AGP Executive Report

Publishing Deals: The Bodley Head won a nine-way auction for Martha Spurrier’s “landmark exploration” of law; Allen & Unwin UK took a six-way race for viral poet Olivia Dodd’s debut; Headline acquired Freya North’s “Still Time”; DUSK pre-empted AM Croll’s fantasy-romance duology in a six-figure deal; Jonathan Cape bought Guy Gunaratne’s “Parliament” at auction; Viking snapped up Kanak Kapur’s debut “A Parting.” Children’s Books: Beloved illustrator-author Terry Denton (Treehouse, Gasp!) died at 76. Royal Memoir Fallout: Charles Spencer’s “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” hits shelves amid Buckingham Palace pushback and Piers Morgan threats of legal action. Investigative Publishing: Nicky Hager launched “Dirty Work,” alleging behind-the-scenes campaign direction tied to New Zealand’s Taxpayers’ Union. Industry & Tech: Meta’s AI agent Muse is driving a #MuseMoneyChallenge, while AI leaders urge caution over superintelligence. Global Reading Under Pressure: Reports highlight Ukraine’s publishing strain after Russian strikes and a Syrian man recovering hidden Islamist texts.

Royal Books & Publishing Drama: Prince Harry attended the WellChild Awards in London as Buckingham Palace issued a firm response to claims in his uncle Earl Spencer’s upcoming memoir, with Spencer also accusing King Charles of “gaslighting.” Publishing & Audio Adaptations: Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher novels are getting full-cast audiobook treatment starting with Crossroads of Ravens, with the rest of the saga rolling out through 2027. Libraries & Content Scrutiny: A Montana library board is alarmed by a state library commissioner’s requested review of purchased book titles, including analysis done by AI. Indigenous & Global Knowledge: Canada’s Northern Quill saw its Dene Kede-translated book Dechi tah Naidi: Medicine from the Land selected for the IBBY–UNESCO collection, while Abu Dhabi pushes Arabic into tech, publishing, AI, and the knowledge economy. Crime Fiction Spotlight: Kellye Garrett’s latest suspense novel Missing White Woman follows a vacation rental discovery that ties into a neighborhood missing-person case. Industry Milestone: The Covert Code Podcast hit 250,000 YouTube subscribers, reflecting continued audience appetite for author-and-leader conversations.

Spycraft on the big screen: Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions has set an Aug. 11, 2028 theatrical release for a film on R&AW founder Rameshwar Nath Kao, based on Nitin Gokhale’s book Gentleman Spymaster; the story spans 1955–1971 and spotlights R&AW’s formation and first mission. Royal memoir fallout: Charles Spencer’s upcoming Swan Song: Diana, My Sister renews controversy with claims about King Charles’s reaction to Princess Diana’s death, prompting a sharp royal rebuke. Mental health fiction: Derek Owusu’s The Recovery House review highlights an unflinching look at crisis recovery, set in a residential “recovery house” world of fragile routines and hard truths. Children’s publishing meets AI: A new report warns that personalized, AI-generated kids’ books are booming—turning children into protagonists via photo uploads and templates. Publishing and AI copyright pressure: Japan’s publishers association is demanding answers from a major distributor over suspected book sales to Anthropic for AI learning. Reading culture wins: A UK school, Carbrain Primary, earns a Scottish Book Trust Gold Reading Schools Award for building a whole-school love of reading.

Festival Returns: Saratoga Book Festival is back Oct. 1–4 in Saratoga Springs with four days of free programming and 50+ authors, spanning history, horror, memoir, mystery, crime, poetry and more. Royal Memoir Fallout: Earl Spencer’s “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” keeps sparking Palace pushback, with Buckingham Palace citing “fraternal grief” affecting memory as the Diana book row intensifies. New Book Launches: Wild Atlantic Words Festival (Oct. 6–11) in Castlebar will feature launches of Mayo’s All-Ireland journey books, while Belfast Free Library hosts a dramatic reading for Carolyn Locke’s poetry memoir “Between Ray and Eva” on Oct. 6. Culture & Community Reading: Wordstock Sudbury returns Oct. 16–17 with a full lineup of Canadian literary artists, and Sharjah’s publishers conference wrapped with 912 participants across 99 countries. Publishing & Tech Watch: The SEC’s tokenized-stock exemption could boost tokenized-equity players like Coinbase, while local authors keep pushing new fiction, nonfiction, and kids’ titles.

