AGP Executive Report

Publishing in Vietnam: Young readers are embracing digital literature, with e-book titles up 49.3% in 2025 and online visits rising 66.7%. Writers say social platforms are helping new voices find audiences, while AI raises questions about creative work. Book Fair: Sharjah’s international fair runs Nov. 4–15, bringing 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries and 1,500 events. UK Book Trade: Sally Rooney’s publisher has withdrawn her books from UK sale over her support for Palestine Action; Rooney says the move means she can no longer publish there. New Deals: Transworld has acquired Jamie Scallion’s debut thriller and sequel, while Penguin has signed BookTok creator Abby Dewsnup for two YA horror-romance novels. Industry Moves: Books PR agency FMcM named Ned Green its new head of campaigns and promoted Rosie Penny to marketing executive.

Book-Cover Debate: A cover for Assad Shoman’s history of Belize has drawn accusations of racist imagery; Shoman says it reproduces a 1907 colonial coat of arms and is meant to confront colonialism. UK Book Market: Sally Rooney and publisher Faber have agreed to withdraw her books from UK sales, saying a legal ban on passing her earnings to her over support for Palestine Action makes continued sales untenable. Author Support: Tulsa KnightWriters’ Oct. 17 conference will offer craft and publishing workshops, plus chances to pitch work to a publisher. Bookselling: Toronto bookseller Ben McNally won the Toronto International Festival of Authors’ Ivy Award, becoming its first bookseller recipient. Publishing Deals: Tor Wildthorn has acquired Chloe Gong’s speculative love story in a two-book deal. Global Reach: Sharjah International Book Fair is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries.

Publishing Deals: Tor’s Wildthorn imprint has acquired Chloe Gong’s speculative love story How Does It End? in a two-book deal. Jeffrey Archer’s final novel has become an instant bestseller following his death. Books and Readers: Teen Vogue and Wattpad are teaming up to publish original short fiction in daily installments, while the Crossword Book Awards have announced shortlists across five categories. Global Book Trade: Sharjah International Book Fair says its 2026 event will bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries. Writers at Work: Belfast author Jan Carson says collaboration with No Alibis Press helped bring her new micro-fiction collection to life; crime writer Neil Walker is also returning with two connected novels, published a week apart. AI and Publishing: Authors and publishing staff are raising concerns about AI use behind the scenes, as debate continues over copyright and the role of artists in the industry.

Publishing & AI: Hachette’s CEO says he writes his own emails, warning that AI shortcuts can make for a “worse C-suite.” New Fiction: Cache Valley author JoLynne Lyon draws on her journalism background for The Madres Deal, a mystery about a woman whose unusual gift helps her search for a missing girl. Reading & Community: A 10-year-old in Ohio has opened a Little Free Library at a cancer support center, offering families a welcoming place to find books. Ottawa’s Jewish Book Festival is also expanding in its second year, with author talks and cultural events. Awards & Sales: The 2026 Crossword Book Awards announced shortlists across five categories, while Jeffrey Archer’s final novel reportedly sold nearly 28,000 copies within days of release. Global Publishing: Sharjah International Book Fair 2026 is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors.

New Fiction: Louise Kennedy’s Stations and Barbara Kingsolver’s Partita are winning praise, while today’s releases include new books by Bonnie Garmus, Yiyun Li, Joy Harjo and M. John Harrison. Publishing Deals: 3AM Books has acquired Rachel Rowlinson’s literary horror debut Seastroke, after her Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize shortlist; Century also won Katya Balen’s thriller debut in a six-figure, five-way auction. AI & Publishing: Publishers face accusations of using AI behind the scenes even as authors are scrutinized for AI-written books, prompting staff pushback. Books on Screen: Tubi’s 2027 adaptation of R.L. Stine’s The Babysitter will be its first project with the author based on a full novel. Louise Willder’s The Book Was Better takes a playful look at why readers debate adaptations.

