The University of Queensland Press has rejected Campbell Newman’s proposed tell-all memoir.

The book’s author, Gavin King, claimed UQP knocked him back because the Newman government axed the Premier’s Literary Awards in 2012.

But UQP board chair Prof. Joanne Wright denied the allegation and said that the book was rejected because the publisher does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. She said she was disappointed that the reason given was the axing of the premier’s awards.

Wright said the fact that no requirements of manuscript consideration were met, the time involved producing political memoirs, and the consideration of its prospects for success, were all valid grounds for rejecting King’s pitch.

“It is unfortunate that this was not explained to Mr King,” Wright said.

A former Cairns MP, King agreed to write Newman’s political story after both lost their seats in the Liberal National party’s recent state election loss. The book plans to shed light on Newman’s 13-year stint as mayor of Brisbane and premier of the state.

King called the publisher’s response “strange and a bit disappointing”, considering the role of printed media in stimulating political debate and the free expression of ideas.

“It was more the manner, that sort of political bias, if you like,” he told Fairfax Radio on Thursday. “If it’s a crap book, read it first and then reject it.”

UQP reiterated it does not accept unsolicited manuscripts, nor does it accept email pitches without a synopsis, chapter overview and sample chapters.