John Harwood's novel The Ghost Writer won the International Horror Guild's First Novel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Horror and Dark Fantasy; and also the Children of the Night Award for Best Gothic Novel from the Dracula Society of Great Britain.

Random House has appointed a new Commissioning Editor of commercial fiction, Larissa Edwards.

Independent Australian publisher Lothian Books has been sold to the giant US Time Warner conglomerate.  The Lothian imprint will be kept.

Allen & Unwin has announced a new imprint with a strong emphasis on commercial fiction and non-fiction.  The publishers of the new imprint will be Louise Thurtell and Jude McGee.