AGP Executive Report

Acquisitions & Debuts: Fox & Ink Books has acquired Stolen Things, AM Howell’s debut adult novel, adding a new adult fiction title to the author’s track record in middle-grade historical mysteries. Community Events: Severn Township Public Library in Coldwater, Ontario is hosting Josh Hellyer on June 13, spotlighting his “absurdist” Highclere Inn and Carriage House Mysteries. Reading & Literacy: Emporia Public Library kicks off its 2026 Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story,” running May 27–July 31 with weekly goals, prizes, and family activities. Publishing Culture: The DAG Foundation has named the finalists for the $20,000 DAG Prize for Literature, spotlighting early-career prose writers. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Prime Video’s Off Campus is already renewed for season 2, with a new release date expected soon after season 1’s May 12 drop.

A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL SET: Auckland FC and Sydney FC earned their spots with emphatic semifinal wins, sending the Toilet Seat to Mount Smart Stadium this Saturday—no fairy tales, just momentum. Stress & Self-Help: A relationship-and-life guide argues that when life feels too big, you beat it by tackling one small area at a time. Books Meet Tech: Sri Lanka’s The Book Studio unveiled the country’s first fully automated book vending machine, pushing “everywhere can be a reading space” into everyday foot traffic. New Releases: A new Steve Jobs “exile” book revisits the NeXT years; meanwhile, comic previews keep rolling with Superman Unlimited and Fantastic Four setting up fresh story turns. Culture & Community: Imperial County reopened its renovated Calipatria library branch, while Doha’s book fair continues to blend literature with hands-on creativity. Global Reading Scene: The week also spotlights a Kazakhstan history volume approved for publication and a long-running push to preserve languages through Bible translation in Northeast India.

Widowhood, in public: A Palm Springs widow says a sudden loss in 2019 pushed her to write a book and build a site for other widows to share their stories. Author signings & rare finds: Fox anchor Bret Baier drew readers at Raptis Rare Books in Palm Beach, while an unread “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” paperback kept in an attic for nearly 30 years is expected to sell for up to £10,000. Publishing in motion: Shueisha says Takeru Hokazono’s Kagurabachi will return May 25 after a one-issue health break. Big-screen buzz: HBO has greenlit Big Little Lies Season 3, with cameras expected to roll in fall 2026 and a mid-to-late 2027 premiere window. Culture & craft: An accordion-style children’s book celebrating Indian rooftops wins a top UK illustration prize. Safety & privacy: Hyderabad police booked 27 social media accounts over alleged POCSO victim identity leaks.

Alaska Indigenous History Spotlight: A new book, “Ïyaġaaġmiut: People Who Live Among the Rock Caches,” by Ch’igiioonta’ She Holds a Child, digs into 18th- and 19th-century life in Interior Alaska through oral histories and early records—covering battles, famine, climate shocks, and forced relocations. Publishing Crime Update: In the U.S., Mike Sordilla pleaded guilty in a publishing scam that promised book deals and movie adaptations for upfront fees, defrauding 800+ victims of $48M+; sentencing is set for July 24. Qatar Book Fair Momentum: Doha’s 35th International Book Fair is drawing record crowds—1.85M books across 910 pavilions—while Qatar Charity spotlights its “Future Writers” program and Alqantara launches as a new publishing and distribution house. Community Reading Wins: South Dakota Historical Society Press’ “Badger Clark: Poetry Wrangler” took a national Wrangler Award for juvenile Western literature. Culture & Books on Screen: Cannes honored John Travolta with a lifetime award as he premiered his first directed film, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” based on a children’s book he wrote.

Doha Book Fair Spotlight: Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani toured the 35th Doha International Book Fair, stopping at culture and defense pavilions and reviewing new literary and scientific releases under the theme “Civilizations Are Built with Knowledge.” Global Publishing Push: Sharjah’s Sharjah Book Authority is also expanding abroad, recently visiting Kuala Lumpur to deepen ties with major book partners and study how Malaysia turns libraries into cultural and tourism hubs. New Titles & Big Moments: Prime Video confirmed a TV adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ blockbuster fantasy Fourth Wing, while a Spanish edition of essays on Xi Jinping’s economic thought debuted in Santiago, Chile. Community Reading: In the US, Hillsboro’s library program is spotlighting George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy with events culminating in a livestreamed author talk. Book Culture Debate: A fresh controversy swirls around how bookstores handle politically charged titles, with a letter defending The King’s English Bookshop’s decision to sell Gov. Cox’s book.

