AGP Executive Report

Speculative Fiction Spotlight: New Zealand’s inaugural Te Pae Tawhiti awards named Catherine Chidgey’s The Book of Guilt (adult novel) and Anne Wilkins’ The Cold Burns (short story), with Sue Carpenter and Marie Cardno also taking top honors. Publishing & Community: Philadelphia’s fourth annual Bookstore Crawl returns with 50+ independent shops, signings, discounts and giveaways—an easy win for readers who like to browse in person. Oprah Book Club Buzz: Maria Semple’s Go Gentle lands as the latest Oprah pick, with Semple set to appear at the Aspen Literary Festival. Children’s Books & Belonging: Elizabeth Scollon’s The Adventures of Shadow: Finding a Home turns a real dog’s story into a message about adoption and finding your people. AI vs. Books: Advocacy groups are urging the FTC to investigate AI firms that scan and destroy physical books, pushing the fight over access and competition into regulators’ hands. Local Author Life: A new guide, The Journey of a Storyteller, offers practical advice for writers navigating publishing and promotion.

EU Transparency & Taxes: Apple disclosed country-by-country profit and tax figures under new EU rules, spotlighting Ireland’s massive income-tax payment after a long-running state-aid case. Book Culture & Community: Salt Lake City’s inaugural book festival story shows how readers and local organizers built a new literary event from the ground up. Local Publishing Events: A new Bengal history book, Swargabhumi Bangla, launched in Dhaka to big crowds, while U.S. authors keep rolling out signings and launches—from a Hampton park event to a children’s book debut in Oconto. Tech, DRM & Reading Rights: Amazon’s Kindle update tightens DRM and closes a Libby-related loophole, reigniting the “you don’t truly own digital books” debate. AI & Books Under Pressure: Multiple reports this week keep circling the same worry: AI firms are scanning, buying, and destroying books to train models. Politics in Print: A new political-history read on inequality hits mainstream attention, alongside fresh commentary on U.S. fiscal dysfunction and global risk.

FTC Pressure on AI Book Destruction: A coalition of civil-society groups is urging the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether dominant AI firms are buying, scanning, and physically destroying books—arguing it could shrink competition by removing key source material. Local Publishing Spotlight: Kentucky’s Dragonfly Press Publishing is hosting an author expo at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, mixing fiction, poetry, tarot-leaning titles, and local creator energy. Book-to-Screen, With a Grief Core: Abigail Hing Wen’s The Vale—Origins, a grief-driven animated/live-action prequel to her novel, is expanding into immersive AI-powered VR healing. Hollywood Looks to Korean Books: Disney is developing Lee Mi-ye’s fantasy DallerGut Dream Department Store, with Patrick Ness attached to adapt the bestselling, globally translated novel. Community Bookshop Opens: The Dog-Eared Book has launched in downtown Edenton, bringing a rare independent bookstore hub to a small-town main street. Utah Book Ban Hits “Push”: Utah public schools removed Sapphire’s Push after multiple districts flagged it as “objective sensitive material,” reigniting the debate over book bans.

Film & Publishing Rights: Warner Bros. is negotiating to adapt Allen Levi’s breakout novel “Theo of Golden,” with Tom Hanks in talks to star and Hanks’ team producing. Book Trade & AI: A new report says Amazon is destroying books at a North Las Vegas facility—tearing them apart and scanning them—to train AI, reigniting the “books as fuel” debate. Censorship in Schools: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll push penalties for schools that keep “vulgar” books on shelves, escalating pressure on district libraries. Literary Reviews: Edwidge Danticat’s “Dèy” is reviewed as a meditation on grief beyond the dead, sparked by a Miami mass shooting survivor’s story. New Releases & Fall Reading: AP rounds up major fall books, including Marlon James’ “The Disappearers” and Kai Bird’s “American Scoundrel.” Local Book Culture: A new free Hopscotch art space in Brighton, launched by Nick Sharratt, aims to get kids drawing without screens.

