AGP Executive Report

Veterans & Democracy: A new book, Courage or Complicity?, argues many U.S. veterans are rethinking loyalty as they watch attacks on the Veterans Administration and other democratic institutions, with examples of vets turning toward labor and pro-peace politics. Consumer Watchdog: Which? Travel exposed “systemic security failures” at Booking.com by creating a fake 10 Downing Street holiday listing that accepted payments and even drew a review—highlighting gaps that could enable fraud. AI & Children’s Safety: The “Cat in the Hat” AI trend is spreading threatening, creepy posts that name schools and kids; Tennessee officials say it’s being investigated and urge reporting. Jail Oversight: Pakistan’s Islamabad High Court ordered Adiala jail authorities not to keep Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in solitary confinement and to allow family access and daily books/newspapers. Publishing & Community: An Appalachian Literary Arts Festival spotlighted regional writers and partners, while Kentucky mourns Wendell Berry’s death at 92, honoring his decades of books and environmental activism. Book World: New middle-grade Star Wars horror Hiding in the Dark and a Netflix Spider-Man return headline fresh reading and screen buzz.

Publishing & Tech: Google launched Expert Intelligence, letting readers use purchased e-books inside Gemini Notebook to generate grounded summaries, audio overviews, and quizzes—plus “Featured Notebooks” from major authors. AI & Books: HERAA.ai unveiled a “Living Book Platform” that turns nonfiction into AI-powered subscription experiences, pitching a new publishing infrastructure model. Libraries Under Pressure: PEN America’s report says US public libraries are at “breaking point” from political interference, harassment, and book bans, including attacks on librarians and LGBTQ-targeted collections. Book Bans & Disinformation: A new library-focused title argues disinformation fuels censorship and cultural erasure, tracing how these cycles strengthen each other. Children’s Books: Honey Badger Has a Heart brings a high-energy character to the page with a softer, love-forward turn. Memoir in Court: A Tupac-related memoir case highlights how “fiction” defenses failed when prosecutors argued the book repeated details tied to a protected confession. Author Spotlight: Min Jin Lee discusses American Hagwon and her antidote to book bans ahead of ALA 2026. Best-Seller Watch (Canada): Glenn Dixon’s sentient robot vacuum novel, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances, tops Canadian fiction lists. Self-Care Month: A new conversation on redefining self-care beyond routines kicks off September.

Katrina’s Aftermath, in Print: Gulfport author Ricky Mathews launched Finding Hope, turning Hurricane Katrina lessons into 25 “lifelines” meant to spur volunteerism and resilience. Art & History Spotlight: A review of The Renoir Girls frames Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s famous portrait as a gateway into Belle Époque wealth, war, betrayal, and antisemitism. Kids’ Books & Language: A New Zealand-focused look at children’s picture books argues that how languages are pictured can track shifting status—and support te reo Māori revitalisation. Pop Culture Publishing Moment: Patsified, a new collection of stories inspired by Patsy Cline, is delayed but now reopening submissions ahead of the Patsy Cline Block Party. Big Publishing Controversy: Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging sparks a fight over proposed cuts and chapter changes, with Penguin India lawyers reportedly pushing deletions tied to political references. Worldcon in Anaheim: The World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention draws thousands for panels, signings, and Hugo celebrations. Libraries Keep Moving: Garfield County Libraries dedicate September used-book sale proceeds to Mountain Valley Developmental Services. AI vs. Books: Anthropic faces a major copyright lawsuit accusing it of copying songs to train Claude.

