AGP Executive Report

Kashmiri Literature: Editor Onaiza Drabu says her new anthology, The Big Book of Kashmiri Literature, brings centuries of poetry and writing into view, including voices often left out of the literary canon. Indigenous Storytelling: A new book by St. Paul Island writers Garrett Igayux Pletnikoff and Hannah Atsaq Zimmerman reimagines Kipling’s “The White Seal” from an Unangan perspective, challenging the colonial attitudes of the original. Publishing and AI: Major publishers are reportedly using generative AI for cover art and promotional copy without telling authors, even as publishers challenge AI companies over copyright. Book Bans: PEN America says US schools banned nearly 12,000 books in 2025–26, the highest total since it began tracking the issue. Literary Honors: Canadian poet Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, sending readers to her books and libraries scrambling to meet new demand.

Global Rights: HBKU Press says Frankfurt Book Fair is helping Qatari titles reach new markets, with rights deals already secured in Germany and Türkiye. The fair runs through Oct. 11, bringing publishers together to trade translation and publishing rights. Book Access: Utah groups have launched a campaign with local bookshops and a mobile library to keep banned titles available to young readers. Nobel Spotlight: Canadian poet Anne Carson’s Literature Nobel has sent her books climbing bestseller lists and boosted library holds. AI and Publishing: Publishers’ growing use of AI is prompting staff resistance, while “human-authored” labels gain traction. A US federal court has also ruled that AI training on copyrighted books is fair use, sharpening the industry’s copyright debate. Censorship: PEN America reports more than 12,000 school book bans nationwide in 2025–26, with Texas accounting for over 8,000 titles; librarians warn that informal restrictions can silence books, too. Publishing Growth: Paraguay registered 10.4% more publications in 2025, while author-publishers surged nearly 70%.

Nobel Spotlight: Canadian writer Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, sending her books up sales charts and boosting library holds. AI and Authorship: Publishers are quietly increasing AI use as staff push back, while “human-authored” labels gain ground amid scandals over AI-generated books and growing copyright questions. Censorship: PEN America reports a record nearly 12,000 school book bans in 2025–26, with Texas accounting for more than 8,000 titles; librarians also warn that informal censorship can limit access. Global Publishing: Frankfurt Book Fair has become a stage for international publishing, with delegations including Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Korea promoting their writers and books. New Deals: Publishers are chasing both fan favorites and new voices: Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn is set to return with a new book, while Bloomsbury has acquired a debut cosy-fantasy trilogy.

Bookselling: Minneapolis is hosting the Heartland Fall Forum for the first time since 2018, bringing 350 booksellers together to share ideas and celebrate booksellers’ community support for immigrant neighbors. Literary Honors: Canadian poet Anne Carson’s Nobel Prize win sent her books surging up Korean bestseller lists. Publishing: Frankfurt Book Fair spotlights international literature, while publishers announced deals for romance writer Giovanna Lennox, picture-book creator Eirinn McGuinness and Katya Balen’s debut thriller. Book Bans: U.S. schools recorded nearly 12,000 book bans in 2025–26, a record that has renewed debate over censorship and access to reading. Industry Watch: A new critique argues publishers are worsening nonfiction’s struggles; elsewhere, Anthropic’s large-scale book buying in Japan has sparked publisher backlash over AI and copyright. In Memoriam: Bestselling author Jeffrey Archer died aged 86, a day before his final novel reached shelves.

Literary Honors: Canadian poet Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, bringing renewed attention to her inventive body of work. Publishing Watch: Frankfurt Book Fair has opened, with publishers from Azerbaijan, Korea and other countries promoting their literature and rights; Korean publishers are also expanding international outreach. Censorship: US schools banned nearly 12,000 books in 2025–26, a record, according to PEN America. AI and Copyright: A federal court ruled that AI training on copyrighted books is fair use, a consequential decision for authors and publishers. Industry: Bookshop.org’s audiobook service lets independent bookshops earn the full profit on sales. In Memoriam: Bestselling author Jeffrey Archer died at 86, just before the release of his final novel. Memoir: Australian writer Magda Szubanski discusses grief, coming out and cancer in her new book, I Can’t Tell You But I Will.

Nobel Prize: Canadian poet and classicist Anne Carson won the 2026 literature Nobel for work that blends ancient traditions with new literary forms, including Autobiography of Red and Nox. Frankfurt Book Fair: The fair opened with national showcases and publishers pursuing international rights and partnerships, including delegations from India and Azerbaijan. AI and Copyright: A federal court ruled that AI training on copyrighted books is fair use, while Anthropic’s book-buying in Japan has drawn publisher backlash. Book Bans: PEN America counted nearly 12,000 school book bans in 2025–26, a record high and a central concern during Banned Books Week. Publishing and Adaptations: Actors including Himesh Patel and Maxine Peake are reading works from this year’s Booker shortlist in a new series of short films. Literary Loss: Bestselling British novelist Jeffrey Archer has died at 86.

