AGP Executive Report

Community Book Sales & Festivals: Vancouver Public Library’s Friends group is back with a second annual used book sale—50,000+ titles from $2 (Aug. 28–Sept. 1)—plus a book drive Aug. 17–27. Local Literary Events: WORDSTOCK returns Aug. 22 at Antelope Park with free books for all ages, and a Richmond Memorial Library Local Author Book Fair drew crowds for series and community reads. Publishing & Culture Funding: New Zealand literature is getting a smaller slice of Creative New Zealand funding than other arts, despite strong readership. Book-to-Stage/Screen Buzz: Irvine Welsh hopes his Trainspotting musical returns after a UK tour was cancelled for cost reasons; meanwhile, Dungeon Crawler Carl’s breakout is fueling more adaptations and related releases. Global Book News: Myanmar reportedly banned a book on trafficking of migrants into “cyberscam compounds.” War & Books: Russian strikes hit Kyiv’s book market, underscoring how conflict disrupts reading spaces. Crime & Books: Kuwait seized 2kg of meth hidden inside books in a drug bust.

Publishing & Diplomacy: The University of the Philippines Law Complex launched two new legal titles on Philippine foreign relations and treaties, spotlighting how rule-of-law principles endure across changing administrations. International Book Fairs: Istanbul’s 11th International Arabic Book Fair opened in Türkiye with 300+ publishers from 30+ countries, featuring Qatar and Syria as guest of honor and framing the event as a forum for debate across the Islamic world. Memoir & Health: Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine’s upcoming memoir, co-written with Joe Layden, details his cancer treatment and the faith and family support that carried him through. Libraries & Free Expression: Massachusetts’ new “free expression” law aims to protect school and municipal libraries from outside book-banning pressure, arguing for renewed local control. Academic Integrity: A Cambridge professor’s resignation amid plagiarism allegations keeps the spotlight on standards, identity politics, and trust in elite institutions. Child Safety: Sri Lanka’s child protection authority reports over 1,000 child abuse complaints in two months, urging parents to use dignity-preserving approaches and to rely on hotline support. Literary Culture: Estonia’s Pärnu Literature Festival faces an uncertain future as funding shortfalls threaten its continuation. Sports & Books Crossover: A children’s publishing success story highlights how a popular interactive series is helping young readers through tough times.

Book Publishing & AI Rights: Booksellers report a surge of sudden bulk orders and vanishings, with suspicion aimed at AI firms after a U.S. fair-use ruling cleared Anthropic’s book use for training. New Releases & Literary Buzz: Ann Patchett’s “Whistler” lands as a tender family novel about accident, forgiveness, and second chances. Comics Preview: DC’s “Batwoman #6” revisits Kate Kane’s fall, Alice’s death, and her rebirth in Petalon ahead of its Aug. 19 shop debut. Industry/Media Tie-Ins: Marvel’s X-Men MCU reboot director Jake Schreier teases deeper comic inspirations for what’s next after the D23 cast reveal. Author Spotlight: Journalist Bankole Thompson’s America-at-250 moral inquiry book gets a high-profile endorsement from former judge Gerald Rosen. Cultural Reading Spaces: Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan launches FLOR (“For Love of Reading”), a hotel reading corner with curated categories and a book pick of the day. Obituaries: Rock critic and Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh dies at 76.

Publishing & Culture: Zimbabwean novelist Sue Nyathi says her self-published debut The Polygamist became a Netflix hit, reaching No. 2 in the US—an adaptation story that spotlights women’s authorship and long-game publishing. Courtroom & Censorship: France’s top constitutional court struck down Macron’s under-15 social media ban, with Paris families split between screen-time worries and concerns about government control. Children’s Books & Community: Co Tyrone author Carrie-Anne Browne, 38, was remembered as “gentle beyond measure” after the publication of Bonnie and the Gleam Queen Team. Author Spotlight: Priyanka Chopra unveiled the cover of Empress: The Definitive Biography of Sridevi (Westland Books), a five-decade career portrait timed to Sridevi’s birth anniversary. Literary Events: Logos Hope’s floating bookfair returns to Dublin (Aug. 9–16) with 5,000+ titles aboard. True Crime Fallout: Whistleblowers warned the BBC about true-crime writer Christopher Berry-Dee’s claims he had missing clothes from the Karen Hadaway murder case. Health & Food Research (Book-adjacent): A review links higher ultra-processed food intake with lower levels of key nutrients, while stressing the findings are associations, not proof of cause.

