AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Language: Merriam-Webster adds 1,400 new terms to its online dictionary, with a print “glow-up” aimed at slang—sparking debate about whether defining internet talk misses what makes it stick. Royal Memoir Fallout: Piers Morgan says he’ll take legal action over claims in Earl Spencer’s upcoming Diana memoir, as Buckingham Palace again pushes back on the “we’ll forget her soon enough” allegation. Publishing in Practice: A Yellowknife lecture series spotlights Leilani Farha’s Housing Inc, arguing the housing crisis is engineered—not accidental. Audio Boom: The Witcher gets full-cast audiobook treatment, with new productions planned across 2026–2027. Indigenous & Community Books: A NWT author’s Dechi tah Naidi lands in the IBBY–UNESCO collection, while a Mindanao scholar launches Colonial Images of the Subano Nation using rare colonial archives. AI & Books: Guyana Prize judges urge AI-disclosure and disqualification rules after concerns about AI-written submissions. Christian Publishing: David C. Cook announces a 40th anniversary collector’s edition of This Present Darkness.

AI & Books: Japan’s publishers association is demanding answers from major distributor Nippan Group after suspected bulk sales of books to Anthropic for AI learning, raising fresh copyright and consent questions. AI Misuse in Publishing: A new wave of consumer concern follows fresh explainers on how AI can mislead and how generative tools are reshaping education and reading habits. Royal Memoir Fallout: Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer’s “Swan Song” claims—especially about King Charles and funeral decisions—spark a strong Palace rebuttal and fresh challenges over alleged inaccuracies. Publishing Under Fire: Ukraine’s book industry is reeling after Russian strikes destroyed millions of books and a major publishing hub, threatening future authors and Ukrainian-language publishing. Book Culture & Craft: Foreign Languages Press unveiled a bilingual Lu Xun poetry collection reinterpreted through seal script, blending calligraphy, engraving and translation. New Creator Platforms: Naniverse launched an online home for independent anime, manga and gaming creators after a sold-out London event. Children’s Publishing Trend: AI-personalized children’s books keep scaling, turning kids into protagonists via photo uploads and template-driven stories.

Royal Memoir Fallout: Earl Spencer is doubling down on claims in his Diana tell-all, including a reported “we’ll forget her soon enough” remark by King Charles—prompting an unusually direct Buckingham Palace response about grief “cloud[ing] reason,” while Spencer also links the media treatment of Harry and Meghan to Diana’s experience. Publishing & Adaptation Buzz: Prime Video’s Reacher won’t adapt Alan Ritchson’s favorite novel Die Trying “for now,” after he says a season was approved until “someone got re-elected,” reigniting talk about book-to-screen timelines. Book Trade & Community: A new fantasy bookstore, Hidden Worlds in Hillsboro, Oregon, opened with a candlelit Gothic library and a reading room for clubs and D&D nights, drawing hundreds. Censorship/School Libraries: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says his push to remove “over 2,000” books was meant to target sexually explicit, age-inappropriate titles—while naming Holocaust books as still needed for students. New Releases & Literary Events: Wild Atlantic Words Festival (Castlebar, Oct. 6–11) will launch two Mayo All-Ireland journey books and more, while Weyburn author Rylee Lascelle brings a Halloween horror collection to Estevan for a launch and signing.

Royal Memoir Fallout: Earl Spencer’s Diana tell-all keeps escalating after Buckingham Palace challenged his account, with Spencer doubling down that the King said “we’ll forget her soon enough,” turning the book launch into a live royal dispute. True Crime Publishing: Sources say Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner is planning a tell-all memoir in German and English, raising fresh backlash over profiting from a case with no charges. Publishing & AI Scrutiny: A social-media campaign is urging reports to retailers over “Global Tattoo Traditions” books accused of AI use and cultural inaccuracies, spotlighting how quickly misinformation can spread in print. Elections & Transparency: Nigeria’s SERAP sues INEC to force disclosure of political donation limits under the Electoral Act, pushing publishing-adjacent accountability into the legal spotlight. Book Retail/Community: Out West Books curates spooky-season picks, while a pop-up bookshop and writing festival programming from Maddison House Press highlights local publishing’s push for in-person discovery. Industry/Events: Tokyo Game Show 2026 cancels its final day due to typhoon risk, a reminder that major publishing-adjacent entertainment calendars can shift fast. New Releases: R.F. Kuang’s “Taipei Story” arrives as a personal coming-of-age pivot, and Ari Emanuel’s “Roll the Calls” memoir is set to drop amid Hollywood representation drama. Health Policy Reading: Australia’s intergenerational report preview forecasts longer lives, but warns of more years lived with chronic illness—likely to drive demand for accessible public-health explainers.

