AGP Executive Report

Romance on Screen: Critics are weighing in on the new Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity, with many calling it glossy, campy, and fun—while others say it plays too safe and doesn’t fully match the book’s sharper edge. Author Spotlight: Sabaa Tahir, fresh off her Empire (the Heir duology finale), is promoting the next chapter of Aiz, Sirsha, and Quil’s war-torn, interconnected world. Banned Books Watch: Utah has banned seven more titles statewide, bringing the total to 44, as districts add new restrictions ahead of National Band books week. Publishing & Prizes: Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling lands on the Baillie Gifford Prize shortlist, alongside other major nonfiction and biography contenders. Community Reading Events: Heritage Square Museum’s “Little Women” ballet brings seasonal literary immersion to Victorian homes, while Waverley Council launches the inaugural Bondi Books & Ideas Weekend with talks spanning AI ethics, resilience, and parenting. Local Book News: Clarinda native Andy Nordland returns to discuss his novels at the Clarinda Public Library.

Publishing & Culture: The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library has set its Banned Books Week schedule (Oct. 4–9), with events built around free expression, including an artist-in-residence and multiple discussions and screenings. Book-to-screen buzz: Multiple reviews are landing on Colleen Hoover’s Verity adaptation, with critics saying the film rushes the psychological unease that made the book stick. New memoir spotlight: Plano author Jennifer Bryson’s Infinite Grace reframes disability advocacy through her family’s long caregiving journey, from school systems to adult transitions. Community reading events: Decatur Public Library’s “Books Between Bites” (Oct. 7) features a talk on Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden, while a South Texas International Book Festival heads to McAllen on Oct. 24 with major authors for kids through adults. Free speech & learning: A Qatari authors’ seminar explored “the Other” and critical thinking, tying the discussion to postcolonial studies and the digital age. Local book world: Alaska Sea Grant released an updated New Alaska Oyster Growers Manual to support oyster farming with a more navigable, illustrated guide.

Banned Books Week: Rockport’s Barnswallow Books is hosting an Oct. 6 conversation featuring author Jenny Finney Boylan with ACLU of Maine and the Maine Library Association, pushing free-speech stakes in writing and publishing. Publishing & community spotlight: San Diego’s Libélula Books & Co. marks five years as a Barrio Logan hub during Hispanic Heritage Month, highlighting how independent bookstores build belonging through events and workshops. Book culture, but with friction: A Delhi Metro-related storage scandal leaves 200,000+ regional-language books in boxes for 15 years, raising questions about access and stewardship at the Central Secretariat Library. Workplace health literacy: OSHA is urging employers to make naloxone (Narcan) accessible and train staff—another reminder that public health guidance increasingly shows up in books and workplace learning. Tech + authorship: A new book on online conspiracy talk argues that persuasive “neutral” language helps conspiracies stick, even when debunked. Fantasy TV buzz: Commentary on Apple TV’s Stormlight Archive frames it as a serious rival to Harry Potter’s legacy as fantasy adaptation plans heat up.

Publishing & Policy: Five books shortlisted for the $70K Balsillie Prize for Public Policy, including Tim Wu’s The Age of Extraction and Rick Westhead’s We Breed Lions, spotlight how nonfiction shapes public debate. AI in Publishing & Author Platforms: Christine Topjian’s new author website adds an AI chatbot for readers, while CCC is set to host a Frankfurt Book Fair panel on publisher strategies for navigating the AI value chain. Books in the Courts: Authors Jenan Matari and Nora Lester Murad sue Los Angeles over the cancellation of a Read Palestine Week event, alleging free-speech violations and discrimination. New Releases & Literary Buzz: Min Jin Lee’s American Hagwon returns to her social-novel focus on tutoring culture, and Lizzete S. Tupas’s debut Always on a Tuesday explores burnout and mental health. Book Events & Community: Applications are open for the 2027 Tucson Festival of Books, and Waterstones Swindon hosts a launch event for Swindon Town’s Journey to the Premier League. Tech, Books, and Attention: A new Flow Multiplier book argues leaders need AI-assisted systems to protect focus and recovery.