Book Festivals & Community Reading: Rutherglen’s 900th-anniversary Book Festival lands Oct. 29–Nov. 21 with free events, including comic artist Frank Quitely and a town-wide push for new readers. Author & Publisher News: Blackstone Publishing will release the audiobook of Adam Nelson’s debut novel Huckleberry Jim on Oct. 6, with wide day-one distribution. New Releases Spotlight: Yinka Padonu’s Courage to Succeed profiles 14 Nigerian entrepreneurs overcoming major odds. Literary Culture: Brooklyn Book Festival returns Sept. 20–27 for nine days across NYC, with major authors and a large outdoor book market. Media Tie-Ins: HBO’s Lanterns premieres Aug. 16, with multiple reviews framing it as a grounded, True Detective-style superhero mystery. Local Book Life: Sarnia’s “Books and Brews” model pairs bookstore clubs with brewery nights to keep reading social and recurring. Deaths in Publishing: Brendan Myers has died at 52, remembered for his philosophy writing and online community.

Community Reading Spotlight: “The Lost Baker of Vienna” by Sharon Kurtzman is set as the featured Community Read for the Jewish Book & Arts Festival, with readers invited to join a Nov. 11 discussion with the author. Publishing & Culture: Cory Doctorow explains “enshittification” as services getting worse for users while companies chase more profit—an argument aimed at streaming, ads, and rising fees. New Book Release: Bloomsbury publishes “Robert Neyland: The West Point Engineer Who Built Tennessee Football,” reframing the coach’s legacy through his military and engineering work. Literary Philosophy: Alexander McCall Smith launches “Positive Distraction,” a weekly podcast of his short stories meant to counter everyday stress. Health & Food: A review links higher ultra-processed food intake with lower levels of key nutrients like vitamin A/E and selenium, while stressing the findings are associations, not proof. Book Retail & Literacy: The Works’ “Find Your Story Book Bus” tour delivered free books and workshops to hundreds of children at Friars Walk. Industry/AI Debate: New reporting raises fresh questions about AI’s role in publishing and the fate of books.

Vaccine-Policy Shakeup: A former Pfizer toxicologist’s new book claims COVID-19 mRNA shots were sold without proper safety testing, as a separate report says the Trump administration may order HHS to review vaccines and autism links. Faith & Memoir: LDS author Natalie Brown’s “After Happiness” uses personal grief and scripture study to rethink “the plan of happiness” after her father’s death. West Africa Publishing Push: Togo’s Lomé Youth Book Fair expands to 30 exhibitors and adds workshops and professional meetings under a theme focused on children’s books driving cultural cooperation. Horror on the Page (and Screen): Warner Bros. unveils a new trailer for the NC-17 re-release of Ken Russell’s “The Devils,” returning in a limited one-week run. New Reads for Families: “Creepshow” launches as an episodic horror game on Steam, while local library picks highlight August adventures and middle-grade favorites. Education Choices: EdTech pioneer Dave Hendry’s “Choosing Your Child’s Education” urges parents to judge learning outcomes, not rankings. Indigenous Language Literature: The Ibanag children’s book “Papa Teyo” lands in IBBY’s world collection for young readers in Indigenous and endangered languages. Publishing Industry Watch: A report says authors face mounting questions as AI-generated illustrations flood the market.

AI & Publishing Ethics: Cartoonists warn AI-generated illustrations are squeezing their craft as News Corp uses AI art in newspapers, sparking fears of job loss and sameness in style. Books & Health Policy: A former Pfizer toxicologist’s new book claims COVID-19 mRNA shots were sold without proper safety testing, while a reported White House draft order would push HHS to review vaccines and autism. Community Reading Access: India’s “Gramin Gyan Setu” launches to connect 63 rural libraries with 2.8 lakh books via mobile vans and digital ordering. Literary Events & Debuts: The Irish Writers Centre International Debut Novel Competition names 12 winners from 38 countries for publisher/agent pitches. Book Launches: Shelley Read’s “Go as a River” is chosen as Colorado Mountain College’s 2026 Common Reader; Mattel Press readies Alex Aster’s YA “Barbie: Dreamscape.” Local History in Print: Surrey Historical Society plans “Driving in Surrey – A History of Surrey Roads Prior to 1957.” Author Spotlight: Hartwick College hosts Pulitzer-winning journalist Mike McIntire for “Ricochet: Guns, Greed, and the American Way of Violence.”