Publishing’s Next Wave: Liu Cixin says AI could shape Earth’s future beyond humanity, as The Three-Body Problem marks 20 years since serialization and its author reflects on becoming a global publishing phenomenon. Enduring Crime: Agatha Christie’s books have sold about 2 billion copies, and a new British Library exhibition will showcase her manuscripts, notebooks and typewriter. Manga Expansion: Marvel and Kadokawa are bringing five heroes—including Spider-Man, Venom and Deadpool—to new Japanese manga series, extending the companies’ collaboration. New Fantasy: Jesse Q. Sutanto’s dark fantasy debut, An Edge Sharp Enough, is due Nov. 17, opening a duology about lost magic and a world in danger. Children’s Books: New Zealand awards organizers are seeking judges for their 2027 prizes, with applications open through Nov. 2. Publishing and AI: Publishers’ use of AI is drawing scrutiny, while the technology is also changing audiobook production economics. Readers and Retail: Romance and fantasy publishers drew a bigger presence at New York Comic Con, where some advance copies disappeared within an hour.

Book Rights: Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission ruled that Customs’ continued detention of 222 copies of two Tamil-language books violates author B. Piratheepan’s fundamental rights, after agencies failed to establish clear authority for the seizure. Publishing Scandal: French novelist Thélyson Orélien’s acclaimed, fast-selling novel faces an AI-authorship allegation sparked by an anonymous social-media post; the claim has not been established. New Deal: Canelo acquired a three-book espionage thriller series by former GCHQ director David Omand. Frankfurt Book Fair: Lawyer and author Philippe Sands received the German Book Trade’s Peace Prize for his human-rights work, using his speech to criticize Germany’s response to Israel’s actions. Adaptation News: Disney is developing an animated Artemis Fowl series, with author Eoin Colfer as an executive producer; the books have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. Publisher Revenue: Industry experts say FAST streaming channels and digital out-of-home screens could give publishers new advertising income from video content.

Publishing and AI: Publishers are pushing back against AI-generated “slop” while reportedly using AI on book covers, sharpening debate over how the technology should fit into publishing. Adaptation News: Disney has ordered an animated Artemis Fowl series for Disney+ and Disney Channel, with author Eoin Colfer as an executive producer; the books have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. Global Books: Industry coverage highlights concerns that international publishers are overlooking Arabic books, while Chinese publishers used the Frankfurt Book Fair to promote titles to Indonesian partners. Awards and Access: Tayari Jones’s Kin won the 2026 Kirkus Prize for fiction, worth $50,000; meanwhile, PEN America reported a record number of school book bans, with Texas accounting for more than 8,000 titles.

Festival Circuit: Booker winners Kiran Desai and Damon Galgut will headline November’s Shillong Literary Festival, which will also spotlight storytelling from Meghalaya and emerging writers. Book Awards: Literary Titan honored R. Luce’s identity-focused novella Uncommon Strangers and Dr. Katherine E.A. Korkidis’s children’s science adventure about Rosalind Franklin. Translation & Rights: At Frankfurt, Cairo publisher Sherif Bakr says foreign publishers often overlook Arabic books; the Arab Voices platform now showcases 200 titles from 22 countries. Publishing Watch: Reports of publishers using more AI have sparked staff resistance, while Century bought a debut thriller after a five-way auction.

Memoir Milestone: Trevor Noah’s 10th-anniversary edition of Born a Crime adds a new epilogue; Noah says readers’ personal connections to the memoir have been its biggest gift. True Crime: Eve Lazarus will revisit the unsolved 1996 murders of a mother and daughter in her upcoming Cold Case Canada, and is seeking memories from people who knew them. Global Publishing: Around 170 Chinese publishing institutions are at the Frankfurt Book Fair, promoting translations and pursuing international rights and partnerships. Industry Watch: Publishers are quietly increasing their use of AI, prompting staff resistance. Book Access: PEN America reports nearly 12,000 US school book bans in 2025–26, the highest total since 2021, with Texas accounting for more than 8,000. Literary Prize: Tayari Jones’s Kin won the 2026 Kirkus Prize for fiction, worth $50,000. New Deal: Century acquired Katya Balen’s debut thriller in a six-figure, five-way auction.

Literary Prize: Tayari Jones’s Kin won the 2026 Kirkus Prize for fiction, earning a $50,000 award. Book Bans: PEN America says school book bans hit a record, with Texas accounting for more than 8,000 titles; librarians also warn that “soft censorship” can restrict access. Publishing and AI: Publishers are adopting AI tools as staff push back, while recent acquisitions show continued appetite for genre fiction: Century bought Katya Balen’s debut thriller in a six-figure auction, and Penguin Michael Joseph signed two romance authors. Books Across Borders: Chinese titles are drawing interest from Indonesian publishers, while Belarusian literature publisher Jarosław Iwaniuk says Russia is seeking him at Belarus’s request. Reading and Community: CBC Books has published a 25-title fall list spanning fiction, nonfiction and YA; Houston’s National Black Book Festival, set for Oct. 22–24, will feature more than 120 authors and workshops on publishing and promotion.

