AGP Executive Report

Book Fairs: The Cairo International Book Fair will run Jan. 20–Feb. 2, 2027, with Qatar as guest of honour. Organizers are also preparing an app for finding titles, locating stands and buying books online. Literary Honors: Canadian poet and writer Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Publishing & AI: A Harry Potter publisher won $21 million from Anthropic and will share the proceeds with authors, adding a major development to the debate over copyrighted books and AI training. Global Reading: Chinese web novels are moving beyond niche fandom in Russia, with publisher Eksmo expanding translations for a growing readership. Translation: Three Korean science-fiction writers will present their work at France’s Utopiales festival, bringing stories of identity, nature and power to French readers. New Reviews: Simon Armitage’s translation of the ancient epic Gilgamesh is praised for making its 4,000-year-old story feel vivid and relevant today.

Independent Publishing: Missouri State’s Moon City Press publishes four books a year and a literary magazine, while giving students hands-on experience in editing and publishing. Literary Honors: Canadian poet and writer Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Editorial Dispute: Palestinian authors withdrew a children’s history book from Penguin Random House after disagreements over edits, including the publisher’s treatment of the Nakba and October 7. AI and Authors: Harry Potter publisher’s $21 million award from Anthropic will be shared with authors, while publishers are also turning to AI to chase attention amid concerns it could flood inboxes. Book Access: U.S. book bans reached a record high, with more than 12,000 challenges tallied in the past year.

Literary Honors: Canadian poet Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for work that blends classical references with modern themes. Reading Culture: Punjab University’s book fair set a record, selling more than 230,000 books and featuring launches and poetry readings. Royalties and Protest: Sally Rooney’s books were pulled from UK sale amid a dispute over royalties linked to her donation to Palestine Action. AI and Copyright: Harry Potter’s publisher secured $21 million from Anthropic, with proceeds to be shared with authors, as reports of AI firms seeking copyrighted books for training fuel wider concerns. Children’s Publishing: Authors withdrew a Palestinian history book from Penguin Random House after editorial disagreements, accusing the publisher of sanitizing its account.

Censorship & Sales: Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from UK sale after she and publisher Faber agreed that passing her royalties to Palestine Action could expose them to prosecution. Separately, authors pulled a Palestinian children’s history book from Penguin Random House over editorial changes. AI & Copyright: A Harry Potter publisher won $21 million from Anthropic and will share the proceeds with authors; a Quebec novelist accused of using AI has abandoned efforts to document how his book was written. Independent Publishing: Leipzig Literature Verlag and its Sisyphus imprint won Germany’s Publishers Award for championing translated literature, particularly from the former Yugoslavia. Book Fairs: Sharjah’s 2026 fair is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries for 1,500 events.

Literary Prize: Isabel Allende won Spain’s €1 million Premio Planeta for a sequel to The House of the Spirits, written under a pseudonym. She says the novel brings the story to a close. AI & Authorship: A Quebec author has abandoned an effort to document that AI was not used to write his novel, renewing questions about how writers can establish a work’s origins. Publishing Disputes: Penguin Random House halted a children’s book on Palestinian history after its authors accused the publisher of sanitizing the subject. In the UK, Sally Rooney’s books are no longer available for sale after publisher Faber said it could not pass her royalties to her because of her support for Palestine Action. Independent Publishing: Welsh-focused press Lucent Dreaming is crowdfunding £3,300 to plug an unexpected funding gap and continue publishing emerging writers. Readers’ Market: Pakistan’s Punjab University book fair sold more than 200,000 books over three days, a record for the event.

Literature Nobel: Canadian poet and classicist Anne Carson has won the prize, recognized for work that transforms ancient Greek and Roman texts into inventive poetry. AI and Creators’ Rights: Quebec novelist Thélyson Orélien has ended efforts to document his denial of AI use in his book, while Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler is considering legal action over AI-generated images. Korean publishers are also calling for consent and payment when books are used to train AI. Publishing Dispute: Palestinian authors withdrew a children’s history book from Penguin Random House, accusing the publisher of sanitizing history; the publisher halted the book amid the editorial row. Book Fairs: Sharjah’s international fair is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, while Berlin’s Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair features 110 publishing houses.