FCC Showdown: ABC says FCC pressure tactics forced programming changes, as Disney sues to block an early license review of its local stations. Public Power Leadership: Vermont’s VPPSA GM Ken Nolan elected president of the Northeast Public Power Association, highlighting shared regional utility challenges. Alternative Medicine Backlash: Hannah McElhinney’s “Wormhole” revisits a cousin’s fatal sepsis journey and the wellness trends that followed. Courtroom Transfer Fight: Pakistan’s Supreme Court returned the government’s review bid over Imran Khan’s Shifa Hospital transfer, with contempt threats looming. Book World & Culture: BBC Books will publish the “lost” Doctor Who story “The Six Doctors” in 2027, adapted from Terrance Dicks material. Attention Economy: A library talk spotlights “Reading in the Age of TikTok,” arguing books are the best defense against algorithm-driven focus loss. Publishing & AI: A new book on “Journalism in the Age of AI” argues the real shift is how people get answers, not just how news is made. Local Crime & Community: Dane County warns of a bail scam targeting families of jail inmates.

Self-Help Spotlight: A Lewisville author is turning motherhood into a message of self-reclamation with Built, Not Broken: The MomStrong Method, and she’ll be signing copies in Lexington Sept. 15. AI in Publishing & Business: Fresha launched a unified online reputation dashboard that pulls Google and Fresha reviews together, while multiple reports keep circling back to how AI is reshaping (and sometimes damaging) book ecosystems. Community Book Culture: Ireland’s An Post Bookshop of the Year voting opens for independent shops, with nominations closing Sept. 9. Literary Events: Chatham Historical Society will host Ben Shattuck, author of The History of Sound, for a talk mixing historical fiction craft with past-and-present “conversations.” Book-to-Screen Buzz: The Bourdain-inspired coming-of-age film Tony is getting attention for its transformation story, even as it’s not “really about” Bourdain. Local Reads: Reedsburg Public Library’s next discussion spotlights Wally Lamb’s The River is Waiting, with an author visit tied to Ho-Chunk elder memories.

Publishing & Books in the Real World: A Mongolian school is being planned for Busan, South Korea, as officials discuss legal steps to help Mongolian kids keep their language and culture. Awards & Literary Culture: Mary Pat Kelly will receive the Irish American Writers & Artists Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award in October, honoring her work across literature, film, TV, history, and Irish-American identity. Local Book Events: Meredith Public Library will host Mel Allen’s “Listening to New England” talk and Q&A Sept. 12, while Half Price Books in Dallas runs a Local Author Crawl this weekend with dozens of writers signing independently. Book Policy & Censorship: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick escalates pressure on districts over “vulgar” library books, threatening accountability penalties. AI & Rare Books: Multiple reports keep spotlighting how tech firms buy and destroy rare books to train AI, raising fresh copyright and ethics alarms. Health & Reading in Public Life: Wisconsin’s measles outbreak is growing, with campaign coverage tying data centers to the governor race.

AI & Books Under Fire: A new investigation alleges Amazon buys rare and obscure books, then destroys physical copies during destructive scanning for AI training—raising fears that irreplaceable titles and physical notes could be lost forever. Consumer Pricing Scrutiny: UK watchdog the CMA has opened a probe into Trainline’s “drip pricing,” where mandatory fees appear late in checkout, and is also examining Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School over how booking costs are presented. Publishing Events: Abu Dhabi’s 35th International Book Fair runs Sept. 13–18 under “Turn the Page, Read the World,” with the Balkans as guest of honour. Faith & Devotion Books: BookyAwards named Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh’s “Blessings Abound: Awaken To The Gifts At Hand” Best Treatment of Faith. Local Book Culture: Virginia Hosley Library launches an “Author Talks” series, starting Aug. 22 with mystery writer Lori Duffy Foster. New Fiction Spotlight: Everett author Carmela Maxell’s dystopian grief novel “Bereavement” launches a trilogy, with book two planned for Nov. 17.