Royal Reading Room Spotlight: Queen Camilla backed the “life-enhancing power” of books at Chatsworth House as the Earl Spencer Diana memoir row raged on. Royal Memoir Fallout: Spencer doubled down on claims about Charles and the funeral, while the Palace pushed back over “clouded reasoning,” keeping publishing drama in the headlines. Censorship Watch: A Clift piece highlights rising book bans and “museum myths,” pointing to how children’s titles get pulled for controversial reasons. Public Reading Incentive: Singapore’s ReadSG program will pay citizens for reading 15 minutes a day, aiming to build a reading culture and curb doomscrolling. Publishing & Policy: Malaysia’s Education Ministry says it will review tuition-centre ownership rules tied to a 2006 policy book. New Book Releases: Louise Doughty’s memoir reveals a long-kept family love secret; Melissa Payne’s novel explores what makes a life meaningful; R.F. Kuang’s Taipei coming-of-age novel mines grief and identity. Controversial Tell-All Plans: Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner is reported to be working on a tell-all memoir. Literary Events: Glasgow’s Byres Road Book Festival lands with major author names, while Evesham’s Vale of Tales gives children free books and a meet-the-author moment.

Publishing & Industry Global: Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi opened the fifth Sharjah Booksellers Conference, bringing 912 booksellers, publishers and distributors from 99 countries to tackle how books reach readers—covering inventory, in-store display, e-commerce, digital marketing and demand analysis. New Releases (Nonfiction/Spiritual): “Dreaming with the Plants – Shamanism & Sacred Plant Medicine,” the final book in a spiritually inspired trilogy, launches in ebook and paperback with interviews from 16 practitioners on responsible facilitation, safety and ethics around plant medicine. New Releases (Memoir/Business): Ari Emanuel’s “Roll Your Calls” excerpt spotlights the entertainment power struggle and a near-violent workplace moment, with the Knopf memoir due Tuesday. Books & Culture (Royal/Media): Queen Camilla’s BBC documentary “The Book That Changed My Life” debuts Oct. 14, exploring how specific books change people’s lives. Reading & Community: A new “The Correspondent” novel uses letters and emails to drive a suspenseful, epistolary story about a retired lawyer’s past. Comics Preview: DC’s Vertigo imprint teases “Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy #2,” sending a dream-slipping assassin into a sorcerous spy agency.

Royal Publishing Row: Earl Spencer’s Diana tell-all, serialized ahead of release, is reigniting royal tensions with claims about Charles and the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death; Prince William is reported “beyond furious” as the Palace warns grief can “cloud reason.” Publishing & Prizes: Windsor’s Palimpsest Press and Biblioasis score on the Giller Prize longlist, while Mongolia kicks off its 40th National Script, Culture and Book Days festival (Sept. 18–20). Libraries Under Pressure: Texas’ lieutenant governor says Holocaust books shouldn’t be removed after confusion over a broader purge of “vulgar” titles. Book Industry Pay: A Dutch survey finds over 40% of authors earn nothing from audiobook sales, with writers questioning streaming-style deals. Community Reading: Scotland’s Scottish Book Trust launches 12-week school residencies, and Glasgow schools welcome award-winning authors. Local Book Life: A North Carolina author returns for a library tour; in Alabama, an eighth-grader publishes a 145-page pet book on Amazon. Controversial Scholarship: Smithsonian researchers say they’ve found “extraordinary proof” Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings, tied to DNA work from hair. Nature & Conservation: The Book of Birds wins major Wainwright Prizes, spotlighting endangered bird decline.

Publishing & Community Events: Glasgow’s General Strike centenary drew comrades to a new Manifesto Press book launch, while Bethesda’s Wonderland Books hosted an author conversation for Grace Viall’s workplace romance/mystery (Mostly) Human Resources. Local Authors Break Through: An Edwardsville teacher’s poetry collection, The Resurrection of the Body, was released by University of Tampa Press after winning the Richard Mathews Poetry Prize; Cork’s Children’s Books Ireland guide spotlights top Irish youth titles. Awards & Recognition: The Canadian Jewish Literary Awards named winners including Rebecca Hirsch Garcia’s debut Other Evolutions and Matti Friedman’s Out of the Sky; Scotland’s Frances Crawford won both the McIlvanney Prize and Bloody Scotland Debut Prize for A Bad, Bad Place. Industry Shockwaves: HarperCollins UK dropped David Walliams’ back catalogue after harassment allegations. Books, Tech & Data: Black Book Research released an openEHR buyer guide ahead of EHRCON26, and a new “meta-reading” project has multiple AI systems read the same book to compare interpretations. Social Impact: Marine Toys for Tots and Scholastic expanded literacy donations, and libraries worldwide keep pushing access amid bans and shortages.