Sports Betting vs Prediction Markets: A fresh Nevada win for Kalshi is colliding with an earlier New Jersey-friendly ruling, creating a circuit split over whether sports event contracts are bets or swaps—and what states can enforce. Book Club & New Fiction: “Under Story” by Chloe Benjamin lands as GMA’s September pick, pairing Antarctica research with a love-and-science mystery. AI Copyright Clash: Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell sue Anthropic, alleging Claude was trained and run using thousands of copyrighted songs. Libraries & Community Reading: Hennepin’s September lineup includes book sales, author/history programming, and “Read a Book Day,” while St. Tammany Parish Library swaps “Food for Fines” for a reading challenge tied to a food drive. Publishing Under Fire: Ukrainian warehouses and printers are hit again, with publishers warning attacks are deliberate efforts to disrupt schoolbooks and new releases. Tech for Readers: Google’s Gemini Notebook adds “Expert Intelligence” for eligible Google Play Books, turning ebooks into study-style Q&As, quizzes, and audio overviews. Local Book Culture: Orlando attorney Mary Rebekah Fritz-Gonzalez turns F1 into romance with “Checkered Love,” and Turkey bans distribution of a new book by jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Fantasy & Adaptations: Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn movie is finally moving forward as Apple TV secures the Cosmere rights, with a Stormlight show also in the pipeline—fans get fresh hope for big-screen magic. Awards & Global Publishing: Qatar’s Arab Book Award says it received 835 nominations across two categories for its 2026 fourth edition, with linguistic/critical studies leading submissions. Book Culture & Community: Cape Cod Book Festival returns with author talks across Oct. 24–25, while a Gonzaga dad created a children’s book after failing to find one about his university. Publishing Under Pressure: Hong Kong independent bookstores face intensified scrutiny after arrests tied to national security rules, putting a key refuge for dissenting readers at risk. Real-World Safety & Ethics: A daycare case in Eagle Pass led to arrests after a toddler was left in a hot car for hours, and Baguio warned residents about increasingly sophisticated online scams. Politics & Rights: A new argument urges Congress to strengthen privacy protections and independent oversight as executive power expands. Bookish Life Tips: Organizing advice goes viral with a simple one-in, one-out rule for keeping book piles manageable.

Book-to-screen buzz: Peter Heller’s post-apocalypse thriller “The Dog Stars” has hit theaters under Ridley Scott, and Heller is already talking page-to-film at a Sept. 10 event. Community reading, big anniversary energy: Daniel Boone Regional Library’s One Read turns 25, with a public vote to crown the most popular pick from the program’s first 24 years. Local library programming: Streator Library is running scavenger hunts, Lego building, book clubs, and an author signing this week, while Tiverton Public Library lines up September tech help plus multiple book groups and workshops. Publishing & culture events: Columbus Metropolitan Library expands its “Authors at the Library” series to 30-plus author talks across branches. Literary revival: Louisa Young discusses reviving Elizabeth Jane Howard’s Cazalet Chronicles. Book industry/tech tie-in: Adata’s Urban Tapsafe external SSD review highlights phone-controlled locking and a long warranty. International publishing spotlight: IHM-Hyderabad launched two books using food idioms and an Indian culinary quiz format.

Holocaust Publishing Breakthrough: Ron Segal’s Holocaust novel Delicate finally lands in the U.S. via Jewish Book Council’s Nu Reads after years of rejection, with a wider release planned for 2027. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Fall brings major adaptations, including Colleen Hoover’s Verity (theatrical Oct. 2) and Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping, keeping readers glued to screens. AI and Audio Rights: 360in360 Living Memories expands into AI voice-cloned audiobooks, debuting a 2011 handwritten title as a new Audible release. Tech Giants vs. Creators: Sony and Warner Music sue Anthropic over alleged intellectual property theft, escalating the fight over AI training and copyrighted material. Grief and Healing Memoirs: Trena Laine Olfert’s Dear Aaron reframes loss for National Grief Awareness Day, while Cherie L. Davis releases two trauma-and-nursing memoirs (Through the Fire and Ninety Seconds). Community Reading & Inclusion: A children’s series launch (Different but the Same Game) uses tabletop play to teach empathy and inclusion, and a Queer All Year Book Fair spotlights local authors at Goblin Market.

Sonia Gandhi memoir row: India’s Penguin India decision not to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir has sparked a BJP–Congress fight, with allegations of “editorial changes” and government pressure; Kerala CM VD Satheesan calls it censorship while Penguin says it remains keen to publish. AI and books: Google is rolling out “Expert Intelligence” in Gemini Notebook, letting readers analyze eligible Google Play e-books for summaries, quizzes, infographics and audio-style overviews—raising fresh questions about platform control. Publishing tech meets marketing: Search specialist Peter Victor Jones’ new book, ECHO, argues AI answers require a new metric—“Share of Answer”—instead of traditional ranking. Post-apocalypse on screen and page: Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars hits theaters, spotlighting Peter Heller’s novel’s grief-and-love focus; plus a roundup of best post-apocalyptic reads. Book culture events: Linghams’ September lineup brings John Cleese, Richard Osman and Michael Morpurgo, while GWR’s reading campaign keeps kids reading with station “little libraries.”