Publishing Industry & Trade: Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi opened the 5th Sharjah Booksellers Conference with 912 publishers and booksellers from 99 countries, focusing on getting books to readers via inventory, in-store display, e-commerce, digital marketing, and demand analysis. New Releases & Reading Culture: Knopf is set to publish Ari Emanuel’s memoir “Roll Your Calls,” with an excerpt spotlighting his cutthroat entertainment world. Fall Books Roundup: A new autumn list frames 2026’s big themes—spies, AI, war, the body, and memory—through standout fiction and nonfiction picks. Comics & Pop Culture: Marvel’s DNX #1 topped a North America/UK in-store comics bestseller list, beating DC’s Absolute titles. Royal Books Buzz: Charles Spencer’s “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” continues to spark headlines over claims about King Charles and Prince Philip around Diana’s funeral. Libraries & Community: The Friends of the Library Used Book Sale returns at the Warren County Public Library, running through Sunday with member early entry. Tech & AI Publishing: Anthropic’s $100B run-rate news and its IPO timing shift keep AI governance and capability pacing in the spotlight.

Giller Prize Buzz: Windsor publishers Palimpsest Press and Biblioasis scored on the Giller longlist with Hollay Ghadery’s The Unravelling of Ou (told via a sock puppet) and Colin McAdam’s Daphnis and Chloe, underscoring how regional presses are breaking through nationally. Royal Publishing Row: Prince William is reportedly “beyond furious” and “disgusted” over Earl Spencer’s Diana memoir claims, as Buckingham Palace and Charles push back—another reminder that publishing can ignite royal fallout. Arts Editor Loss: Rose Friedman, the NPR editor who shaped book and culture coverage, died at 38 after a cancer battle. Audiobook Pay Pressure (Netherlands): A survey finds 42% of Dutch authors and translators earn nothing from audiobooks on commercial platforms, raising calls for clearer deals. Publishing & Rights in India: Telangana police arrested activist-author Nagularapu Prasad a day before his Ambedkar-themed Telugu book launch, citing alleged defamatory content. Nepal–China Cultural Exchange: Kathmandu launched a Nepali translation of Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, aiming to deepen historical and cultural ties.

HarperCollins Backlist Drop: HarperCollins UK says it will phase out David Walliams’s back catalogue after harassment allegations, following its earlier decision not to publish new titles. Royal Memoir Fallout: Charles Spencer’s Princess Diana book keeps sparking Palace pushback, with fresh claims about King Charles’s reaction and the Palace arguing grief “clouds” memory. Publishing & AI Debate: A Wall Street Journal editor describes using AI as a drafting tool while banning AI-written columns, reigniting questions about authorship and disclosure. Independent Publishing: The Independent Press Award relaunches its website to make submissions and resources easier for small presses. Book Culture & Community: Glasgow’s General Strike centenary gets a new book launch; libraries and nonprofits across the US announce used-book sales and literacy drives, including a Sept. 26 Erie County book drive. Heritage Preservation: Basra’s Manuscripts and Heritage Center is collecting and preserving rare local texts for future critical editions. Comics Collecting: Hake’s opens bidding Sept. 28 for Part 1 of the Lawrence Klein comic collection and original art. New Titles: R.F. Kuang shares TBR picks; a new book, “Owners Are Not Inventory,” targets owner-first models for short-term rentals.

Textbook Funding Crunch: Kyrgyzstan’s president orders an extra 7 billion soms to tackle chronic school textbook shortages, with an investigation into claims free copies are being sold. Royal Memoir Fallout: Earl Spencer’s upcoming Diana book escalates a Palace dispute, alleging Buckingham Palace rejected funeral music requests and that Charles made a “we’ll forget her soon enough” remark. Publishing & Rights: Poplar Publishing sets up in India to sell and translate children’s titles like “Kaiketsu Zorori,” aiming to expand beyond English/Hindi. Audio Spotlight: The British Audio Awards 2026 shortlists highlight audiobook and podcast talent, including Douglas Stuart’s Booker-longlisted “John of John.” Children’s Publishing: Taschen announces bargain Marvel omnibi remastering classic comics for a November release. Media Tech: NPR partners with Casey Newton and Kevin Roose on “Machine Gods,” a video-to-radio AI show launching in October. Local Reading Access: Mandaue and USC launch “RiverScan 2026,” turning student research into a flood-fighting book series.