AI and Copyright: Korean publishers are demanding consent and payment after Anthropic used books by authors including Han Kang to train Claude. Twenty-one Korean titles are eligible for compensation under the company’s $1.5 billion copyright settlement. Palestinian History: Authors Alana Hadid and Jenan Matari withdrew their children’s book from Penguin Random House over requested edits to its account of Palestinian history; they plan to publish it with Interlink Books. Books and Politics: Sally Rooney’s books have been pulled from sale in the UK after publisher Faber said it could not pay her over her support for Palestine Action, prompting questions about censorship and royalties. Literary Prize: Tayari Jones’ novel Kin won the Kirkus Prize for fiction, earning a $50,000 award. Readers’ Calendar: Nashville’s Southern Festival of Books returns this weekend with more than 200 authors, free events and book signings.

Publishing and Free Expression: Hundreds of authors have rallied behind Sally Rooney and Faber after the publisher said it could no longer supply her books in the UK amid legal risks tied to the ban on Palestine Action. AI and Books: A report details how tech companies buy books, cut off their spines and scan the pages for AI training; Korean publishers are also demanding consent and payment for use of books in AI. Industry Moves: Pan Macmillan has taken a stake in independent nonfiction publisher New River Books. Awards: Tayari Jones’ Kin won the Kirkus Prize for fiction, including its $50,000 award, while Chilean novelist Isabel Allende received Spain’s Planeta Prize. Young Readers: Canada’s Forest of Reading named 100 books for its 2027 awards, with 270,000 students expected to read and vote.

UK Publishing Dispute: Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from UK sale after publisher Faber said it cannot pay her earnings because she plans to support Palestine Action, which the UK has banned as a terrorist group. Existing print stock may remain in shops. Authors and Editors: Alana Hadid and Jenan Matari have pulled their young readers’ book on Palestine from Random House after rejecting requested changes to its account of October 7 and other passages. AI and Copyright: Anthropic’s settlement over pirated digital books includes at least 22 works by Korean authors, among them Nobel laureate Han Kang; the company agreed to pay $3,000 per eligible title. New Releases: Jeremy Clarkson says his 25th Penguin book, The Goat, returns to the chaos of farm life. Cartoonist Huda Fahmy is also preparing the final installment of her semi-autobiographical graphic novel series.

Publishing and Censorship: Sally Rooney’s UK publisher is withdrawing her books, saying it fears paying royalties could breach the ban on Palestine Action, which Rooney supports. Ireland’s foreign minister plans to raise the issue with her UK counterpart. Book Bans: US public schools recorded nearly 12,000 bans in 2025–26, covering 7,370 titles—the highest annual total tracked by PEN America. Digital Publishing: China’s online literature market more than doubled from 2021 to 2025, reaching 57.47 billion yuan; overseas revenue grew even faster, driven in part by screen and other adaptations. AI and Books: Publishers are facing scrutiny over AI-generated cover art and other uses, while a Zimbabwean author denies using AI to write a prize-winning story.

Literary Honors: Canadian poet Anne Carson won the Nobel Prize in Literature, renewing attention to her bold, inventive work. UK Publishing Row: Sally Rooney’s publisher is withdrawing her books from British sale, saying it cannot pass on royalties under current law after Rooney voiced support for Palestine Action. Authorship and AI: Quebec novelist Thélyson Orélien denied using AI for his prize-winning novel but admitted plagiarism in earlier work; his publisher has backed him, sharpening debate over trust and disclosure. Industry Watch: Frankfurt Book Fair reported fewer exhibitors amid geopolitical tensions, while Sharjah’s 2026 fair will host 2,673 publishers from 124 countries. Book Deals: The Borough Press won a six-way auction for Brit Bennett’s next novel, and Tor Wildthorn acquired a two-book speculative romance from Chloe Gong.

