AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Representation: Toronto’s new micro-publisher/bookstore Sick Stories opens in a gallery space, aiming to put disability and chronic illness authors and characters on the shelves. Local Book Retail: Texarkana debuts Our Roots & Stories, a bookstore centered on Black authors and makers, with events and community programming. Community Reading: Nanaimo’s Rotary Club plans a fall used-book sale (Sept. 25–Oct. 4) benefiting local health and literacy groups. Books as Public Good: Indore’s RRR centers let residents trade old books and plastic for saplings, with collected books redistributed to readers. Literary Events: Saratoga Book Festival returns Oct. 1–4 with 50+ authors; Zhytomyr’s Vidsich forum runs Sept. 19–21 with a language-focused panel and literary marathon. Book Culture & Ideas: Singapore launches a paid incentive program to encourage physical reading over screens. New Releases & Reviews: Catherine Grace Katz’s Hindenburg disaster history Shadow Before the Flame gets attention; Catherine Grace Katz’s Viking release joins a busy week of genre picks and author spotlights.

Royal Books & Publishing: R.F. Kuang’s “Taipei Story” lands as a Chinese American student’s Mandarin immersion turns into a sharp, diary-like fight with language, academia, and the ache of belonging. AI & Copyright: A court filing in major AI training lawsuits (including OpenAI/Microsoft) quotes executives describing the use of published text as potentially “astonishing theft,” raising fresh pressure on “fair use” arguments. Publishing Industry Watch: Kenya’s publishers are urging the government to release accurate Grade 11 enrollment data and clear Sh7bn in pending bills so textbooks can be printed on time. Community Reading: Prince Avenue Academy welcomed Supa Nova creator Chante Timothy for workshops and a student signing, spotlighting how author visits can spark kids’ writing and illustration. Travel Scams: A San Diego family reports a horror-story Airbnb rental with AI-looking photos and unsafe, broken conditions—another reminder to verify listings beyond the screen. Royal Drama: Earl Spencer’s upcoming Diana memoir “Swan Song” keeps the royal feud boiling, with Buckingham Palace issuing a pointed response.

AI & Law: Retired judges warn that overreliance on AI could erode the rule of law and lead to miscarriages of justice, urging careful governance rather than blind adoption. Tech Policy: A new analysis argues calls for a frontier AI slowdown are “strange yet overblown,” saying the real fix is hardening systems—authentication, permissions, and cybersecurity—while keeping U.S. momentum. Publishing & Royals: Salman Rushdie will receive a National Book Award medal for lifetime achievement, while Earl Spencer’s latest Diana-related book feud escalates with fresh “gaslighting” claims. Libraries & Access: UC libraries cut hours and student hiring as budgets tighten, and a Canadian language school abruptly shuts down, leaving students stranded. Publishing Industry: Sharjah Booksellers Conference opens with 912 publishers and booksellers from 99 countries, focusing on getting books to readers amid e-commerce and digital shifts. Books & Culture: A Halloween Poe/Sleepy Hollow speakeasy pops up in Philadelphia, and a new Drouin bookstore, Pages HQ, launches with local-author programming.

Publishing & Books in the Spotlight: A new Miss Marple novel, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, arrives Sept. 22 with Lucy Foley’s authorized collaboration sparking debate among Christie purists. Festivals & Community Reading: Eastbourne LitFest is set for Sept. 25–27 with 40+ events, including Jacqueline Wilson and school poetry performances. Local Book Culture: St Helens’ community shop The Book Stop hosts crime writer Conrad Jones on Sept. 26, while libraries across the UK and beyond keep rolling out author visits and reading events. Retail & Policy: Amazon in France has dropped free delivery and the 5% discount for new books sent to automated lockers, citing a dispute over compliance with the Darcos law. Books Meet Big Screen: Mike Flanagan’s Carrie reimagining debuts as a new TV series, and the film Tula Pahta streams on Amazon Prime after its theatrical run. Rights & Access: UNC Chapel Hill faces fresh pressure via CarolinaFlu.org to investigate its COVID-19 research links.