Literary Spotlight: Peter Ackroyd’s new biography, Auden, reframes W.H. Auden beyond funeral-epitaph fame, digging into his strict meters, rhyme habits, and even crossword-like patterns. Cultural Translation: London debuts The Book of Bratislava, a Comma Press anthology of Slovak short stories in English translation. Pop-Genre Push: Tokyopop expands Disney manga for Spring 2026, adding Pirates of the Caribbean box sets and new Nightmare Before Christmas editions. Publishing Pipeline: Yen Press announces 17 new acquisitions for its November lineup, including multiple manga and light-novel style titles. Community Books: In Ohio, Big Brothers Big Sisters spotlights children’s emotional health through a new “Princess Patty and Prince Patrick” book series. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Prime Video renews Off Campus for season 2 ahead of its debut, banking on the books’ built-in fan base. Rights & Access: Tennessee schools again face controversy as Roots is banned.

Education Tech: CBSE has rolled out an On-Screen Marking system to digitize evaluation, aiming to cut errors, keep answer sheets confidential, and speed up results—plus it’s adding a two-stage post-result review where students can first download scanned copies and then seek verification. New Releases: Jody Stallings’ coming-of-age novel Three Nieces lands with a 1967 Sullivan’s Island summer story, while Carey Powell’s The Zone Blueprint pushes a practical, neuroscience-backed focus framework for peak performance. Culture & Community: Wantagh kindergartners at Forest Lake Elementary published Todd Parr-style books after a full writing process, and Science Naturally’s Mara Plants a Seed and A Family for Zoya just won Green Earth Book Awards. Industry Watch: Canada Goose is guiding FY27 toward low-single-digit revenue growth via pricing and deeper product, despite softer demand. Global Books: Iran’s Tehran Virtual Book Fair returns with discounts, vouchers, and free shipping rules.

AI Shockwave for Publishing: Korea’s publishers are bracing for “AI readers,” with the Korean Publishers Association warning that books are becoming training material and pushing for clearer copyright rules and fair compensation. Streaming Romance Meets Heavy Themes: Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus is now on Prime Video, and the author says the adaptation keeps the series’ heavier subjects grounded in character trust—not instant intimacy. Big Legal Moment for Authors: A US judge is pressing Anthropic’s lawyers over its proposed $1.5B settlement with authors, focusing on fees and how payments would work in the biggest copyright deal of its kind. Industry Watch: Figma shares jumped after a strong quarter, but investors are watching how Anthropic’s government fight could affect federal sales. Global Book Fair Buzz: Doha’s 35th International Book Fair opened with record participation, drawing hundreds of publishers and millions of books. Local Community Reading: A Friends of the Library sale runs through May 17, with summer reading challenges kicking off June 1.

Doha Book Fair Kickoff: Qatar’s Prime Minister officially opened the 35th Doha International Book Fair, running May 14–23, with 520 publishers from 37 countries across 910 booths—and he also launched the “This Is Qatar” book project as guest-of-honor. AI for Small Business: Anthropic rolled out “Claude for Small Business,” aiming to move AI beyond the chat window by plugging Claude into tools like QuickBooks, HubSpot, Canva, and Microsoft 365. Tech Memoir Spotlight: A new book revisits Steve Jobs’s “exile” years at NeXT, arguing the break from Apple shaped both him and modern tech. Crime & Courts: In Utah, Kouri Richins—who wrote a children’s grief book after her husband’s death—was sentenced to life without parole for his murder. Publishing & Culture: One Peace Books licensed the manga adaptation of My Sweet Marriage to My Ex-Nemesis, with volume one due March 16, 2027. Travel Commerce: TikTok GO lets US users book hotels and attractions in-app via partners like Booking.com and Expedia.