Publishing & Access: Kyrgyzstan will add 7 billion soms to tackle a long-running textbook shortage, with an investigation into claims that free school books are being sold. International Expansion: Japan’s Poplar Publishing is setting up in India to sell and translate its children’s hit “Kaiketsu Zorori,” starting with English and Hindi. Royal Memoir Fallout: Buckingham Palace is responding to new claims in Charles Spencer’s upcoming Diana memoir, including an alleged “we’ll forget her soon enough” remark—while royal aides push back. Libraries & Reading Culture: Hachette UK-backed “Book Nooks” are opening at UK train stations, and South Africa’s Gauteng Legislature donated 13,800 exercise books to support learners. New Releases & Events: Sri Lankan author Ragulan Tharmakulasingam’s “The Last Cup of Tea” launches worldwide on Amazon; India’s “The Unnamed” Ladakh expedition coffee-table book debuts in Shillong; and a New Delhi forum will spotlight the UN’s role in public trust. Children’s Books: A Roald Dahl book-day donation brings Dahl box sets to a Bury primary school. Controversy Watch: A US appeals ruling reverses a library law fight tied to “harmful to minors” rules, reshaping how libraries and bookstores handle compliance.

Royal Memoir Fallout: Buckingham Palace pushed back again after Earl Spencer’s Diana memoir claims Charles sounded “giddily elated” on the phone hours after her death, adding fresh fuel to a royal war of words. National Book Awards: The 2026 National Book Award longlists rolled out across categories, with major fiction and nonfiction lists announced as judges gear up for shortlists and November prizes. Author News: Pulitzer-winning nature writer Annie Dillard died at 81, while Tara Westover announced a 2027 follow-up memoir, and Scott Walker Cunningham promoted his debut novel. Publishing & Events: BookFest’s free virtual fall schedule was announced, alongside local launches and festivals—from a record-size Ditan Book Fair to community reading programs and author talks. Books in Court/Policy: India’s Telangana High Court ordered action over a proposed Ambedkar-related book release, and Utah school bans faced renewed legal scrutiny. AI & Reading Culture: Multiple reports spotlighted how AI and algorithm-driven debates are reshaping publishing, including concerns about books being destroyed or sidelined.

Royal Memoir Row: Buckingham Palace hit back at claims in Earl Spencer’s Diana book, including the allegation King Charles said “we’ll forget her soon enough,” with a rare, pointed statement about grief “cloud[ing] reason.” Children’s Publishing: Journalist Zeinab Badawi is adapting her bestselling Africa history into a children’s edition, while Evesham launches a free Vale of Tales reading initiative and Owensboro’s Kevin Olusola brings his children’s book event home. Book Fairs & Global Culture: Panama is guest of honor at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair, and Abu Dhabi’s fair spotlights rare historic books and manuscripts. Reading & Libraries: Wilton Library’s Awesome Autumn Book Sale returns with 75,000+ titles. Academic Freedom: India’s academic freedom is flagged as “severely restricted,” with reports of book bans and government pressure on campuses. New Releases: Naomi Alderman’s The Strangers and Gregory Wrightstone’s A Very Convenient Warming both draw attention for provocative takes on grief and climate debate.

Royal Books & Reputation: Buckingham Palace pushed back on claims in Earl Spencer’s Diana memoir, saying Charles is mindful grief can “cloud reason,” as the serialised book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister heads for release. Local Culture & Community: Cuba’s Las Tunas Book and Literature Fair closed with fewer titles but a stubborn sense of purpose, while a new “Book Club for Grown-Ups” launched at Waynesboro Library with a bring-your-own-book format. Children’s Literature & Literacy: Mac Barnett, a Library of Congress National Ambassador, visits Cody Sept. 21 to talk about disagreement and civics through picture books; Singapore also rolled out a daily reading program to fight doomscrolling. Publishing Industry Moves: Kodansha USA named Beth Kawasaki VP of Brand and Marketing, and Penguin Random House India announced a new Matt Dinniman title. Books, Media & Pop Culture: HBO’s Harry Potter reboot is adding a villain backstory not in the books, and Marvel confirmed a new Black Widow/Yelena Belova limited series tied to the Red Room. Book News Beyond Books: The Brooklyn Book Festival returns with 250+ publishers and hundreds of authors, and a stolen Princess Diana-related book shipment in the Netherlands is under investigation. AI & Reading Debate: Branko Milanović’s new work systematizes AI-related literature, while a separate push claims AI is “killing us,” keeping the conversation loud.

