AGP Executive Report

AI and Publishing: A Madrid launch was cancelled after detector Pangram flagged David Silva Rojas’s prize-winning novel as 99% AI-generated. Publisher Almadía has paused promotion and begun a review; the author offered to cooperate. France, meanwhile, has introduced a literary prize for AI-written fiction. Publishing Shake-up: Authors are mourning the sale of Los Angeles literary publisher Catapult. New Fiction: Haruko Ichikawa, creator of Land of the Lustrous, will launch sci-fi manga Cosmic Mimimi on November 25. Crime Fiction: Ian Rankin reflects on nearly 40 years of Inspector Rebus as a new TV series takes shape; he has also written The Heights, his first standalone thriller in two decades. Children’s Books: Eight-year-old Annika Arikoishe has published her debut, Amaya’s Happy Violin, a story about kindness, gratitude and family.

Literary Loss: Japanese novelist Ryū Murakami, whose dark, boundary-pushing fiction included Almost Transparent Blue and Audition, has died at 74. AI and Publishing: South African author Coral Hart is defending her use of AI after publishing 370 books in 20 months, while France has launched a prize for AI-written books and Harry Potter publisher says spotting AI use is difficult. Industry Watch: The sale of Catapult Books has prompted authors to mourn the loss of a major presence in Los Angeles’s literary scene. Awards: Princeton professor Beth Lew-Williams won the Cundill History Prize for John Doe Chinaman, and Pip Adam took the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction. Book Events: Bookaroo returns to Kashmir on November 1 with 22 children’s sessions; Singapore Book Street will showcase more than 1,200 local titles in November.

Literary Pairing: Marlon James and biographer Nicholas Boggs discuss life and writing as their books earn shortlisting for the Booker and Baillie Gifford prizes. Young Readers: Kyle Edwards’ Small Ceremonies is among 100 Forest of Reading finalists, with more than 250,000 readers expected to vote; Bookaroo also returns to Kashmir on November 1 with 22 children’s sessions. Regional Prizes: The East Anglian Book Awards unveiled a shortlist spanning fiction, poetry, history, memoir and children’s books. Publishing Debate: South African author Coral Hart is defending her output of 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, reigniting questions about authorship and publishing standards. Industry News: Catapult Books is being sold, prompting authors to mourn the loss of a significant part of Los Angeles’ literary scene. Coming Soon: Sonia Gandhi has shared memories of meeting Rajiv Gandhi ahead of her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, due November 10.

Children’s Books: Bookaroo returns to Srinagar on Nov. 1 with 22 sessions for children, blending storytelling, art, music and drama. AI and Publishing: South African author Coral Hart is defending her publication of 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, as France opens a literary prize to AI co-written fiction and Harry Potter publisher says spotting AI use can be difficult. Literary Loss: Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami, author of Audition and more than 40 books, has died at 74. Publishing News: Authors are mourning the sale of Catapult Books, a prominent part of Los Angeles’ literary scene. Children’s Literature: Terry Denton, the illustrator behind the bestselling 13-Storey Treehouse series, has died at 76. For Writers: The 2027 CBC Short Story Prize accepts submissions through Nov. 1; the winner gets $6,000, a residency and publication.

AI and Publishing: South African author Coral Hart says she has produced more than 370 books with AI in 20 months, defending her process amid fierce criticism and threats. Bloomsbury chief Nigel Newton says it is increasingly difficult to detect AI-written manuscripts, though the publisher does not want books written by AI; France has also launched a literary prize for AI-written fiction. Book Fairs: Singapore’s first Book Street runs Nov. 2–8, showcasing more than 1,200 titles from over 40 local publishers. In Belgrade, Clio and other publishers are again boycotting the Book Fair, citing high exhibiting costs and a lack of publisher representation in its management. Publishing Milestones: Irish bookseller Eason marks 140 years with a collection tracing the country’s literary and cultural history. Literary News: The An Post Irish Book Awards shortlist includes Maggie O’Farrell, Sally Hayden, Louise Kennedy and Vincent Browne. Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami, author of Almost Transparent Blue and Coin Locker Babies, has died aged 74.