AI Regulation: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an order pushing California to speed up AI-safety oversight, including a possible “kill switch” and earlier independent audits, framing federal inaction as the reason to move now. Publishing & Royalties: A Manhattan judge let authors’ textbook royalty lawsuit against McGraw-Hill move forward, ruling a jury could find a contract breach. Book Bans & School Censorship: Cobb County schools removed Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye from media centers while still posting an excerpt online, sparking parent backlash; elsewhere, Burton district banned Cat in the Hat costumes after a TikTok-driven creepiness scare. Literary Culture & Events: Orange County’s free children’s book festival returns Sept. 20 at Orange Coast College, and Stephen King’s birthday weekend kicks off in Bangor with a Pennywise book party and film festival. New Releases: Victoria Aveyard debuts adult fantasy Tempest; R.F. Kuang’s Taipei Story lands on bestseller lists; and George W. Bush’s next book pairs 44 portraits of political prisoners with an exhibition. Reading for Real Life: A new review highlights recreational reading’s links to better memory and executive function, while a separate piece urges “bookmaxxing” by treating reading like a fun workout.

Community & Care: Florida’s Family Vibes Baby Expo (Sept. 19–20) spotlights The Crowned Assignment, a maternal wellness network focused on Black maternal health, postpartum support, and mental health. Memoir & Family History: ECU and North Carolina Literary Review host Rebecca McClanahan for a free reading from her memoir “Light Falls on Everything,” about caregiving, loss, and grief’s long shadow. Literacy as Making: At Lincoln Elementary’s Family Literacy Night, author-illustrator Pedro Martín (Mexikid) led families in creating mini “zines” as small memoirs. Local Reading Initiatives: Waukesha Reads kicks off Sunday with “33 Place Brugmann,” plus brewery and genealogy events. Publishing Industry Watch: HarperCollins confirms it will stop selling/reprinting David Walliams’s children’s back catalogue, with digital formats expected to follow. Book Culture & Events: Sharjah Booksellers Conference opens with a keynote from Sheikha Bodour and a heavy focus on AI-driven sales and print demand. Children’s & Homeschooling: Swanton author Becky Rupp releases the third edition of “Home Learning Year by Year,” expanding curriculum ideas from preschool through high school. Royal/Media Buzz: A new wave of attention surrounds Earl Spencer’s Diana-related book claims, with fresh pushback from royal voices.

Book-to-Community Events: Sarasota County Libraries’ Off The Page celebration is bringing big-name authors Anthony Horowitz, Brad Meltzer, Nathaniel Philbrick and Kate Quinn to town starting Nov. 1, with free programming across branches. Representation in Publishing: Toronto’s new micro-publisher/bookstore Sick Stories is opening in a gallery space with titles by and for disabled readers and writers. Library Policy & Censorship: Cobb County schools removed Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye from middle/high library shelves after a review flagged sexually explicit passages, including incest and rape. Literary Awards: The Montana Historical Society launched the Montana Headwaters Book Prize for Montana history nonfiction, with submissions open through Jan. 31, 2027. Author Leadership: PEN America named prize-winning author Phil Klay as its new president amid ongoing Israel-Hamas-related rifts. Reading Access: Tuolumne County Library is still accepting donations for its fall book sale fundraiser through Oct. 15. Tech & Reading Culture: A North Dakota museum review argues AI-heavy exhibits can overwhelm visitors, raising questions about how tech should (and shouldn’t) shape museum/library experiences.

Climate & Books: Kim Stanley Robinson says he won’t read aloud the opening chapter of The Ministry for the Future—a heat-wave scene in northern India that he calls “too harsh,” after the book’s grim realism struck a nerve with readers. Publishing & Culture: The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2026 runs through Sept. 18 with Menassah Distribution Company backing 75 Emirati publishers, featuring 1,004 titles and 8,500 books, plus a new distribution agreement with TRENDS Research & Advisory. Libraries & Reading Access: Library Card Sign-Up Month spotlights how one card can unlock eBooks, audiobooks, tech, genealogy tools, and local attractions. Local Literary Life: A used bookstore, Twice Told Books, is opening in Ashburn, with plans for events like author readings and signings. First Amendment/Book Sales: A Texas bookseller running for office cites court fights over school-book restrictions and argues the fight for sellers’ rights is far from over. Royal/Books in the News: Palace officials respond to claims tied to Earl Spencer’s Princess Diana memoir, keeping publishing drama in the headlines.