Guinness & Kids’ Publishing: South Brunswick, New Jersey’s Advay Jain, 4, says his dinosaur-themed book “Dino Learns Not To Waste Food” helped him become the youngest male to publish a book, and his town is set to recognize him. Courtroom Access for Authors-in-Progress: India’s Delhi High Court asked Tihar jail authorities to respond to Sharjeel Imam’s plea for offline pen-drive research access to finish his PhD. Policy Hits the Reading World: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill blocking tee-time brokers from reselling public municipal golf reservations without course-operator consent. Language & Power: A new essay revisits how words get “mastered,” from Lewis Carroll to Orwell, as political language reshapes what people can think. Local Book Culture: A guide spotlights five bookstores beyond Berkeley classics, while the Las Vegas Book Festival returns for its 25th year with free author events and signings. Publishing Meets Politics: A UK controversy escalates as the Board of Deputies urges the government to bar Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah over remarks tied to Oct. 7. New Fiction Launch: Rowan Public Library hosts Katherine Reay for “The Undercover Bookshop,” a 1950s Cotswolds mystery about a suspected Soviet spy. AI, Books, and the Public: A report on the Supreme Court argues rulings can track public opinion, challenging the idea that the court is fully insulated.

Royal Memoir Fallout: Charles Spencer’s Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is driving major review chatter, with critics praising its readability while questioning sourcing and noting it can feel more like a self-portrait than a balanced account. Youth Writing & Libraries: Stillwater Public Library’s youth mystery contest (ages 8–12) invites kids to write up to 2,000 words using prompts tied to The In-Between or a historic-disaster scenario. Author News: Crime writer Peter May (Lewis Trilogy) has died at 74; tributes highlight his Hebrides-set thrillers and a posthumous final novel due in 2027. Publishing & AI Tensions: France’s Goncourt des Lycéens selection was dropped over claims of AI involvement and plagiarism, reigniting the debate over authorship. Tech Meets Copyright: Dutch authors and journalists protest Meta/Facebook over AI training using their work, calling for fair compensation and transparency. Community Reading Events: FILBo names Sharjah as its first Arab Guest of Honour for 2027, and Dublin’s YA festival Plot Twist brings deception-themed workshops and author talks.

Book-to-screen buzz: HBO Max is set to add Stephen King’s The Shining (Oct. 1), while another King adaptation moment is framed as the end of an era for TV versions; meanwhile, HBO’s Big Little Lies is highlighted for going beyond its novel’s events. Publishing & culture: Louise Erdrich wins the 2026 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for a four-decade body of work centered on Native life and colonization’s aftershocks. Community reading: Michigan’s One Grand Read returns for a second year with Hanif Abdurraqib’s There’s Always This Year, bringing libraries and MSU together around one title. Neighborhood bookstores: Japan’s bookstore scene gets a hopeful jolt as a new shop reopens in Matsuyama’s Gintengai arcade after years of decline. New releases & events: Richard Paul Evans previews Mercy’s Child (out Oct. 20), and a local Montague library series spotlights Dana Precious’s The Psychic Sisters of Oleander Street. AI & authorship: A French top prize drops a book over AI accusations, keeping the authorship debate front and center. Storm & travel disruption: A nor’easter brings flooding and cancels hundreds of flights, adding real-world chaos to the week’s reading plans.

AI & Authorship: A Qatar National Library event heard author-AI specialist Mohammed al-Qassabi argue AI can generate books fast, but writers must keep the “thinking” and lived perspective that makes work distinctive. Publishing Formats: A Dutch publisher’s 1970s experiment—novels printed like newspapers—returns as a reminder that book formats can be reinvented, not just standardized. Book Culture & Community: Philly fall reading lists spotlight history-heavy fiction and satire, while local series like Fishtrap Fireside kick off a new season with regional authors. Indigenous Food Knowledge: Ts’msyen authors Rachel and Spencer Greening promote GYETK, a cookbook built around traditional harvests and Indigenous food sovereignty, with an Oct. 9 event and recipe tastings. Legal/Residency Fallout for Readers: The UK Home Office faces legal action over stripping some EU citizens’ post-Brexit residency rights, with campaign group the3million warning of withdrawal-agreement breaches. Books & Society: A new interfaith book pairs Islamic and Christian perspectives on ethical relationships between humans and animals, tackling animal welfare and environmental responsibility.

