We publish books that matter — narrative and literary nonfiction on important topics, and the best of local, international, and translated fiction.

Scribe is happy to announce the acquisition of Naked Ambition, a playful new novel by Robert Gott. The beloved author of numerous historical crime novels and The Adventures of Naked Man cartoon, in this novel Robert explores a collision of art, politics, religion, and gender in present-day Australia.

‘Robert is well known for his historical crime novels but here he turns his prodigious talents to a contemporary comedy,’ says senior editor David Golding. ‘Naked Ambition had me hooked from the first page as it moves with sparkling wit and a mischievous twinkle in its eye from gentle mirth to moments where I literally laughed out loud. It’s a battle of the sexes, a battle for the moral high ground, a battle to prevent the entry of one man’s nude into the Archibald Prize — and much like the Archibald itself, there’s a lot to talk about with friends over a glass of white wine, so we’ve planned publication to coincide with the discussions around and judging of next years prize.’

Robert Gott was born in the Queensland town of Maryborough in 1957, and lives in Melbourne. He has published many books for children, and is also the creator of the newspaper cartoon The Adventures of Naked Man. He is the author of the William Power series of crime-caper novels set in 1940s Australia (Good Murder, A Thing of Blood, Amongst the Dead, and The Serpent’s Sting), and of the Murders series (The Holiday Murders, The Port Fairy Murders, The Autumn Murders, and The Orchard Murders).

Scribe has acquired world English rights in Naked Ambition. It will be published in May 2023.