Publishing & Faith Memoir: Spines releases Resilient Faith Women: Breaking the Ties That Bound Us, a testimony-driven collection framing hardship, motherhood, and spiritual renewal as generational healing. Literary Events: Malta’s Apostolic Nuncio Alfred Xuereb will appear at the Literary Festival with My Days with Benedict the Sixteenth, alongside other announced authors. Innovation Bestseller: Professor Gordon Slater’s Chaos to Creation: Longevity & Regeneration Frontiers hits bestseller status, pitching a framework linking AI, biotech, and regenerative medicine. AI-Edited Poetry: CQT Media and Publishing launches Heavy With Joy, a poetry collection “prompted and edited” with an adoptee’s human direction, spotlighting identity and authorship debates. Book-to-Community Access: India’s Amit Shah launches Gramin Gyan Setu to connect rural libraries with 2.8 lakh books plus mobile vans and home delivery. New Book Releases (Retail/Local): Palmetto Publishing debuts Mike Lauer’s memoir Sweat Equity; Rigby’s The Nook and Kranny opens as a bookstore-bakery with family-friendly, smut-free policy. Adaptation Watch: Disney Live Action taps Patrick Ness to adapt Miye Lee’s The Dallergut Dream Department Store; Netflix confirms Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory for 2027 theaters and 2027 streaming.

Vaccine Debate Meets Publishing: The White House is reportedly drafting an executive order that would have HHS review a possible link between childhood vaccines and autism, reigniting a long-running policy fight that could shape future research and public reading lists. Political Autobiography Launch: PM Narendra Modi released former President Ram Nath Kovind’s autobiography, Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles, urging youth to read autobiographies even in the “era of reels.” Prison Book Spotlight: Umar Khalid’s Fractured Communities discussion moved outdoors after a venue cancellation, keeping attention on scholarship tied to political power. Global Lit & Awards: Koraly Dimitriadis’ The Mother Must Die was named a finalist at American Book Fest, with the author clarifying the title’s meaning amid debate. Children’s Books on Shelves: Oratia Books says I need a NEW BUM! will hit New Zealand stores in time for Father’s Day 2026, while a new picture book, Finn Finds His Way, is set for release. New Fiction Release: Avery Irons’ Belonging to the Air follows one family through the Great Migration, blending lyrical history with intergenerational reckoning. Literary Events: Isle of Wight bookseller Medina Bookshop hosts a launch for Dogsail, a sailing memoir mixing seamanship and an AI chatbot.

Book Bans Fight: Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill standardizing how schools and public libraries add or remove books, aiming to protect “freedom to read” and shield librarians from penalties. New Releases (Children’s): Superstition Acres Press launched “Spark Riders: The First Flame,” a middle-grade adventure about kids connected by mysterious notebooks; “The Grief Monster” by first-time author Laurie Cowin offers a gentle way to talk about loss for children. Publishing & Community: The State Library of Ohio is relocating after building issues, shifting toward a more digital-first approach as it moves millions of items. Big Crossover Comics: Marvel and Star Wars announced “Hope Assembles,” a five-part comic series by Kevin Smith with art by David Marquez, debuting January 2027. Literary Culture Abroad: Cuba’s Havana International Book Fair opened with 1,300+ titles and a Russian guest-of-honor focus. Tech + Reading: Google’s Chrome “auto browse” raises privacy alarms as it can act inside logged-in accounts—an agentic leap that many users don’t trust yet.

AI & Publishing Tech: Anthropic says new Claude models will add an “imperceptible watermark” to AI text to help prove origin and comply with the EU AI Act, with detection tools planned—another sign publishers are bracing for AI-written content. Semiconductor Industry: Intel plans a $15B share sale as it pushes a costly turnaround in contract chipmaking, aiming to regain ground in a race against TSMC. New Book Releases & Reviews: Elle editors share 35 summer reads; Sam Roberts’ “Are They Dead Yet? The Art of the Obit” spotlights the craft of playful, respectful obituaries; and a kids’ high-seas review of “The Pout-Pout Fish” finds the film less charming than the books. Local Books & Community: Woombye Community Library profiles its adult book buyer; KU’s “Orbital” reading program pairs Samantha Harvey’s book with Kay WalkingStick’s art; and Hyderabad’s Authorbanter Club builds direct author-reader connections. Book World Beyond Pages: An AI gym-booking hack shows how “agents” can be abused—raising new concerns for everyday tech.