World Tourism Day 2026: Tourism’s big theme is “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” with AI now shaping itineraries, language help, and how travelers plan trips. AI in publishing (Qatar): Qatar National Library wrapped up “Write to Inspire,” focusing on how authors and publishers are grappling with AI’s ethics and creative limits. Book bans vs libraries (US): Iowa’s Rob Sand says he’ll veto culture-war bills that restrict children’s books about homosexuality and transgenderism, while Kate Quinn urges voters to protect libraries from book bans and budget cuts. AI plagiarism fallout (France): The Goncourt prize removed Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien’s novel after AI-writing and plagiarism accusations—detectors reportedly disagree. Local reading culture: Kansas, Mississippi, and other communities keep doubling down on festivals and author events, turning reading into a public gathering. Publishing how-to: A guide on choosing the right ISBN spotlights how self-publishers can avoid edition mix-ups. Crime-thriller adaptations: Netflix keeps mining books, with new thrillers and Harlan Coben-related viewing momentum.

Publishing & Books in the Real World: Malaysia’s Hari Cuci Malaysia set Malaysia Book of Records for mass clean-up and recyclable collection, with schools and hundreds of locations boosting community participation. Regional Knowledge as a Book: A Sabah-focused “Living Lab” volume from Universiti Malaysia Sabah is being positioned as a model for other states and even international replication. Film-Platform Review Fight: Telugu hit The Paradise sparked controversy after BookMyShow disabled audience ratings and comments, reigniting debate over online review manipulation. AI Authorship Debate: Author Sebastian Bailly argues the literary world is forcing writers into “fraud or innocent” when AI-detection claims are treated as authorship proof. Fantasy Fandom Economics: A prediction market put The Winds of Winter odds at 48% for release by end of 2030, driven by renewed discussion around George R. R. Martin’s timeline. Book Trade & Access: A UK council motion calls for restoring phone booking options for recycling centre visits after “digital first” rules left some residents out. Cybersecurity for Readers: University of Tartu’s library says an attacker accessed its e-bookstore and likely downloaded customer data, urging password changes. Royal Book Fallout: Charles Spencer’s Swan Song continues to trigger legal and credibility battles as palace pushback escalates. Local Author Events: NBF will host a reception for children’s book Anji Ki Topi, spotlighting quality kids’ literature and reading habits.

Children’s Literature & Culture: Andy Griffiths gets a 4-metre 3D-printed portrait at Australia’s National Portrait Gallery, celebrating the “inner kid” behind his absurdist writing. Banned Books & Access: Brooklyn Public Library spotlights Christopher Myers’ “Night Ride” exhibit, including giant tapestries featuring often-banned classics like Animal Farm and The Bluest Eye. Reading for Fall: Sarah J. Maas shares picks to tide readers over until ACOTAR 6, while R.L. Stine recommends five horror reads for Halloween. Local Book Worlds: Vroman’s and Book Soup in Southern California announce new ownership; Green Bay’s UntitledTown festival returns this weekend. School Books Under Pressure: Wake County changes how parents can challenge library books, drawing pushback from a state House leader. Publishing, Policy & Money: The Bahamas starts charging VAT interest on real-estate deals after 21 days, and a new Q3 “Books to Bookmark” list spotlights small-publisher titles. Global Education: Gaza children return to school after nearly three years, with classrooms still scarce and damaged.

AI Authorship Row: France’s Goncourt prize removed Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien’s novel from its longlist after accusations of using AI, with plagiarism claims also swirling. War on Books: Ukraine says Russia destroyed about 13 million Ukrainian books in summer attacks, underscoring how hard it is to replace a country’s literature. Literary Dystopia (Review): Rajesh R. Varma’s English translation The Red Badge imagines 1970s Kerala under authoritarian rule, using a schoolboy’s quest for status to expose caste politics and propaganda. Publishing & Rights: A Quebec publisher halted promotion amid fresh AI controversy, as the broader debate over originality keeps heating up. Book Culture Events: Johns Creek’s Literary Fair lines up NYT bestselling Ariel Lawhon; Peru’s Westclox Chapter Two hosts an author fair Nov. 7; Westminster Abbey plans a Tolkien memorial beside C.S. Lewis. Local Reads & Community: Lake City will raise a “lake monster” book-themed bounty to $60,000, while a Lakeville library book sale topped $9,500 for literacy.