NCAA Rules Fallout: The NCAA says Michigan’s controversial final play vs Western Michigan “should never have happened,” citing replay protocol not properly followed—though it also says it can’t overturn the result. Royal Books & Claims: Buckingham Palace issued a rare response to allegations in Charles Spencer’s upcoming Diana-related book, pushing back with a statement about grief clouding memory. Publishing & Reading Culture: Wigtown Book Festival returns with 250+ events (Sept. 25–Oct. 4), while Bookshop Santa Cruz marks Jonathan Franzen’s “The Corrections” 25th anniversary with a big author event. Author Spotlights: Rebecca Hardy discusses her debut “The Summer We Lied,” and Meg Clothier shares how Somerset landscapes shaped her latest historical fiction. Industry Watch: A state watchdog says California high-speed rail consultants racked up hundreds of thousands in unapproved, unallowable travel expenses. Kids & Literacy: Trinidad and Tobago’s minister urges parents to keep books central as digital habits grow.

Book World & Publishing Deals: HarperCollins is handing out £21,000 to indie bookshops via its National Year of Reading nominations, while Barnes & Noble’s acquisition of Joseph-Beth Booksellers keeps reshaping the US retail map. Author Spotlight: Zadie Smith will deliver the Abbey Theatre’s T.S. Eliot Lecture 2026 on Sally Rooney, and Bonnie Greer—playwright, novelist, critic—has died at 77. Reading as Culture: Cities in Fiction launches a public-facing archive that helps readers pinpoint real places referenced in Indian literature, listing nearly 700 books. Children’s Books: Julia Donaldson’s Gruffalo Granny returns to the deep dark wood, and a new bilingual magazine edition from Printed Word Reviews aims to bring Hispanic Heritage Month storytelling to Spanish-speaking readers. Crime & Festivals: Bloody Scotland opens Sept. 18 with Denise Mina curating big names across crime fiction. Book News Beyond Books: Earl Charles Spencer’s Princess Diana memoir Swan Song: Diana, My Sister has copies stolen in a Netherlands lorry raid days before release. Tech/Media Tie-ins: The Cartoon Saloon adaptation Julián brings Jessica Love’s mermaid-loving story to the Latino community of Brooklyn.

Book Theft & Royal Memoir: Charles Spencer’s highly personal Diana memoir, Swan Song, reportedly had four copies stolen from a Dutch lorry days before publication, prompting a police investigation. Author Spotlight & Cultural Exchange: Irish writer Danielle McLaughlin visited Korea for a workshop at Korea University, sharing how Han Kang’s We Do Not Part shaped her trip and her approach to writing. Crime/Publishing on Screen: A Talent for Murder reviews frame Helen Mirren as Patricia Highsmith’s genius crime-writer alter ego in a literary-biography thriller built around Highsmith’s work. Wellness Industry Under Fire: Journalist Annette McGivney’s Plastic Shaman revisits a deadly Sedona retreat that used a fake sweat lodge, calling out how “spiritual” marketing can mask harm. AI & Copyright: Databricks and authors suing over AI training arguments are trading claims in a California federal court fight over whether using books counts as fair use. Publishing & Community: The Arab Book Award and the Arab Publishers Union signed a cooperation agreement to expand events, seminars, and professional exchanges across Arabic-language publishing. Reading for Pleasure Research: A Cambridge review links reading for pleasure to better cognition and mental health, while noting declining reading habits among teens. Dark Patterns in Ride Booking: India’s CCPA fined Rapido ₹10 lakh over “confirm shaming” prompts that pressure riders to pay more after booking. Book-to-Screen Buzz: A roundup highlights upcoming adaptations readers are excited to watch, including The Love Hypothesis on Prime Video.

Retail Deal: Barnes & Noble has agreed to buy Joseph-Beth Booksellers’ two locations in Cincinnati and Lexington, keeping the stores’ independent branding, Bronte Bistro restaurants, and community programming intact. Author Spotlight: Edinburgh business coach Anna Campbell’s Good Girl Rebellion is shortlisted for the 2026 Business Book Awards, arguing that “being good” can trap capable women into undercharging and overworking. New Releases & Buzz: Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party opens with a shock—spring after a U.S. collapse—and imagines a country splintered by civil war and totalitarian rule. Publishing & Culture: The British Museum has reversed its Bayeux Tapestry photography rules, while conservators report two new small breaks found after the tapestry’s arrival. Education & Access: PEN America says book bans are increasingly targeting nonfiction, with 2024–25 hitting thousands of incidents across states and districts. Tech & Travel: China’s regulator warned hotel booking platforms against exclusive deals and “lowest price” requirements that could distort competition.