UK Bookselling: Sally Rooney and publisher Faber say her books will no longer be sold in Britain because UK law prevents Faber from passing her royalties to her, following her stated support for Palestine Action. AI and Authorship: Canadian publisher Boreal will keep Thelyson Orelien’s novel in bookstores despite accusations of AI use; the book was dropped from the Goncourt shortlist, and Orelien denies using AI but has acknowledged plagiarism in earlier work. Publishing Business: GV Group has acquired CPI Books after an international bidding process. Literary Honors: Canadian writer Anne Carson won the Nobel Prize in Literature, bringing fresh attention to her inventive work. Book Sales: Jeffrey Archer’s final novel sold nearly 28,000 copies within days of release.

Book Fairs: Sharjah International Book Fair returns Nov. 4–15 with 2,673 publishers and exhibitors. Miami Book Fair has announced nearly 500 authors for its Nov. 15–22 program, including Margaret Atwood, Colson Whitehead and Bonnie Garmus. Literary Honors: Poet Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Two Saskatchewan authors whose work explores Indigenous history also made the Giller Prize shortlist. Publishing Watch: Jeffrey Archer’s final novel sold nearly 28,000 copies within days of release. Sales of ICC President Tomoko Akane’s book surged to 85,000 amid U.S. sanctions against the court. Meanwhile, publishers face staff backlash over growing AI use, and PEN America warns that popular manga titles are increasingly targeted by school book bans.

Sharjah Book Fair: The Nov. 4–15 fair will bring 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries to Sharjah, with 1,500 events and Oman as guest of honour. Publishing & AI: Reports that major publishers are using AI for cover art and other work sharpen concerns about the technology’s place in publishing. Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien denied using AI for his novel but acknowledged past plagiarism. New Fiction: Yiyun Li’s new novel, Music Against the Night, turns to music to explore what words cannot express. Literary Honors: Anne Carson’s Nobel Prize in Literature puts renewed attention on her inventive, genre-crossing work. Authors Remembered: Canadian short-story writer K.D. Miller has died at 75. Jeffrey Archer’s final novel, Adam and Eve, sold nearly 28,000 copies in its first week after his death.

International Adaptation: Greek drama The Great Chimera, based on M. Karagatsis’s 1953 novel, has sold to buyers including Walter Presents in the U.S. and SBS in Australia, taking the story to new audiences. AI and Publishing: Reports that publishers are using AI for cover art and other work—and that an AI-made fake book appeared on Amazon as a top new release—are sharpening questions about disclosure and trust. Book Bans: Authors and educators are raising fresh concerns about challenged titles, including popular manga in U.S. schools and books in Florida. Literary Honors: Nobel Prize winner Anne Carson’s work has drawn a surge in sales and library holds, bringing renewed attention to the genre-defying poet and novelist.

New Books: Mayo’s historic 2026 All-Ireland win inspires Liam Horan’s memoir, I Can See It Still, due Oct. 16. Heather Morris’s The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse follows a French Resistance pianist who shelters a Jewish girl, while Pat McKee’s Ariel’s Intent brings his AI-themed legal thriller trilogy to a close on Oct. 20. Literary Recognition: Anne Carson’s Nobel Prize in Literature sent her book sales soaring, while Nigerian poet Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature. Tsitsi Dangarembga became the first Black woman to receive the German Peace Prize. Publishing & AI: Frankfurt Book Fair put artificial intelligence in the spotlight as authors and publishers debate its role—and raise concerns about AI-generated material appearing in books. Language & Legacy: Curaçao writer Frank Martinus Arion was honored with a memorial in Amsterdam featuring a poem in Papiamentu. Literary Festivals: Louisiana’s free Oct. 31 book festival plans more than 200 authors and presenters across dozens of genres.