AGP Executive Report

Comics Go Global: Emirati writer Noora Al Awadi took her comics to New York Comic Con, using playful characters to introduce international readers to UAE culture and challenge stereotypes. AI’s Publishing Challenge: Bonnie Garmus called AI “grand scale theft,” as debate over authorship grows: a South African writer says she produced 370 books in 20 months with AI, while a Chinese recall over AI-generated illustrations highlights quality concerns. Big Book Business: Sarah J. Maas’s next A Court of Thorns and Roses novel reportedly sold 1.7 million copies on release day, while Colombia is seeing a book-club boom. Publishing Voices: Sharjah International Book Fair programming is exploring the journey from idea to reader, and experts are highlighting Arabic content’s global potential.**

Sharjah Publishing: A Sharjah Book Authority and NYU programme brought 200 publishers together to explore translation, audio, social media and international rights, as the Sharjah International Publishers Conference prepares to open on Nov. 1. Publishing Rights: Publishers are voicing outrage over book sales to Anthropic, renewing concerns about how works are used in AI development. Big Sales: Sarah J. Maas’s sixth A Court of Thorns and Roses book set a release-day record, selling 1.7 million copies. Author Alert: Writers are receiving convincing scam pitches by the dozen; a new guide urges them to check offers carefully. Readers and Representation: Colombia is seeing a book-club boom, while more Indigenous authors and illustrators are creating stories that reflect Indigenous children’s lives.

AI & Authors: Writers say unreliable AI detectors are falsely flagging human-written work, while authors are also being targeted with convincing scam pitches. Publishers face a wider copyright debate, with UK budget plans funding £15 million in children’s books but offering no resolution on AI use of copyrighted work. Book Market: Sarah J. Maas’s sixth A Court of Thorns and Roses book reportedly sold 1.7 million copies on release day, a record that highlights romantasy’s commercial power as publishers look to turn reader fandom into revenue beyond books. Publishing Policy: Ghana’s Publishers Association says weak national book policy and copyright enforcement are holding back the sector. Censorship & Solidarity: Sally Rooney’s books have been banned following her support for a pro-Palestinian group; two authors are donating royalties to her in response.

AI and Publishing: Publishers say AI content-retrieval tools are already eating into their businesses, a court was told. UK publishers have also urged the government to challenge Meta’s use of their work to train AI models; the latest budget set aside £15 million for children’s books but offered no copyright measures. Sales and Speech: Sally Rooney has halted UK book sales over concerns that royalties could expose her to legal risk because of her support for Palestine Action. Children’s laureates in Wales and Ireland plan to donate royalties to her. New Markets: Romance publishers are looking to turn readers’ fandom into revenue beyond book sales, while independent Welsh publishers are finding success in niche markets. AI Book Boom: South African author Coral Hart is defending her use of AI after publishing 370 books in 20 months.

Book Availability: Faber has stopped selling Sally Rooney’s books in the UK because it cannot legally transfer royalties to the group she pledged to support. The decision is by her publisher, not a government ban. AI and Copyright: Publishers are protesting Anthropic’s use of books, while UK budget plans offer £15 million for children’s books but leave AI copyright unresolved. Publishers in Seoul also gathered to debate AI’s impact on the industry. Reading Initiatives: New Zealand bookshops and libraries are teaming up to spotlight one homegrown book each month. Industry Strains: Catapult Books’ closure has renewed concern about pressure on independent publishers, as Japan’s weekly Sunday Mainichi prepares to end publication after more than a century. AI Authorship: South African writer Coral Hart is defending her rapid output of AI-assisted romance books, adding to debate over how AI is changing authorship and the market.

New Zealand Book Campaign: Bookshops and libraries will join forces from Nov. 1 to spotlight one homegrown title each month, using free promotional materials, advertising and book-club guides to help readers find local books. Copyright & AI: Publishers are urging a US court to reject OpenAI’s fair-use defense, while a new survey reports more illustrators losing work to generative AI. The UK budget pledged £15 million for children’s books but left AI copyright unresolved. Bookselling: UK bookshops say business-rates reforms offer only limited relief. Literary Rights: ICA is bringing book rights in-house with a new appointment and has also recruited an agent.

Publishing Leadership: Bloomsbury UK adult consumer editor-in-chief Paul Baggaley is retiring after 40 years, opening one of the industry’s most senior editorial roles. Rights & Acquisitions: Publishers are betting on fantasy and romance, with new deals spanning sapphic dark fantasy, a queer Persuasion retelling, romantasy, Vietnamese historical fantasy and spy romance. ICA is also bringing book-rights management in-house. AI & Policy: The UK Budget sets aside £15m for children’s books but says nothing on AI copyright. Publishers want ministers to back action over Meta’s plans to use their content to train AI models; Asian publishers also met in Seoul to debate AI’s impact on books. Independent Publishing: Former Affirm Press colleagues have launched Manuka Books, while ACE and Inpress will fund places for 12 small publishers at London Book Fair 2027. Reader Demand: Romance publishers are looking to turn fandom into revenue beyond books, as puzzle-book sales grow on demand for escapist reading.

Romantasy Boom: Sarah J. Maas’s new A Court of Splintered Harmony sent fans rushing to bookshops: one UK store sold out 220 party tickets in 13 minutes, while Maas’s linked fantasy series have sold more than 75 million copies. Independent Bookshops: Persephone Books has returned to London with a new shop, giving readers a fresh home for its distinctive list. Publishing Business: The sale of Catapult Books has left authors and staff facing uncertainty, highlighting the strain on a prominent literary publisher. AI and Authorship: South African writer Coral Hart is defending her AI-assisted output of 370 books in 20 months, as publishers explore “human-made” labels and ways to identify AI-written titles. Policy: The UK Budget includes £15 million for children’s books, but offers no clarity on copyright and AI.