Screen Adaptation: Amazon MGM is moving Brynne Weaver’s viral serial-killer romance Butcher & Blackbird to Prime Video, with Emma Laird and Thomas Doherty starring. Weaver self-published the novel before it became a TikTok sensation and a traditional-publishing bestseller. Book Awards: Barnes & Noble named 16 finalists for its 2026 Book of the Year, with booksellers set to choose the winner on Nov. 12. The An Post Irish Book Awards also unveiled shortlists across 19 categories, including fiction, crime and children’s books. Big Releases: Sarah J. Maas’s next A Court of Thorns and Roses novel, A Court of Splintered Harmony, arrives Oct. 27; a second installment is scheduled for January. Literary News: New Zealand writer Pip Adam won the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, while France launched a literary prize for fiction co-written with AI.

Memoir: Sonia Gandhi has revealed the first look at Belonging: A Journey of Love, her account of family, loss and life in India; Knopf publishes it Nov. 10. AI and Authorship: France’s new Prix Pascal will recognize unpublished French-language fiction co-written with AI, adding to a growing debate over how publishing should define authorship. Franchise Fiction: Veronica Roth’s new Divergent alternate-universe novel, The Sixth Faction, is prompting talk of a screen revival after she shared it with studio executives. Romantasy Buzz: Sarah J. Maas’ latest A Court of Thorns and Roses book has sparked midnight release parties and fan speculation, while the next installment is already slated for January. Literary Honors: New Zealand author Pip Adam has won the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction. Book Access: Sally Rooney’s books have been withdrawn from UK sale amid concerns about possible prosecution, as U.S. book bans reach a record high.

Book Charts: September’s Circana BookScan results put The Long-Lived King at No. 1 on the superhero graphic-novel list, with Absolute Batman and Avengers: Secret Wars also near the top; Dungeon Crawler Carl and Jujutsu Kaisen remained strong in their charts. Bestsellers: Jacob Tierney’s annotated Heated Rivalry scripts topped Canadian nonfiction lists, while Rachel Reid’s novel led the fiction list. Fantasy Adaptation: The Wingfeather Saga animated series has reached season four, with a fifth season already greenlit for 2027. New Romance: Atlanta author Lauryn Jay’s So, I Guess I’m Writing a Rom-Com follows a mystery writer tasked with writing a love story—and finding herself in one. Publishing Debate: France has launched a prize for books written with AI, while UK stores have pulled Sally Rooney’s books amid concerns about prosecution. Book Fair: Sharjah International Book Fair plans to host more than 50 Arab writers and artists from 17 countries.

AI and Authorship: Caine Prize winner Simbarashe Kundizeza denied using AI to write his story after a detector flagged nearly all of it, intensifying a debate over unreliable detection tools and accusations across publishing. New Fiction: Silas House’s The Tulip Poplars traces four lives and forbidden loves in early-20th-century Appalachia. Minnesota horror writer Erik Bilicki’s Lot Seven, published Oct. 6, launches a series set in the state’s north woods; Derry author Shauna Duffy celebrates her debut novel, Mollie Collins Is Mental. Fresh Career Turns: Broadway poster artist Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo has started a series of cozy murder mysteries set in the theatrical world of the 1970s. Literary Events: Rugby’s annual festival opens Friday with author talks, writing workshops, poetry and family activities.

Author News: Lizzo is taking her debut children’s picture book, Lil Lizzo Meets Sasha B. Flootin’, to a Decatur bookstore for a signing this week. Bethany Joy Lenz has also moved from memoir to fiction with The Betrayal of Cora Wexford, a historical mystery she says she’s wanted to write for years. Publishing Deals: Choc Lit has signed Cara Heart’s Hockey Hearts series in a five-book deal, while Pan Fiction acquired three novels by Lauren Myracle. Bookselling: A longtime team of employees has taken over Granbury’s Arts and Letters bookstore, keeping its four book clubs and reader-written recommendations at the heart of the shop. Awards: Young author Máximo César Castellanos won three medals at the International Latino Book Awards, including gold for a Spanish-to-English YA translation. Book Culture: Gemma Correll is touring with Anxietyland, her graphic novel about living with anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Publishing Deals: Choc Lit acquired German author Cara Heart’s five-book Hockey Hearts romance series, while Pan Fiction pre-empted three Gracetown novels by Lauren Myracle. Awards & Archives: Darby Ronning won the final Honey & Wax prize for a collection documenting 20th-century feminist science fiction. The British Library acquired A. S. Byatt’s archive, including drafts of Possession and The Children’s Book. Literary News: The Keep It Simple and Straight flash-fiction competition named 10 finalists for 50-word stories themed around crime, royalty, faith and justice. Book Trade: UK retailers have withdrawn Sally Rooney’s books amid legal concerns over paying royalties linked to her support for Palestine Action. Book Culture: Los Angeles’ forthcoming Genres bookshop will combine a fantasy-themed store with a hidden café and bar.