Awards: Tayari Jones’s Kin won the Kirkus Prize for fiction, earning a $50,000 award; Paula Colloff and Elizabeth Acevedo also took home prizes. The National Book Award finalists were announced, spanning continents and exploring identity, justice and war. Publishing Trade: Frankfurt Book Fair opened with more than 4,000 publishing organizations from over 100 countries, spotlighting rights deals, AI and children’s books. Book Bans: U.S. schools banned nearly 12,000 books in 2025–26, the highest annual total reported by PEN America, with Jane Eyre among the titles challenged. AI and Copyright: A federal court ruled that AI training on copyrighted books is fair use, while Anthropic’s large-scale book purchases in Japan have drawn publisher backlash. Literary News: Bestselling novelist and former politician Jeffrey Archer died at 86, a day before his final book was due to reach shelves.

Book Bans: PEN America counted 11,982 school book bans in 2025–26, its highest total since 2021; 7,370 titles were affected, including works by more than 4,000 authors, illustrators and translators. Publishing & AI: A federal court ruled that training AI on copyrighted books is fair use, a consequential decision for writers and publishers. Frankfurt Book Fair: The world’s largest book fair opened with more than 4,000 publishing organizations from over 100 countries, focusing on rights deals, AI, audiobooks and children’s literature. Audiobooks: Spotify says its audiobook service now reaches more than 180 markets. Literary News: Canadian writer and editor katherena vermette is a finalist for a new $25,000 nonfiction-editing prize. Bestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer has died aged 86, just before the release of his final book.

Banned Books Week & Censorship Fight: Washington authors teamed up with the state’s Center for the Book to push back on school and district removals, including a case where a beloved title was pulled from an entire school district. School Library Rules: Davidson County, North Carolina, is weighing a policy that would move certain high-school library books behind a parent-permission process, as states expand access and challenge procedures. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Colleen Hoover’s “Verity” adaptation is getting harsh reviews, with critics saying the film misses the suspense that works on the page. Literary Events & Revivals: A Brontë-inspired Dutch novel is being brought back to West Yorkshire via an event tied to Emily Brontë’s legacy. Accessible Reading: Texas’s Talking Book Program is spotlighting free audiobooks, braille, and digital tools during Blindness Awareness Month. Publishing/Industry Notes: A solo-cruise pricing audit finds “solo” cabins don’t always beat guarantee fares, a reminder to compare options before booking. Author Spotlight: A new biography, “American Pope,” follows NPR journalists’ reporting on Pope Leo XIV’s rise.

Book Bans: PEN America reports US schools logged nearly 12,000 book-ban instances in 2025–26, a record high, with new removals including classics like Jane Eyre and contemporary titles such as Lessons in Chemistry. Copyright & AI: German publishers at the Frankfurt Book Fair urged tighter AI regulation, calling for transparency and fair licensing as companies train on copyrighted works. Royal Tribute: Queen Camilla marked the death of bestselling author and former MP Jeffrey Archer, praising him as an “irrepressible life force” and noting his final book was due on the eve of his passing. Banned Books Week: A separate roundup frames the week as a First Amendment fight, warning that censorship targets librarians and community groups too. New Leadership Books: The Empty Chair spotlights leadership blind spots behind culture and burnout, while Silent to Spoken tackles people-pleasing and boundaries in midlife. Publishing & Tech: Audible is rolling out AI character chat features, and a new startup, Authors First, pitches AI-assisted adaptations that aim to keep author intent on screen.

Literary Loss: Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist and former Conservative MP whose career was shadowed by a perjury conviction, has died at 86; his final novel, Adam and Eve, was due out the next day. Banned Books Week: The Banned Wagon brought free copies of challenged titles to Brooklyn Public Library, highlighting how removals often target LGBTQ and people-of-color stories. Community Reading: Nebraska’s “Letters About Literature” invites grades 4–12 to write personal letters to any author, with winners honored at the state capitol in 2027. Publishing & Genre Buzz: Stephen King’s TV legacy gets a fresh spotlight, with Storm of the Century finally finding a wider streaming audience. New Releases: October reading coverage spotlights fresh fiction and fall picks, including E. Lockhart’s The Pools and Barbara Kingsolver’s Partita. Tech & Reading Habits: A new book argues attention is “formation,” warning that constant digital fragmentation reshapes how we think, love, and even pray.

Local Publishing: Limerick’s V94 Write Offs Creative Writing Group will launch its debut anthology, Work in Progress, at the People’s Museum on Oct. 6, edited by Marie Studer (poetry) and Mark Dwyer (fiction), with best-selling author Donal Ryan on hand. Climate & Courts: The Supreme Court will hear a Boulder, Colorado lawsuit seeking compensation from energy companies over alleged weather damage tied to greenhouse gas emissions—an outcome that could reshape how much local courts can demand from the industry. Book Censorship: PEN America reports nearly 12,000 book bans in US public schools in 2025–26, a record high, with Texas leading and AI tools increasingly used to flag titles for removal. Banned Books Week: “Let Books Be” spotlights how challenges strip readers of choice and why libraries keep broad access at the center. Documentary Spotlight: Odd Man In revisits Donald Webster Cory’s legacy—his 1951 gay rights bestseller The Homosexual in America—and the later views that sparked backlash. Publishing Deals: Hachette UK acquires children’s publisher Otter-Barry Books, folding its backlist and frontlist into Hachette Children’s Group.