Book Festivals: Atlanta’s 35th annual Jewish book festival will bring 22 days of author events, including talks by Jill Biden and Harry Connick Jr. New Releases: Hong Kong has launched three illustrated children’s books on national security, while Sarah J. Maas’s latest ACOTAR novel drew midnight crowds at Australian bookshops. Publishing Moves: Joffe Books named Billy Lindon its Choc Lit commissioning editor, Canelo acquired a two-book horror deal, and former Affirm Press colleagues launched Manuka Books. AI and Publishing: South African author Coral Hart is defending her AI-assisted output of 370 books in 20 months, as Bloomsbury says it does not want AI-written books; Australian publishers are also weighing how to identify AI-generated work. Industry Pressures: Catapult Books’ sale has left authors and staff facing uncertainty, while romance publishers are looking to turn readers’ fandom into revenue beyond book sales.

Publishing Under Fire: Russian forces struck a publisher’s warehouse in Kharkiv, renewing concern over damage to Ukraine’s publishing infrastructure. Bestseller Watch: Jeff Kinney’s latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid book has hit number one in the charts. AI and Authorship: South African author Coral Hart defended producing 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months after reportedly selling a million copies; publishers are also weighing how to identify AI-written work, with Bloomsbury saying it does not want AI-written books. Reader Revenue: Publishers are looking beyond book sales to monetize romance readers’ powerful fandom. Industry Shake-up: Catapult Books is being sold, leaving authors and staff facing uncertainty over its Spring 2027 list. Literary Loss: Manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, creator of Ashita no Joe, has died at 87.

Publishing Policy: Sabah’s government says it will develop the state’s book industry by supporting local writers and promoting Malay-language works amid the rise of AI and digital media. AI and Authorship: South African author Coral Hart defended producing 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, intensifying debate over authorship, trust and human-made labels. Industry Shifts: Catapult Books’ sale has left authors and staff facing uncertainty over its spring 2027 list, while publishers continue to grapple with AI’s role. Reader Markets: Publishers are looking to turn romance readers’ strong fandom into new revenue beyond books; in China, Anne Carson’s Nobel win has sparked a rush of interest in her work. New Books: Researchers Victoria Hallinan and Alark Joshi shared advice from their guide to postdoctoral careers, covering job searches, publishing papers, grants and burnout.

AI and Authorship: South African writer Coral Hart says she has published more than 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, defending her workflow despite intense criticism and death threats. Publishing Disputes: Penguin Random House’s planned book on Palestinian history was pulled after its authors objected to edits they say were made without their approval. Industry Shake-up: A bankruptcy court approved a settlement allowing 13 comic publishers, including Dark Horse and Oni Press, to reclaim inventory held at a Diamond Comics warehouse for over a year; the deal clears a path for some stock to reach retailers, but leaves publishers with losses. Publishing Careers: Literary agent Henry Dunow told a court that unproven sexual-assault allegations derailed author Steven Galloway’s promising career; Galloway denies the allegations and is suing for defamation. Publisher Sale: Catapult’s sale leaves authors and staff facing uncertainty over its spring 2027 books.

Reading Culture: Malaysia’s FINCO says its Book Buddies pilot raised participating pupils’ enjoyment of reading from 68.7% to 93.8%, while boosting confidence in discussing stories. AI and Authorship: South African author Coral Hart’s claim to have published 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months has intensified debate over authorship; publishers are also leaning on trust and “human-made” labels to distinguish books. Copyright Battles: A British Columbia professor has sued OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged use of copyrighted textbooks, adding to growing legal pressure over AI training. Publishing Under Strain: Catapult’s sale leaves its authors and staff facing uncertainty over Spring 2027 titles, while Google’s AI search changes are disrupting online publishing. Industry Shifts: A new French literary prize will recognize books written with AI, as the Book Industry Study Group prepares to recalibrate.

New Acquisitions: Yen Press announced 10 manga, light novel and audiobook titles at MCM London Comic Con, with releases planned from April 2027. Publishing Leadership: Women make up 68% of respondents to the UK’s latest publishing workforce survey, but remain concentrated in HR and communications as representation at the top fluctuates. AI and Authorship: South African author Coral Hart says she has published 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, intensifying debate as publishers turn to “human-made” labels and trust-based checks. Independent Publishing: Catapult Books is being sold, leaving authors concerned about the future of its spring 2027 titles and staff. Book Censorship: Sally Rooney’s books were withdrawn from sale in the UK over links to Palestine Action, prompting protests from fellow writers and a surge in reader interest.

AI and Authorship: A literary prize-winning novel’s Madrid launch was cancelled after detection software flagged it as 99% AI-generated; publisher Almadía has paused events and is reviewing the manuscript. The case lands amid debate over AI-written books, including a South African author’s defence of publishing 370 AI-assisted titles in 20 months. Publishing Business: Catapult Books is being sold, leaving its authors and staff facing uncertainty ahead of spring 2027. Book Access: Sally Rooney’s books have drawn a rush of UK readers after sales were halted over the author’s links to Palestine Action; actors and writers have rallied behind her. Reading Culture: Malaysia’s National Library plans broader partnerships with publishers, schools and communities to promote reading and information literacy during October Reading Month.

Publishing Shake-up: Catapult Books’ sale has left its spring 2027 titles and staff in transition, as authors mourn the loss of a distinctive Los Angeles literary publisher. AI and Authorship: Publishers are relying on trust to identify human-made books as debate grows over a South African author’s 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months. A South Korean bookstore also rejected a 100,000-book order from a buyer identified only as a data company. Support for Independents: Arts Council England and Inpress will fund places for 12 small publishers at London Book Fair 2027. Global Comics: Creators at SACC shared lessons on taking regional stories to readers around the world.