AI in Publishing: HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette are reportedly using AI for tasks including marketing copy, cover art and agent emails, while staff raise concerns about its use behind the scenes. Awards: Tayari Jones’ Kin won the 2026 Kirkus Prize for fiction, taking home $50,000; National Book Award finalists also drew attention for stories of identity, justice and war. New Deals: Century bought a debut thriller by Katya Balen for six figures after a five-way auction, while Penguin Michael Joseph signed two romance authors. Comics: Grant Morrison will write IDW’s new James Bond series, beginning with the six-part Sunbreaker; IDW Dark also announced comics based on Blumhouse films. Global Charts: Manga swept Japan’s Book Hot 100 top 10, led by World Trigger Vol. 30. Book Access: Banned Books Week spotlights growing challenges to school collections, while independent bookstores mark Bookshop Day with events and deals.

Publishing Deals: Penguin Michael Joseph acquired Devney Perry’s dark-academia romance and Annelise Fox’s ocean-set fantasy, while Zaffre picked up MC Cunningham’s revenge-thriller debut. Literary Honors: Tayari Jones won the Kirkus Prize for fiction, and National Book Award finalists include writers tackling identity, justice and war. The Booker Prize Foundation and the University of East Anglia launched a full scholarship in memory of a literary champion. Reading Access: Nearly 12,000 books were banned in U.S. public schools during the 2025–26 school year, renewing calls to defend the freedom to read. Industry News: Bulgaria showcased its contemporary literature and publishing sector at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Bookselling: Independent shop Flirtatious Fiction marked Bookshop Day with discounts and community events. Author News: Bestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer died aged 86, just before his final novel was released.

Literature: Canadian poet and translator Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for reshaping classical traditions into inventive contemporary writing. Publishing & Rights: Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist, has died aged 86. Bookshop.org has launched audiobooks that let independent bookstores keep the full profit, while UK book-market revenue rose 1.5%, with fiction driving international growth. Book Bans: U.S. schools banned nearly 12,000 books in 2025–26, the highest total since 2021, according to PEN America. Awards: Tayari Jones’s novel Kin won the Kirkus Prize for fiction and its $50,000 award; National Book Award finalists include writers exploring identity, justice and war. Global Books: Bulgaria is showcasing contemporary titles and publishing opportunities at the Frankfurt Book Fair, alongside Hungary’s literary programme.

New Releases: Autumn’s children’s books bring gentle ghost stories, playful picture books and new adventures for young readers. Bestsellers & Awards: Eden Robinson’s fantasy novel The Sorceress of Sky Serpents tops Canada’s fiction list, while Tayari Jones’s Kin wins the Kirkus fiction prize and National Book Award finalists tackle identity, justice and war. Frankfurt Book Fair: Hungary is presenting new fiction and children’s-book catalogs under a “clean slate” theme; the fair also spotlights Greek literature amid concerns over weak sales and declining literacy. Publishing Moves: Transworld has acquired Jamie Scallion’s revenge thriller Nines and its planned sequel, with Marc Forster developing a TV series; Doubleday pre-empted Danish crime novel Blue Cat, and James Patterson is teaming with Arnold Schwarzenegger on a vigilante-vicar novel. Bookshops & Readers: Bookshop.org’s audiobook service lets indie shops keep full profits, and a Bath publisher plans to open a London bookshop.

Jeffrey Archer: The bestselling novelist died aged 86, a day before his final book, Adam & Eve, reached shelves. His novels sold more than 300 million copies worldwide. Book Awards: The National Book Foundation announced its 2026 finalists and will honor Salman Rushdie. School Libraries: A report says nearly 12,000 books were banned in U.S. public schools during 2025–26, including works by Margaret Atwood and Charlotte Brontë. Thriller Deals: Publishers are competing for new fiction, with PMJ winning a four-way auction for Claire Blake’s thriller and Sphere securing a two-book deal with Monica Rodden. Book-to-Screen: Authors First, a new adaptation studio backed by $10 million, says it aims to help writers bring their books to screen faithfully.