Author News: Lexicographer Susie Dent talks books, language and her two cosy crime novels; her new book, Words for Life, gathers a year’s worth of word facts. Children’s Publishing: Caymanian series Granny & Tokyo is relaunching as digital picture books, taking its island humour and folklore to readers worldwide. Screen Rights: Sony has acquired film rights to Brett Bean’s bestselling fantasy comic D’Orc, with Bean writing the screenplay. Fantasy: Brandon Sanderson says the next Mistborn trilogy will shift toward sci-fi, with an 1980s-inspired setting and spy-thriller plot. New Releases: Tina N. Shelton’s What Remains Is Grace, a return to the sisters from her debut novel, arrives Oct. 20 in paperback and audio. Publishing Debate: Sally Rooney’s books have been pulled from UK shops after publisher Faber said it could not pay her over her support for Palestine Action. Literary Awards: Canadian Jewish Literary Awards will honour works exploring migration, displacement and survival at an Oct. 25 ceremony.

Author News: New Zealand novelist Catherine Chidgey has been named an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate, recognizing a career spanning ten novels. Bestselling author Andrew Hunter Murray will discuss his latest novel, Bad Deeds, at an online members’ book club. Publishing & Censorship: Sally Rooney’s books have been withdrawn from UK sale after publisher Faber said paying her could risk prosecution over her support for Palestine Action. A new report says US school book bans hit a record high. Screen Adaptations: Paramount has put Pierce Brown’s Red Rising on the big screen, with Francis Lawrence set to direct. Children’s series Barry Loser is being developed as a 52-episode animated show, with Italian partners joining ahead of a Rome market pitch. Industry: Pan Macmillan has acquired a stake in independent nonfiction publisher New River Books. International Reach: Istanbul will host translators and publishers from nine countries to discuss bringing Turkish author Ahmet Ümit’s work to readers worldwide.

Publishing and Free Expression: Sally Rooney’s novels are being pulled from UK sale after she and publisher Faber agreed the move would avoid legal exposure over her pledged royalties to Palestine Action. Book-to-Screen: Film adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s Verity and Yu Nagira’s You, Like a Star are drawing readers back to the novels, while Paramount has put Pierce Brown’s Red Rising on the adaptation slate. Literary Awards: Edwidge Danticat’s Dèy is a National Book Award fiction finalist; Tayari Jones’s Kin has won the Kirkus Prize. Book Access: U.S. school book bans reached nearly 12,000 in 2025–26, with Texas accounting for 8,193, according to PEN America. Global Publishing: Sharjah International Book Fair plans 1,500 events with 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries.

UK Publishing Dispute: Sally Rooney’s books have been pulled from UK sale after publisher Faber said it could not pay her over her support for Palestine Action, raising fresh questions about political pressure on authors and booksellers. Book Access: U.S. book bans have reached a record high, according to a new report, with a handful of states leading the increase. New Fiction: George Saunders’s story “Appeasement, Ohio” uses a family clash over Civil War denial to probe misinformation and the damage it causes. Adaptation News: Paramount is developing Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, starting with the first book in the bestselling sci-fi series. Publishing Trade: Sharjah International Book Fair says its 2026 event will bring 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries for 1,500 events. Literary Honors: Tayari Jones’s novel Kin won the Kirkus Prize for fiction and its $50,000 award; Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet topped ABC Radio National’s poll of Australia’s 100 favourite books.

Censorship: U.S. school book bans hit a record 11,982 in 2025–26, PEN America reports, with Texas and Florida accounting for most removals. UK Bookshelves: Sally Rooney’s novels are being pulled from UK stores after publisher Faber said it cannot pay her over her support for Palestine Action. Book Fairs: Berlin’s Divan Arab Book Fair has opened with more than 110 publishers; Sharjah’s 2026 fair is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries. Adaptation News: Paramount is developing a film of Pierce Brown’s bestselling sci-fi novel Red Rising, with Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence at the helm. Publishing Deal: Pan Macmillan has acquired a stake in independent nonfiction publisher New River Books.