Publishing Under Fire: Russian drones hit a Kyiv-area warehouse holding books for Ukrainian publishers, forcing Readeat and others to suspend shipments and assess losses. Community Libraries: Oakland librarian Dorothy Lazard’s memoir “Behind the Desk at the Main” spotlights libraries as civic hubs amid book bans and AI. Book World, Real-World Politics: Hamilton police urged venues to consider the impact of hosting the Dominion Society, adding pressure to event bookings. Memoir Spotlight: “A Celebration of Memories” by Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi ‘Sahar’ (translated as “A Celebration of Memories”) revisits Partition-era Delhi through a constitutional-minded witness. Translation Watch: Emily Wilson says her bestselling Odyssey translation is being fully retranslated, aiming for longer, more socially complex Homer. Local Book Buzz: Bellingham authors Rena Priest and Cori Winrock land Washington State Book Award finalist spots. AI & Writing Debate: A new piece argues AI won’t replace good writers, framing it as just another tool. Sonia Gandhi Memoir Row: Penguin India denies it dropped “Belonging” over editorial changes, while Congress alleges pressure to remove references to Modi/RSS/China.

Publishing & Politics: India’s Sonia Gandhi memoir Belonging sparks a major publisher fight: Penguin Random House India says it stayed “willing and keen” to publish, while Congress alleges Modi/RSS pressure over requested cuts to “Modi, RSS, China” passages. Books & Law: Cyprus journalist Makarios Drousiotis says police questioned him over his book Mafia State, including how he got information and whether he had permission to publish. Book Culture & Community: A new Books & Botanicals shop opens in Brainerd, aiming to turn reading into a local gathering place. BookTok Buzz: Leigh Bardugo’s final Ninth House installment gets a spotlight via its opening line, while TikTok hype swells around upcoming A Court of Thorns and Roses titles. AI & Reading: A University of Guelph student launches Signiq, an ASL practice site with camera feedback—another reminder that “learning tools” are moving fast. Media/Streaming: My Sister’s Bones (based on Nuala Ellwood’s book) is now streaming free on ITVX. Local Book Events: New Mexico authors Caroline Starr Rose and Philip Connors are set to represent the state at the National Book Festival.

Publishing Rights Clash: Penguin India won’t publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir after requested “editorial changes and deletions” were rejected; HarperCollins is reported to be close to taking the India deal for a Nov. 10 release. Crime & Community Safety: A man was held on $1.1M bail after a stabbing outside a Sherman Oaks grocery store; separately, a San Diego police lieutenant was placed on administrative assignment after a Chula Vista domestic battery arrest. Books, Culture & Reading Habits: A new book, The World’s Worst Mom, leans into the messiness of motherhood, while another story spotlights how a reading retreat can help people fall back in love with books. Library Policy & AI: An Elizabethtown Area school board overhauled book access rules tied to explicit sexual content and approved AI rules. Indie/Author Events: Rapides Parish Library will host National Book Award–honored authors Ben Fountain and T. Geronimo Johnson in October. Indigenous Youth Stories: Piñen by Daniela Catrileo uses a river as a living thread through Mapuche girls’ lives in modern Chile.

Airport Cyberattack: Manchester Airports Group says an unauthorised breach hit customer data tied to car park, lounge, Fast Track and in-airport Wi‑Fi at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands—about 8.7 million people affected, with no payment/bank details exposed and no flight or security disruption. Back-to-School Pressure: Arizona voters face local school funding questions on property taxes, while Trinidad & Tobago reports steady back-to-school sales but families stretched by rising costs. Publishing & Adaptations: BBC teases a new Roald Dahl adult short-story series adaptation, and Netflix is building on Austen with a spin-off based on Janice Hadlow’s upcoming “Other Elliot Sister.” AI vs Authors: Thriller writer Andrea Bartz says a major Anthropic copyright case ended with a $1.5B settlement after pirated books were used for training. Books & Culture: A Bulawayo author marks her 21st birthday with a double launch of new story collections, and a new English edition explores why AI lacks first-person “I” experience. Community Reading: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues expanding, with local donation guidance shared in Newcastle.