Book Industry & Global Fairs: Greece is bringing an expanded publishing program to the Frankfurt Book Fair, including English “Books from Greece” catalogs and new networking events at the Greek Pavilion. Publishing & Discovery Tech: BookExpo365 launched an AI-powered “Virtual Book Booth” model meant to keep author visibility going after launch, using AI assistants, digital twins, and video. AI Authorship Fallout: A Quebec author accused of using AI to write an award-winning novel now faces fresh plagiarism allegations about earlier articles, prompting his publisher to pause promotion. Literary Culture & Politics: More than 350 cultural figures signed a petition defending Ariana Harwicz after a Spanish festival rescinded her invitation over her Israel views. Awards Watch: The Booker Prize shortlist is out, narrowing 163 novels to six, with judges highlighting range in themes and narrative styles. Libraries Under Pressure: Florida’s education commissioner orders continuous review and removal of sexually explicit materials, warning districts of corrective measures. Digital Age Library Gap: A report says libraries are “left behind” in the digital era, with services still failing to meet modern expectations. Local Book Life: Rutgers hosted “Networking Black Print,” spotlighting Black bibliography and building a digital database for scholars.

AI Authorship Row: A Haitian-Canadian debut winner, Thélyson Orélien, is accused of using AI to write almost his prize-winning novel, claims he’s compiling a dossier to prove authorship, and his publisher calls the allegation injurious. Book Publishing & Adaptations: Martin Amis’s Yellow Dog gets an audio release narrated by Bill Nighy, while The Love Hypothesis keeps spawning book-to-screen chatter and reviews. New Reading Spaces: Falls Church is set to open The Dark, Unbound, a fantasy/sci-fi shop with “witchy” touches and a mission to spotlight underrepresented voices. Literary Events & Community: Obama launches a six-part podcast, A Great Book With Barack Obama, featuring conversations about American classics; and Princeton Theological Seminary hosts Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for a bravery-focused discussion and signing. Publishing Culture & Consumer Trends: Insight Editions debuts “Bookcessories,” miniature book charms for Disney and Star Wars fans. Books in the Real World: UK courts extend an injunction blocking a former SAS soldier from publishing a counter-terror book.

Book Culture & Events: A.J. Symon is on a 30-city Southeast tour with a Stratford Academy signing tied to Georgia Reads Day, with more stops ahead at local bookstores. AI vs. Books: A new column argues that “book burning” is now happening via AI firms buying, scanning, and destroying physical copies to train models, citing claims involving Anthropic and Amazon. Literary Talk: Dara Horn joins Karol Markowicz to discuss antisemitism, Jewish identity, and truth online in her new book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question. Reading as a Public Good: A literacy-focused piece warns that many U.S. adults struggle with comprehension, not just reading, as BookTok and book bans reshape how people engage with texts. Local Publishing Spotlight: Laurie Gilmore’s fall rom-com The Pumpkin Spice Café keeps riding viral momentum, with new follow-ups on the way. Bookish Community Calendar: Scappoose Public Library’s Oct. 10 Authors Festival and used book sale bring a “writer’s dozen” of local voices to the stage.

Book Publishing Watch: Ian McEwan is set to release his first major nonfiction collection, Between Books, next spring (May 25, Jonathan Cape/Knopf), compiling essays and speeches plus a new introduction. Major Literary Awards: The 2026 Booker Prize shortlist is confirmed with six novels, including past winners Marlon James and Douglas Stuart, and an 81-year-old contender, M. John Harrison. YA/Dystopian Buzz: Veronica Roth teases The Sixth Faction, a duology entry set in the Divergent world and framed as a “revisiting” of Beatrice’s Choosing Day. Community & Libraries: Barnes & Noble is buying Joseph-Beth Booksellers’ remaining locations to keep the independent identity alive. Local Reading Life: Ingalls Memorial Library added 100+ children’s books via a grant and donations. Festival Calendar: The Santo Domingo International Book Fair opens Sept. 24 with hundreds of events and major international participation. Publishing Industry Global: Istanbul hosts a summit bringing together Islamic publishing leaders from 68 countries, with a focus on translation and copyright.