Utah Courtroom Shock: Kouri Richins—the children’s-book author who wrote about grief after her husband’s death—was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a judge said she was “too dangerous to ever be free,” closing a case tied to fentanyl poisoning claims, insurance fraud, and an earlier Valentine’s Day attempt. School Screen Backlash: Across the U.S., districts are tightening rules on student phone use and pushing more hands-on learning, with some schools going phone-free all day. Arts & Adaptations: Neo-noir revenge road trip “Is God Is” hits theaters, while Netflix’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures” spotlights how casting choices are shaping the book-to-screen buzz. Community Book Power: A Florida nonprofit’s “Bess the Book Bus” is bringing literacy to Sault Area Elementary through a story-and-letter campaign. Publishing Calendar: Doha International Book Fair opens with record participation—over 1.85 million books and hundreds of booths—setting up a busy May for readers and writers.

Sovereignty Debate Hits the Page: Tuvia Tenenbom’s new book argues Israel should apply sovereignty to Judea and Samaria—or leave—after an eight-month stay and conversations with residents and leaders. Local Culture & Reading Life: Bennington’s Robert Frost Stone House Museum hosted a poetry party with local authors, while Bryant Park is set to launch a free “read on the lawn” summer series. Immigration on Screen: Diego Luna’s Cannes entry “Ashes” spotlights the human cost of immigration through a Mexico-to-Spain family story. Publishing & Tech Meets Everyday Life: Joanna Stern’s new book chronicles a year of using AI for “almost everything,” and Motorola expands its book-style foldable Razr Fold to more markets. Kids’ Books, Real-World Issues: Multipure released a new “Dewey, the Clean Water Superhero” comic tackling microplastics. Courtroom Shock in Utah: Kouri Richins, convicted for poisoning her husband with fentanyl-laced drinks, is headed for sentencing.

Utah sentencing shock: Kouri Richins’ sons told a judge they’d feel unsafe if she’s ever released, saying she would “come after” them after prosecutors alleged she killed their father with fentanyl and then promoted a children’s book about his death. Publishing & TV buzz: Prime Video drops “Off Campus” (8 episodes) on May 13, while Netflix/BBC’s “Lord of the Flies” adaptation gets a fresh TV spotlight. Literary honors: Konkani critic H M Pernal is set for a May 15 felicitation after winning the Sahitya Akademi Award. Global book fair push: Qatar Museums and Qatar National Library bring interactive, AI-led experiences to the Doha International Book Fair (May 14–23). Culture & history: A new book on the British monarchy’s slavery ties, plus a Holocaust survivor’s death at 101, keep the week heavy and urgent.

Digital Releases & Big Names: “The Mummy” is getting a home digital date (May 19), while “Project Hail Mary” lands on Prime Video today—another Andy Weir book-to-screen win. New Book Drops: Weldon Owen is releasing “MARILYN: THE LOST PHOTOGRAPHS • THE LAST INTERVIEW,” unveiling Marilyn Monroe’s complete final LIFE interview and unseen Allan Grant photos. Local Community & Libraries: Emporia High’s Hunter Smith promoted his dragon fantasy series at Elmendaro Township Library, and BC3’s commencement speaker Gregg Behr is bringing “When You Wonder, You’re Learning” to graduates. Publishing Industry: PressReader renewed and expanded its Economist deal, adding corporate and government access across new regions. Culture & Faith: Religious leaders are weighing the “Trump UFO files” as possible biblical angels, sparking fresh online debate. Collectibles: A conserved 1938 Action Comics #1 sold for $1.4M, shepherded by Ventura’s Timmy Heague.

Field-Ready Crop Science: China’s “Tian Shu” crop-decoding push is moving from lab sequencing to real-world field data, aiming to standardize genotype, traits, and environment for smarter breeding. Publishing & Culture: A new book tour spotlights Quebec’s language politics through Guy Rex Rodgers’ “What We Choose To Forget,” while local bookstores keep leaning into experimental theater and experimental storytelling. AI in the Spotlight: The BookTok storm over Mia Ballard’s “Shy Girl” (picked up by Hachette, then dropped after AI-writing accusations) keeps raising the same hard questions about disclosure and what “original” means now. Travel With Numbers: A data roundup ranks which airlines are most and least likely to delay or lose luggage this summer. Libraries Under Pressure: Children’s Books Ireland says school library funding cuts have “collapsed” support, leaving kids short on books. New Releases: Amazon orders “Fourth Wing” to series, and Michael B. Jordan unveils more Prime Video adaptations.