Publishing Leadership: Yassine Belkacemi is promoted to publishing director at Dialogue as Hannah Chukwu steps down to pursue inclusive curriculum work. Children’s Publishing: PRH Children’s appoints Cate Augustin as publisher for Rachel Denwood’s new imprint, while the Bookseller Children’s Conference 2026 reveals a star-studded programme focused on reaching and retaining young readers. Book Trade & Platforms: The Bookseller reports Substack is deepening ties with the book trade, including agent-focused events. Events & Community: Dayton Book Festival returns this weekend with 50+ authors at Antioch Shrine, and the Portico Library in Manchester secures £6m for a major restoration to boost access to its historic collections. International Recognition: Ping Lu’s “To the East of the East” lands on the National Book Award for Translated Literature longlist. Security & High-Profile Titles: Copies of Earl Spencer’s Princess Diana memoir are reportedly stolen in the Netherlands ahead of release. Adaptations & Media Buzz: HBO Max’s “Harry Potter” series is debated as faithful adaptation vs nostalgia play. Policy & Access: Independent Canadian cinemas push back on “full-show commitments” that crowd out domestic films. AI & Reading Tools: CastReader expands read-aloud and AI reading support across browser, iPhone and Android.

Armenian Genocide Scholarship: Bloomsbury published The Concentration Camps of the Armenian Genocide, a 500-page collection tracing how the Ottoman camp system formed and expanded, with 21 chapters and survivor memoirs and diaries. Accessibility in Publishing: Bloomsbury is releasing a dyslexia-friendly edition of Letters to Our Sons the same day as the standard book, using clearer type, spacing, and cream paper; it plans 13 more accessible titles in 2026. School Book Policy Fight: Caldwell County schools updated rules for selecting and challenging instructional and supplementary materials, tightening how books are categorized and reviewed. Local Literary Honors: The Washington Center for the Book named 2026 Washington State Book Award winners across seven categories, including memoir, fiction, poetry, and picture books. Community Events & Festivals: Georgetown Public Library announced Fiesta Books!—a bilingual children’s festival—while McAllen Public Library hosted a local author showcase tied to Hispanic Heritage Month. New Releases & Adaptations: Netflix set Pride and Prejudice for Dec. 3, and HarperCollins will publish Quentin Tarantino’s The Adventures of Cliff Booth on Dec. 8. Publishing Industry Watch: Meta asked the U.S. Supreme Court for more time in its fight over Washington’s political ad disclosure law.

New Releases Roundup: Knopf, Flatiron and Doubleday lead today’s must-read list with Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party, Leigh Bardugo’s Dead Beat and Kate Atkinson’s Our Noble Selves, alongside major nonfiction from Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s End Times Fascism. Rare Manuscript Revival: John Aubrey’s 17th-century Natural History of Wiltshire is finally published in full after 370 years, restoring a county record that blends science, folklore and environmental change. AI + Publishing/Teaching: Qatar’s Amman Book Fair plans programming on AI’s impact on writing and publishing, while an Ohio University teaching center launches fall book groups on using AI in classrooms and online instruction. Reading for Health: Cambridge researchers report reading for pleasure links to better attention, memory, mental wellbeing and lower dementia risk. Industry Events: London Book Fair 2027 will host a Children’s Media Conference, and Qatar is set to play a strong role at the Amman International Book Fair’s silver jubilee. Community & Access: Libraries and festivals across Australia and beyond announce author visits, while a new children’s reading push highlights how early reading supports lifelong brain health.

Community Reading & Events: Cambridge Public Library’s inaugural CPL Reads is built around Shari Lapena’s thriller Getting Away with Murder, ending with a Oct. 30 author event. Local Book Culture: Dalkeith’s “Touch a Book” brought authors and readers together over two days, with talks on copyright and getting from idea to publication. School Literacy Overhaul: Bullis Charter School replaced traditional reading lists with FishTank ELA+, adding 5,000 diverse books and pushing students to connect texts to real-world problems. Publishing & Access: Macao’s history book A Journey Through Time has been released in English and Portuguese to broaden access beyond Chinese readers. AI, Policy & Authorship: Former FTC chair Lina Khan argues regulators already have tools to hold AI leaders accountable under existing laws, rejecting calls for new AI exemptions. Book-to-World Crossover: Austin’s Letterpress Play is expanding into “Letterpress Play & Books,” adding an independent bookstore alongside Noah Hawley’s upcoming Practical Genius (April 2027). Education & Mental Health Debate: A new book claims kids’ anxiety stems more from school pressure than screen time, challenging the usual blame. Awards & Recognition: Larry Scanlan’s Christian devotional Wisdom of an Elder earned a Distinguished Favorite nod at the NYC Big Book Award.