Publishing Disruption: Hachette Australia’s distributor ADS was hit by a cyber attack on July 18, leaving independent bookstores short on both new releases and restocks ahead of the Christmas rush. Literacy Fundraiser: Move With Me Books is hosting its first “For the Love of Stories” event Aug. 27 at Capitol Public House in Eagle, pairing movement-based storytime with music, games, and a silent auction. Local Book Culture: The Chippewa Valley Book Festival returns for its 27th year, with author talks and a writing workshop as a “discovery” mission for readers who don’t need to have read beforehand. Author & Community Events: Paul Howard brings his satire “A Nation Once Again” to Kennys Bookshop Sept. 2, while Andrew McCarthy opens Lenoir-Rhyne’s Visiting Writers Series Sept. 10 with “Who Needs Friends.” Kids & Books on the Move: San Carlos’ Laurel Street bookstore is launching its first Kids Pod Fest Aug. 30 to spotlight children’s podcasts and make them easier to find. Dolly Parton’s Book Legacy: Tributes keep rolling in after Parton’s death, with renewed attention on the Imagination Library’s impact on early childhood reading. New Reads: “Field! The Garden of Homo Ludens” reframes golf as philosophy and embodied play, turning the course into a place for reflection.

Publishing & Books in the Spotlight: Richard Kelly’s long-awaited Donnie Darko sequel is landing as an ~800-page epistolary novel, The Philosophy of Time Travel, with pre-orders live and more screen plans teased. Israel & History: Marc Schulman’s new book, Between Hope & Fear, charts Israel’s arc from Oslo to Oct. 7, promising a three-decade political and social reckoning. Literary Culture: Hungarian novelist Peter Nadas has died at 83; his landmark Parallel Stories took 18 years and became a defining, divisive work. Book-to-Community: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library legacy is highlighted in North Lincolnshire, while local library calendars roll out September clubs and events. Faith & Self-Help: New releases include Nurture Your Worth (people-pleasing to empowerment) and a spiritual identity-focused Living Loved message. Book Trade Watch: The Authors Guild warns about unlicensed AI training on books as publishers and platforms face fresh scrutiny.

New Fiction Debuts: Shellsburg author Emily Scheer’s debut romance-thriller Hacked by You follows a woman newly out of prison pulled into a wealthy tech tycoon’s dangerous hacking job—romance, suspense, and action included. Memoir & Faith: Keith Taylor’s After Pattee traces a Penn State setback that derails law-school plans and forces a slower rebuild through family, faith, and identity. James Gardner’s devotional Given From Above promises practical biblical guidance on love, fear, aging, and peace. Children’s Books: The Magic Fisherman leans into family tradition and homemade magic; The Grumble-Gator’s Greatest Raft teaches empathy over retaliation with a bully-turned-collaborator. Publishing & Public Life: Utah’s Provo City Library says an LGBTQ board book (Pride Is Love) is shelved for “smallest patrons,” not displayed. Film Tie-In: Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars lands as a grounded post-apocalypse with mixed reviews, while Dog Stars coverage keeps the book-to-screen conversation buzzing. Community Reading: Octavia Books in New Orleans spotlights its “shop dog” Rufus and its ongoing local author events.

Care System Crisis: A new report says young care leavers face a deadly “cliff” after 18, with 112 deaths notified in 2025 and suicide a major driver—raising urgent questions about support gaps. Author Q&A & Publishing Culture: Luke Harding takes reader questions, while Nautilus Book Awards unveils a revamped 40-category framework for 2027, signaling where the literary spotlight is headed next. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Liane Moriarty’s “Big Little Truths” leans into the ongoing “Big Little Lies” TV fandom, and Caroline Kepnes’ “The Attentionist” lands as her directing debut for YouTube. Book Bans & School Rules: Morocco orders private schools to stop forcing families to buy textbooks from specific outlets, and Myanmar reportedly bans a book on scam-compound trafficking. Community & Bookshops: Independent booksellers push for business-rate relief, arguing the National Year of Reading can’t ignore rising costs. Awards & International Kids Lit: UAE’s Arabic children’s literature award closes with 475 entries across 20 countries. New Releases: Orillia’s “The Woods” gets a local launch, and Waterstones adds Mo Bhana’s wrestling-fantasy “FIVE II.” AI & Books: The Authors Guild warns unlicensed AI training could harm the book ecosystem.