New Releases & Events: A Jersey hot dog history gets a launch party May 22 in New Brunswick as Mark Neurohr-Pierpaoli’s “New Jersey Hot Dogs: A Frank History” spotlights Rutt’s Hut, Jersey Shore footlongs, and regional oddities. Kids’ Creativity: Gillette Castle is hosting a free May 16 workshop where children build secret cardboard doors inspired by the park’s 47 real ones. Pop Culture Books to Screen: Felicity Jones is set to play Agatha Christie in “Eleven Missing Days,” with Vincent Cassel co-starring as the detective drawn into Christie’s 1926 disappearance—headed to Cannes market. Publishing & Awards: Canadian comics creators Michael DeForge, Guy Delisle, and Lee Lai are among Doug Wright Awards finalists, with DeForge nominated for “Holy Lacrimony.” Health & Food Claims: A new review highlights turmeric’s curcumin as potentially supporting brain health via inflammation reduction, while separate book pitches keep pushing natural-healing themes. Legal/Policy: Florida’s “long-arm” statute is being tested in a cancer malpractice case over whether forwarded medical records count as covered “processed” materials.

In the past 12 hours, coverage skewed toward culture, publishing events, and book-adjacent public life, with several items highlighting how books connect to community and identity. Local and author-led moments included a Manhasset artist publishing a children’s picture book inspired by the New York Public Library (“Vivi A–Z at the New York Public Library”), a Minden (Louisiana) Army veteran hosting a book signing for Testimony Loading: Experiencing God’s Healing Peace, and a Montreal Expos historian appearing in Pembroke for a signing tied to The Tragic Story of Willie Davis: And Other Expos Vignettes. There were also broader cultural/arts signals: Berlin’s reckoning with its past via Stolpersteine and archive-facing memorial markers (in a book review), and a spotlight on photography publishing through the Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards longlist, spanning topics from colonial legacies to Nazi medical research imagery.

A major thread in the most recent reporting is the intensifying legal fight over AI and copyrighted books. Multiple items in the last 12 hours frame the Zuckerberg/Meta dispute as escalating into a high-stakes federal case: one account says plaintiffs accuse Zuckerberg of personally encouraging AI copyright allegations, while another describes the lawsuit’s core claim that Meta reproduced and distributed “millions of copyrighted works” to train Llama without permission or compensation. This is reinforced by additional “background” coverage in the 12–24 hour window, which similarly centers on the allegation that Zuckerberg personally authorized the use of copyrighted works for AI training, and by broader mentions of publishers suing Meta over AI copyright infringement.

Another notable (though more niche) development is the intersection of books with education policy and censorship. In the last 12 hours, PEN America’s report is cited with specific figures: 3,743 unique titles removed from school classrooms and libraries in 2024–2025, with nonfiction making up 29%—described as more than double the prior year. The same reporting attributes the trend to an “embrace of anti-intellectualism” and links book bans to wider political movements, including those centered on LGBTQ rights. While this is not a single new incident, the repeated emphasis on nonfiction removals and the scale of removals suggests a sustained, measurable escalation rather than isolated cases.

Beyond those headline themes, the last 12 hours also included a mix of entertainment and media-book crossovers and smaller publishing announcements. HBO’s Harry Potter reboot received a second-season renewal (with filming planned for fall), and there were book-related reviews and releases ranging from Yann Martel’s Son of Nobody (focused on history’s footnotes) to crime/thriller recommendations and podcast/book event programming (e.g., Scott Simon’s Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known). Taken together, the coverage suggests a busy publishing ecosystem—yet the strongest “news” signals in this window remain (1) AI copyright litigation and (2) quantified reporting on school book bans.

Note: The most recent evidence is rich on AI/copyright, censorship metrics, and community book events, but comparatively sparse on any single “industry-wide” business shift beyond those themes—so the overall picture is more about escalation in disputes and policy reporting than about one unified new publishing milestone.