AI & Publishing Tech: Microsoft is reportedly aiming to publicly launch its Maia 300 AI accelerator in September, while lining up TSMC capacity for 2027 deliveries—an effort to scale beyond Maia 200 and reduce reliance on Nvidia. Audio & Reading Culture: Hinge is rolling out its first audiobook, expanding its “No Ordinary Love” book-to-audio push with stories from real couples and author forewords/epilogues. Major Author/Media: Barack Obama will launch an Audible podcast, “A Great Book with Barack Obama,” discussing six novels that shaped his worldview starting Sept. 24. Book Industry Deals: Harriman House (Pan Macmillan) won a six-way auction for Mia McGrath’s Frugal Chic. Community & Book Events: UAFS will launch a Certificate of Proficiency in Book Arts Aug. 17, and Stanwood’s first Stanwood Book Fest drew about 60 local authors. Controversy on Campus: JNU canceled and then saw renewed clashes around an Umar Khalid book discussion, with student groups trading slogans after venue changes. Christian Publishing Recognition: Dr. Mel Tavares’ Make Families Great Again earned a second first-place award, winning the Golden Scroll Christian Education Book of the Year.

University Censorship Row: JNU cancels JNUSU’s Aug. 10 discussion of Umar Khalid’s book “Fractured Communities,” citing “non-disclosure of full facts,” while students say the talk will still go ahead at an alternate venue. Ukraine Publishing Under Attack: A Russian drone strike destroyed about 8 million books at Ranok in Kharkiv, adding to fears for Ukraine’s language and textbook supply. AI Misuse in Bookish Tech: A Melbourne man says an AI agent hacked a gym booking system to grab a class slot, highlighting how agent tools can exploit real-world software. Publishing & Community Spaces: Indonesia backs “book cafes” as a creative-economy model, blending publishing with public reading culture. Print Culture Push: The Collegian debuts a new print design, arguing physical media is making a comeback. Book Industry Disruption in Europe: Booksellers report a mysterious wave of large, odd bulk orders that may signal unsettling market manipulation. Tech Meets Publishing: Cloudflare launches an AI-agent browser and wallet system that can buy on a user’s behalf, pointing to a new machine-facing web. Literary Spotlight: Nepalaya gathers 75 writers under 25 for three new books, spotlighting fresh voices.

Children’s Literature Honor: Chinese picture-book illustrator Cai Gao became the first Chinese creator to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award for children’s literature, often dubbed the “Nobel Prize,” in a ceremony in Canada. Library Expansion: Thornton’s Anythink Nature Library opened to about 5,000 visitors, pitching books, gardens, climbing boulders, and outdoor science as the next step for public libraries. AI & Publishing/Books: An Italian travel guide reportedly shipped with an AI-generated chatbot exchange left in the printed introduction, sparking refunds and anger over useless “generic” content. Rights & Reissues: SLKY World acquired global rights to Rwanda-based author Lamana Ali’s previously self-published sci-fi/fantasy THE CELESTIAL ASHES, planning a re-edit and new cover for early 2027. Local Book Access: A DAR chapter donated copies of Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt to Waldo County’s “Little Libraries” free book-exchange boxes. Author Tour Disruption: Jason Arday canceled upcoming memoir promotion events after academic misconduct allegations, despite his book’s scheduled release. New Fiction Spotlight: Nina Simon’s sophomore novel My Sister is Going to Kill Me, inspired by a Grand Canyon rafting trip, publishes Aug. 18. Controversy in Book Events: A wave of reporting also flags ongoing disputes around book discussions and venue cancellations tied to political activism.

Publishing & AI: A new wave of debate is hitting books and writers as generative AI spreads—one piece argues AI firms are “missing the entire point” of writing and reading, while another warns AI is flooding the online book market with poor translations. Copyright & piracy: A separate discussion points to Meta-linked book theft allegations, reigniting anger over how texts are scraped and reused. Censorship & policy: In the UK, employment lawyers warn proposed NHS rules on political symbols could spiral into disputes over what staff wear or even what books they read on breaks. Literary prizes: Nicola Chester’s nature memoir Ghosts of the Farm moves onto the Wainwright Prize shortlist. Book culture: Delhi’s young readers are leaning into “slow reading” sessions that aim to make book clubs feel less intimidating. New releases: Tim Curry’s memoir Vagabond shares an excerpt ahead of its Oct. 21 publication. Parliament & bills: India’s Rajya Sabha is set to take up the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill. Sports memoir: Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem gets a new Olympic triumph book, From Dream to Reality, launched in Lahore.