True-Crime Spotlight: Kate Winkler Dawson’s “The Sinners All Bow” revisits the Sarah Cornell case that inspired “The Scarlet Letter,” using modern methods to chase answers in a decades-old mystery. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Helen Mirren’s “A Talent for Murder” (Patricia Highsmith-inspired) lands as a sleek literary noir about authorship, obsession, and publishing games. AI & Reading Culture: A new “Pick a Book” push argues the “human edge” matters more than ever as AI changes how people discover stories. Parenting & Memoir: Lisa Katayama’s “The Japanese Way of Parenting” turns a government maternity planner into a practical guide for raising calm, capable kids. Publishing Industry Move: UK crime writer Roshan Pitteea launches Gris Gris Publishing to keep creative control while backing new voices. Censorship Watch: Florida reports nearly 600 books removed, restricted, or discontinued in 2025–26, with major titles among those challenged. Local Community Reading: Island Books announces another Fall Author Festival featuring a dozen-plus authors. Health Policy: Alberta says it’s keeping a $100 COVID vaccine fee but will waive it for seniors as it gears up for fall influenza and respiratory campaigns.

Children’s Publishing & Literacy: First Book and One Word at a Time are launching “Story Showdown,” a new online game show hosted by Kwame Alexander with authors Jerry Craft, Jennifer L. Holm and Tiffany D. Jackson, premiering Sept. 22 on the First Book Community Platform. Author News (Pop Culture): Kentucky author Kim Michele Richardson says Dolly Parton wrote and recorded a 15-song album inspired by Richardson’s novel The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek—unreleased so far, but possibly coming. New Orleans Comics: A new biography, “Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions,” revisits the life and mythmaking of the late New Orleans cartoonist behind Vic and Nat’ly. YA/Children’s Books: A 15-year-old baseball player turned his stutter into a children’s book, “Finding My Voice,” aiming to help kids embrace speech differences. Publishing Industry: Faber has acquired Lillian Fishman’s Women and Children in an eight-way auction. Book Culture & Events: Kildare Readers Festival returns Oct. 1–11 with panels, author talks and children’s workshops, including comic creation and Roald Dahl Story Day programming. International Rights: John Green’s new adult novel “Hollywood, Final” is set for a Belarusian release on Sept. 22. Publishing & War Impact: Ukraine’s Kharkiv Literary Fair highlights how Russian attacks have damaged warehouses and printing capacity, threatening book sales and production.

Abu Dhabi Book Fair: The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair opened under the UAE president’s patronage, with a “Turn The Page, Read The World” theme and participation from 95 countries, including Qatar, as organizers push publishing, translation, and youth programming through Sept. 18. Arabic Books Abroad: Sharjah Book Authority signed a Russia-focused partnership to expand Arabic book reach via fairs, literary events, translation, and rights exchanges. New Fiction Spotlight: Chloe Benjamin’s “Understory” is named a Good Morning America Book Club pick for September, blending science, love, and grief with a mysterious Antarctic phenomenon. Reading Anxiety Research: A new study links reading ability to later reading anxiety, adding urgency to how early learning support is designed. Publishing & Adaptations: Elizabeth Day’s thriller “The Party” is getting a five-part ITV series, with Day calling the adaptation nearly a decade in the making. Book-to-Screen Romance Boom: Prime Video’s latest romance thriller “Drawn Together” hit No. 1 globally, underscoring how book-to-screen romance is driving streaming. True Crime Book Talk: A writer revisits why she chose to publish “BOGEYMAN,” centering on a detective’s case and the uncomfortable boundaries of true crime.

Global Publishing & Fairs: The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair opened at ADNEC under “Let’s turn the page and read the world,” with 95 countries, 1,500+ events, and Balkan Culture as Guest of Honour. Arab-Russia Literary Links: Sharjah Book Authority signed an MoU with a Russian fairs directorate to expand book-fair cooperation and boost translation and publishing rights exchange. Middle-Grade Mystery: J.C. Moran’s “Crazy Eights” follows Myla as she investigates secretive neighbors and a missing map, mixing curiosity, immigration interviews, and kid-friendly clues. Book-to-Stage/Screen Buzz: “I Play Rocky” lands as a crowd-pleasing biopic of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky fight for approval, with Anthony Ippolito praised for nailing the vibe. Local Book Culture: Exclusive Books marks its 75th anniversary by folding it into Homebru, spotlighting South African authors and releases throughout September. Reading & Learning: Ohio University’s CTLA is running fall 2026 book groups on teaching with AI and joyful online instruction.