Romantasy Buzz: Sarah J. Maas has revealed the titles and covers for A Court of Thorns and Roses books 6 and 7—A Court of Splintered Harmony (Oct. 27) and A Court of Forgotten Melody (Jan. 12)—with billboards and an Instagram wipe fueling the hype. AI & Rare Books: A report says Amazon facilities are scanning used rare books for AI training, with an AirTag trail pointing to a Las Vegas warehouse where books may be destroyed. Book Bans & Library Pressure: Australia’s Waverley Library pulled a Gaza-critical title after a complaint, while Missouri and Colorado districts face renewed challenges over what libraries and school shelves should carry. Publishing/Events: Daejeon’s “science meets books” fair returns Oct. 24–25, and Ithaca’s book festival runs Sept. 10–13. Community Reading: A local book fair in Tifton expands for a second year, and Colorado Springs’ “Blind Date with a Book” keeps growing via a neighborhood Little Free Library.

AI & Authorship Clash: Publishers are facing deal breakdowns and cancellations as suspected AI use by authors triggers disputes over whether work is truly theirs, with recent cases highlighting how verification demands are reshaping trust in the book business. AI & Rare Books: A reported AirTag trail suggests rare books were shipped to an Amazon facility where they were cut and scanned for AI training, reigniting fears about how “training data” is sourced. Tech Meets Privacy: Leaks point to AirPods Ultra with on-board cameras, sparking a fresh privacy debate as “visual intelligence” moves from concept to consumer gadget. Publishing Industry Moves: Sourcebooks is expanding its romance team with new hires and promotions, while the Society of Authors adds four new board members. New Releases to Watch: Sarah J. Maas revealed ACOTAR books 6 and 7—A Court of Splintered Harmony (Oct. 27, 2026) and A Court of Forgotten Melody (Jan. 12, 2027). Community & Literacy: Cape Fear Literacy Council’s Adult Story Hour returns to support adult literacy and digital skills. Book Culture in the Wild: A Sydney library removed a Gaza-related book after complaints from a local survivor, while a new bookstore and cafe opening in Newark spotlights hometown publishing.

ACOTAR Buzz: Sarah J. Maas has revealed the titles and covers for “A Court of Thorns and Roses” books 6 and 7, with “The Valkyrie Cycle” subtitles—“Movement I” arriving Oct. 27, 2026, and “Movements II & III” on Jan. 12, 2027. AI & Copyright: A major U.S. ruling in Bartz v. Anthropic found training on copyrighted books could be fair use, but Anthropic still agreed to a $1.5B settlement—while new lawsuits from Round Hill Music target AI firms like Suno and Anthropic over alleged large-scale song copying. Publishing Meets Policy: Canada’s House public safety committee voted to investigate NATO-related security vetting after a woman was arrested in Belgium over alleged spying. Local Reading Life: A Saskatchewan author, Caitlin Nickel, is set to lead Storytime Saturday with readings and crafts. Community Libraries: Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid donated $300,000 to keep five library branches from shutting. Book-to-Real-World Stories: A Kentucky teacher accused of misconduct and a true-crime book revisiting a 1935 poisoning case both underscore how publishing keeps returning to real-life harm and accountability.

Books & Publishing: J.W. Ocker’s new nonfiction-meets-fiction event “Sleepy Hollow: Fact & Fiction” lands Oct. 10 at Tarrytown Music Hall, pairing his book “Chasing the Headless Horseman” with a panel of novelists reworking Washington Irving’s legend. Publishing & Culture on Screen: “People of the Book,” adapted from Geraldine Brooks’ Pulitzer-winning novel, has wrapped filming in Spain and Italy and is selling worldwide rights at TIFF via Bleiberg Entertainment. Royal Books & Memoir Lore: Prince Harry’s “Wasp” rival, Sir Clive Alderton, is set to step down as principal private secretary, with experts suggesting his influence could linger behind palace doors. Community Reading: The NC Daniel Boone Heritage Trail is donating third-grade Boone biographies and teacher guides to multiple North Carolina counties as part of America’s 250th celebrations. AI & the Book World: Reports keep circling back to AI’s appetite for print—especially concerns about secondhand books being used to train models. Health & Food (book-adjacent research): A review links higher ultra-processed food intake with lower nutrient biomarkers, but stresses the findings are associations, not proof of cause.