Children’s Publishing & Representation: A UK study finds children’s books with Black main characters dropped 8% year over year, with only 47 books (2.1%) for under-10s featuring Black leads, raising fresh questions about who gets to be seen on shelves. Digital Life & Health: The Lancet argues digital media harms young people’s mental health, sleep, and activity, blaming business models and weak governance—not kids’ willpower—and calls for coordinated policy action now. Book-to-Screen Buzz: “Verity” keeps dominating pop culture, but reviews are mixed, with critics saying the film’s thriller punch and pacing don’t land. Local Book Culture: Ann Arbor’s downtown saw 19.7M visits in 2025 (+2.4%), while employee foot traffic still lags—an update that tracks how communities are choosing where to spend. Indigenous Storytelling: Saskatchewan author Rebecca Lafond’s debut bedtime book “Fire In Your Belly” uses Indigenous storytelling and a “sky embers” metaphor to teach kids emotions are natural. Book Events: KPBS and partners are hosting a free virtual One Book, One San Diego event with Theresa Howell for students, plus a Lanark Public Library author talk with Juliene McCormick. AI & Copyright Debate: A new discussion pushes for clearer rules separating AI training from authorship, as creators and rights holders argue over what should be protected.

Book Events & Memoir Spotlight: Wisconsin social worker Betsy Korbinyr marks turning 65 with a park-hiking memoir, “Time, Beauty, and Grief,” with an Oct. 10 talk at Kohler-Andrae State Park. True-Crime & Publishing-Adjacent Headlines: The Nancy Guthrie disappearance case keeps resurfacing as Luke Daley, previously questioned, is reportedly booked again in Arizona—authorities stress it isn’t linked to the case. Health Systems & Books: Raj Panjabi’s new book, “Safer,” argues that healthcare’s “progress” can still leave patients and clinicians feeling dehumanized when systems fail. Hard Sci-Fi on Screen: Reviews of Andy Weir’s “Project Hail Mary” adaptation compare it favorably to the novel, praising how the film streamlines exposition while keeping the science-forward fun. Literature, Identity, and Politics: A forum discussion draws a line between Hinduism and Hindutva, with Lingayat leader Swami Korneshwar urging a return to saints’ teachings over divisive politics. Cultural Loss: Senegalese literary giant Cheikh Hamidou Kane, author of “L’Aventure ambiguë,” has died. Community Reading: Greater Victoria’s little free libraries hit 150,000 books, including a new title by Gitxsan author Trudy Spiller. AI & Content Safety: Hyderabad police investigate an AI-morphed obscene video involving Janhvi Kapoor, while Jr NTR vows legal action.

Book-to-screen buzz: Brandon Sanderson says The Stormlight Archive (Apple TV) is moving toward production while Skyward (Tomorrow Studios) has a pilot in the works, with plans stretching beyond season one. Author inspirations: Sarah J. Maas traces her fantasy roots—from a Lord of the Rings club to Buffy and fairy-tale folklore—showing how her reading shaped her breakout worlds. Adaptation spotlight: Verity keeps dominating headlines as reviews and cast interviews dissect how the film changes key plot points from Colleen Hoover’s novel. Publishing & access: Penguin Random House’s “Banned Wagon” rolls into Brooklyn Public Library with 50 challenged titles free to readers. New releases & reading lists: Fantasy and thriller roundups highlight major late-2026 picks, including Sanderson’s The Fires of December and buzzy twisty thrillers. International books: Indonesia’s National Library received 100 curated books from Chinese publishers, aiming to broaden access to knowledge. Literary culture: HBKU Press says it has published 800+ titles, with Qatari authors making up about half its writers.

Film & Books: Colleen Hoover’s Verity keeps sparking debate as the author weighs in on the movie’s ending and “who’s telling the truth,” even as critics argue the adaptation lands differently than the novel. Politics & Culture: A new book, Backslide, draws a sharp Nazi-era comparison to today’s Christian nationalism and warns about faith’s role in democratic backsliding. Publishing & Reading Life: A Bay Area “Silent Book Club” turns reading into community, while a feature on Dorothy Whipple spotlights a once-bestselling author now largely forgotten. Global Learning & History: India’s NCERT Class 9 history text is criticized for shifting how medieval resistance and Mughal-Rajput cooperation are framed. Health & Care at the End of Life: A Korean doctor-author says most people die in hospitals without having planned their end-of-life choices, and urges earlier conversations. Local Book News: Parksville author Donna LeClair writes about “invisibility” beyond 55, and a Parksville 88-year-old shares a recovery memoir after a traumatic brain injury. Travel Rules: Uganda drops the yellow fever certificate requirement for entry, simplifying visas and border checks.