Dying: A Memoir by Cory Taylor, who died this week, speaks out against the muzzle Western society had placed on discussing death. By Leah Kaminsky.

Cory Taylor, a fine Australian writer, has died within weeks of the rush-publication of her last book, Dying: A Memoir.

Lionel Shriver and Alexei Sayle are two of the early names released for this year's Melbourne Writers Ffestival.

Biography is a growing genre in Australian writing, says historian Peter Cochrane.

Donald Trump is a monstrous comic book supervillain threatening to destroy the world.

Jane Harper's debut crime novel The Dry is number one in the independent charts but faces a strong challenge from Annie Proulx's epic Barkskins.

A book about a motel owner who spied on guests for decades, which Spielberg plans to adapt, has come under question.

The Turnbull government is unlikely to attract many votes from the arts sector, but are the alternatives any better?

J.K. Rowling's political views on the EU Brexit has caused a divide among her followers on Twitter.

Learn to live, die and converse better; the battle to #SaveOzStories; focus on Australian literature

Considering making the leap from the safety of a government job? Here's some advice.

The View from the Cheap Seats is a book to dip into, not only for the insights into Gaiman's life, but also for his accounts of books, films, art and music.

The universe of Harry Potter just got bigger. Ahead of the release of the Potter world spin off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling has released a short story and animated video giving the film's back story - and it describes a secret school of witchcraft and wizardry founded by an Irish witch by the name of Isolt Sayre.

Parallel importing, a literary prize and who's coming to the MWF.

The new film of JoJo Moyes' novel Me Before You has helped the book stay in top spot on Australia's bestseller list.

Memoir

Anthology of creative writing students' work

Crime novel about an arsonist who targets a school

Pick of the week

Inside the offshore detention camps

Fictional portrait of crime writer Patricia Highsmith

Essays on old age

An artist paints the plants in a 19th-century Italian garden

The List of Last Remaining is a timely collection from Adelaide poet Louise Nicholas.