standalone books, not series. No genre fiction (like high fantasy or hard science fiction) but I appreciate literary genre benders, especially if it has a gothic or magic realism bent. I prefer stories set in Australia or that examine an aspect of Australian life if the story is set overseas. Generally speaking, I’m not into dream sequences, war stories, relentless trauma, the ‘unlikely friends’ trope, or toilet humour. Mostly, I’m looking for books that make me laugh, think and cry – books that are unforgettable.
Paul O’Beirne | Senior Editor
“As well as pitches from the broader community, we also encourage pitches from writers from under-represented backgrounds, including First Nations writers, writers of colour, LGBTQ+ writers and disabled writers.”
Elizabeth Weiss | Publisher Adult Non-Fiction
“I am looking for narrative works which will appeal to a mainstream Australian readership, or self-help or practical titles from authors with expertise and experience in their field.”
4:00-5:30 pm
Shaw Literary
Martin Shaw | Agent
“Outstanding literary fiction, irresistible commercial fiction and strong non-fiction.”
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.
If you are booking two pitches, you must book them in the same booking form.
This manuscript should be the one that you detail as part of your booking.