AI & Copyright: A major U.S. copyright case is effectively closed after a judge approved Anthropic’s $1.5B settlement with authors and publishers over alleged training on pirated books, while an earlier ruling still leaves room for “fair use” when training uses legally acquired works. Publishing & Tech: Business leaders are being told to ask vendors how their AI was trained and whether data is licensed—because the “piracy” part is what’s getting punished. Literary Culture: A Booker Prize longlist roundup spotlights the year’s 13 contenders, with readers treating each title like a “portal” worth prioritizing. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Fantasy adaptations keep coming—one list argues the best movies know what to cut and what to keep, with Lord of the Rings held up as the gold standard. Local Books & Community: Iowa City’s “One of Us” horror showcase returns with 20+ Midwest creators and authors, aiming to fill a gap in regional indie horror events. Controversy Watch: Natalie Portman reportedly reacts to Rachel Cusk’s Life of M with irritation amid claims the character draws from Portman’s life.

AI & Books: Reports say AI firms buy old books in bulk, then strip bindings and shred/discard copies after scanning—raising fresh alarms about copyright and the fate of rare print. Publishing & Culture: The 2026 Edinburgh International Book Festival opens with “Changing Your Mind,” spotlighting global literary exchange and a new Global Ink industry forum. Book Retail Policy: Bestselling authors and booksellers urge UK PM Andy Burnham to include small bookshops in business-rates relief, arguing they’re being left out while pubs and venues get support. Literary Scholarship: A new collection, “Chaucer and Trauma,” tackles how Chaucer depicts violence and grief, using nine essays to read medieval suffering through a modern lens. Memoir & Healing: Kenyan-American writer Joyce Wambua Osborne’s award-recognized memoir “Seasons of Me” turns personal loss and identity into a conversation about rebuilding. Reading Community: Silent Book Club Mainz grows with a “bring your own book” format—quiet reading, then optional talk. Sci-Fi Buzz: Andy Weir says he’s shelved an idea for a “lucky cat” story, even as “Project Hail Mary” keeps fueling interest.

AI & Books: A former Pfizer toxicologist’s new memoir claims COVID-19 mRNA shots were sold without proper safety testing, adding to the growing wave of high-profile “witness” publishing. Copyright & Training: Booksellers fear AI firms are buying and destroying rare titles after a fair-use ruling cleared the way for large-scale book use to train chatbots. Publishing & Tech Ethics: An opinion piece argues AI-generated fundraising letters and sermons can feel manipulative, while another warns authors to push for transparent AI policies. Memoir & Power: Nepal billionaire Binod Chaudhary’s memoir frames business-politics ties and inequality through a candid, self-aware lens. Literary Culture: Dave Marsh, influential rock critic and Springsteen biographer, dies at 76. Book-to-Stage/Screen: A Tagore reimagining and a modern “Three Women” adaptation bring classic dilemmas into today’s spotlight. Community Reading: A portable romance book truck and audiobook walking club show books as social glue. Pilgrimage Rules: Saudi Arabia clarifies how multiple-entry Umrah visas must still be paired with booked service packages via the Nusk system.

Publishing & Books in the Spotlight: A new staged reading of Duncan MacMillan’s addiction drama People, Places and Things runs Aug. 15–16 at London’s Proscenium Theater, with Bela Padilla alternating in the lead. Book Culture & Community: Philly’s cookbook shop Binding Agents keeps growing as a community hub, while Louisburgh’s Books at One celebrates its 10th anniversary with author events and “golden ticket” surprises. Reading Access & Costs: Hong Kong parents are pushing for student subsidies after textbook prices jumped for 2026–27, with retailers blaming the shift toward digital materials and tighter print runs. Politics, Policy & Books: A new U.S. podcast from Barack Obama, A Great Book, launches Sept. 24 on Audible, featuring six “worldview-shaping” classics. Legal/Privacy & Publishing Adjacent: India’s Banker’s Books Evidence Bill heads to the Rajya Sabha after expanding how bank records can be demanded, raising concerns about access to full banking histories. Tech, Health & Controversy: A former Pfizer toxicologist’s upcoming book claims COVID-19 mRNA shots were sold without proper safety testing, while reports say an executive order could push HHS to review vaccines and autism. International Travel Surveillance: Russia is preparing to expand a passenger-data system to track long-distance travel inside and outside the country.