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Pause in Submissions

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Due to an overwhelming number of submissions and all the additional work reading the submissions for The MidnightSun Picture Book Prize, we are taking a break. Standard submissions are now closed until the 1st of February 2027. You are very welcome instead to submit your picture books to The MidnightSun Picture Book Prize (which does incur a $60 fee) for a chance to win. Just follow the guidelines here.

Any standard submissions sent between now and the 1st of February 2027 will not be considered and will not be replied to. If you made a submission before the 7th of November 2026, please rest assured that we will review your work and endeavour to respond to you as soon as we can. When we reopen, please follow the guidelines.

Title

When Dark Worlds Rise

When Dark Worlds Rise cover
When Dark Worlds Rise cover
by Zena Shapter

PB 400 | 198 x 129 | ISBN: 9781922858825 | $21.99
Young Adult | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | October 2026
Distributed by NewSouth Books

Sala knows it’s dangerous to leave. Outside the secret shack where she and her friends have been hiding, foraging among the burnt-out ruins of a raided land, heartless scavengers will kill for any technology they find. Vicious tree cats stalk the night for prey. And giant water-ants have overrun Palude’s carnivorous-tree swamps. But when the love of her life needs help, Sala has no choice but to trade everything they possess for his freedom.

She’s not the only one making decisions of course. As ecosystems collapse, and everyday life fractures, desperate leaders will risk everything for Continue reading When Dark Worlds Rise →

Author

Ben Ryan

Ben Ryan
Ben Ryan
Ben Ryan is an Australian writer and filmmaker who tells genre-bending stories for young readers about the monsters we fight and the ones we carry with us. He was a finalist in the American Fiction Awards and received an honourable mention at the Eric Hoffer Book Prize. Ben’s screenwriting has featured on Coverfly’s Red List and in 2025, Ben optioned his first feature film project, which was developed with Screen Australia.

Ben loves tropical islands, urban jungles and Dutch canals. He now lives on Australia’s Gold Coast, which he describes as the perfect mix of all three.

Ben’s book Coming Out at the End of the World was published by MidnightSun in September 2026.

Title

Coming Out at the End of the World

COEW cover
COEW cover
by Ben Ryan

PB | 198 x 129mm | ISBN: 9781922858795 | $22.99
Young Adult | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | September 2026
Distributed by NewSouth Books

Hi, I’m Alex. Welcome to the end of the world.

Have you ever had a secret so big you’d rather the world just ended than having to tell anyone?

Alex has one. Then the world actually ended!

When his city is overrun by the undying — reanimated, bloodthirsty corpses — Alex realises that simply surviving the apocalypse is not enough. To truly live, he must finally come out to his tough and distant big brother, Brody, before it’s too late.

But it’s not exactly the kind of thing you bring up while dodging death, fighting your way through hordes with a huge, living-dead beast on your trail. Then Alex glimpses a boy with a beautiful smile out there, all alone in a world full of monsters and he knows… If he stays silent, he’ll be no better than Continue reading Coming Out at the End of the World →

Author

Jen Sherrington

Jen Sherrington
Jen Sherrington
Jen Sherrington is a writer and educator based in Perth, Western Australia. She loves creating stories that celebrate the wonders of reading, writing, and creative thinking. Family moments, friendship fun and farm life adventures sneak into her books. Jen is the author of Grandma Love and Grandpa, Read This Book, published by Wild Eyed Press in 2023. Her article Motorbike Frog was published in The School Magazine in 2020.

Latin dancing, craft dabbling and world Continue reading Jen Sherrington →

Title

Stuff

Stuff cover
Stuff cover
Written by Jen Sherrington and
illustrated by Hélène Magisson

HB 32 | 216 x 256mm | ISBN: 9781922858771 | $29.99
Picture Book | MidnightSun Publishing | August 2026
Distributed by NewSouth Books

Morri is chuffed when Birdee gives him stuff. Having stuff is fun!

Morri looks up to those with lots of stuff. He looks down on those with less stuff. Morri wants more stuff because he thinks he doesn’t have enough. Morri wants better stuff. Morri wants space to stuff piles of stuff. Will Morri ever have Continue reading Stuff →

Title

Animal Force

Animal Force cover
Animal Force cover
Written by Cerise Madsen and
illustrated by Sally Heinrich

PB136 | 129 x 198mm | ISBN: 9781922858740 | $17.99
Junior Fiction Ages 6+ | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | July 2026
Distributed by NewSouth Books

Animal Force is a magical wildlife adventure packed with fun, danger and epic animal powers!

It was supposed to be the best birthday ever — camping on Ember Island with marshmallows under the stars and plenty of beach games. Instead twins Leo and Kelly have just found out they’re adopted. They’ve started having weird snowy dreams about icy forests. And a powerful magic begins to spark within them. This will be no ordinary birthday. Kelly wants answers. Leo wants everything to go back to normal. Too bad normal is gone.

Soon they’re knee-deep in mangrove mud, dodging danger, outsmarting bullies, and launching Continue reading Animal Force →

Author

Cerise Madsen

Cerise Madsen
Cerise Madsen
Cerise Madsen is a speech pathologist in Brisbane, where she runs her own practice supporting language development through speech, storytelling, and sign. Fluent in Norwegian, French, and the ever-evolving language of tweens and teens, Cerise has shared her love of communication by teaching English to international students, Norwegian to refugees, and now supporting children, teens and adults with disabilities.

Her writing is inspired by her passion for Continue reading Cerise Madsen →

Author

Lauren Mullinder

Lauren Mullinder
Lauren Mullinder
Lauren Mullinder is an illustrator, graphic designer, artist and educator. Based in her home studio in Adelaide, South Australia, Lauren spends her time drawing, exploring the natural world and developing workshops in art, drawing fundamentals and environment design. She has a passion for children’s literature and has illustrated seven children’s books.

She loves visiting schools and running illustration workshops, where children have a hands-on experience creating their own Continue reading Lauren Mullinder →

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