Royal Memoir Fallout: Buckingham Palace pushed back again over Earl Spencer’s claims about King Charles’ reaction to Princess Diana’s death, including allegations he sounded “giddily elated” and “like a lottery winner,” as Spencer’s memoir “Swan Song” nears publication. National Book Awards: The 2026 National Book Award longlists keep rolling out, with Fiction among the latest releases, spotlighting a fresh slate across major categories. AI & Books: New debate flares over AI’s impact on publishing and regulation, with fresh reporting and commentary raising fears about “AI slop” and the future of human authors. Publishing Events & Sales: BookFest’s free virtual weekend returns Oct. 24–25 with major author and industry conversations, while local library book sales and community events keep driving print discovery. New Releases: Ke Huy Quan’s memoir “Never Say Die” lands Sept. 15, and Ariel Lawhon’s “The Pirate Queen” spotlights the sea legend Grace O’Malley. International Book Trade: Beijing’s Ditan Book Fair expands to a record-sized run, with hundreds of booths putting books front and center.

Royal Books Clash: Buckingham Palace hit back hard at claims in Earl Spencer’s Diana memoir, including an alleged Charles remark that “we’ll forget her soon enough,” with the palace saying grief can cloud judgment and memory. Publishing & Education: Zeinab Badawi is adapting her bestselling An African History of Africa into a children’s edition, Africa: History and Heroes, aiming to bring the continent’s story to younger readers through illustrations. Book Heritage Discovery: Research suggests Henry VIII’s enforcer John Gage secretly saved a Catholic manuscript fragment of Nicholas Love’s Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ from destruction during the Reformation. Kids’ Writing Pipeline: City of Darwin’s Young Territory Author Awards saw a record 318 entries, including a record 12 school entries, as the long-running competition pushes youth storytelling. Comics & Crowdfunding: Clover Press launched a Kickstarter for the first four volumes continuing Marvel Masterworks, offering multiple cover options and archival collections for backers. Local Book Culture: Panama will be guest of honor at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair, bringing a large delegation of authors and publishing events. Tech, Books & Records: A tiny 8mm wind turbine made by a researcher in Srikakulam earned an International Book of Records listing, highlighting how makers are turning research into publishable feats.

Royal Publishing Clash: Buckingham Palace pushed back on claims in Earl Spencer’s upcoming Diana memoir, saying grief can “cloud reason” and “colour memory,” as the book is set for release and serialization. Book Theft: Separate reports say copies of Spencer’s unreleased Diana book were stolen from a Dutch truck en route to a publisher warehouse. Children’s Books & Civic Talk: Mac Barnett, a Library of Congress National Ambassador, is set to visit Cody Sept. 21, using his picture-book work to help kids practice disagreement and discussion. Local Literary Events: The Las Tunas Book and Literature Fair wrapped up despite shortages, while the Nook Books & Gifts announced a second Poetry Night with featured poets and a haiku contest. Manga Marketing Move: Kodansha USA named Beth Kawasaki VP of Brand and Marketing, highlighting new promotions and brand growth. Used-Book Culture: The Brooklyn Book Festival returns with 250+ publishers and a big print market, keeping paper at the center.

Publishing Industry Moves: Substack is reportedly deepening ties with the book trade, including hosting agent-focused events, as publishers look for new routes to readers. Leadership & Imprints: Dialogue names Yassine Belkacemi publishing director as Hannah Chukwu steps down; PRH Children’s appoints Cate Augustin as publisher for Rachel Denwood’s new imprint. Children’s Publishing Spotlight: The Bookseller Children’s Conference 2026 programme is revealed, with major publishers, booksellers, and education voices lining up for a theme on reaching and retaining young readers. Library & Heritage: Manchester’s Portico Library wins a £6.4m Heritage Fund grant to restore all three floors to library use. Book Trade & Community: Barnes & Noble is acquiring Joseph-Beth Booksellers, keeping its community and event team. Security & High-Profile Titles: Earl Spencer’s Diana memoir copies reportedly stolen in the Netherlands days before release. Reading & Research: A Cambridge-led study links reading for pleasure with better mental health and lower dementia risk. Global Recognition: Ping Lu’s “To the East of the East” lands on the National Book Award for Translated Literature longlist. Events & Access: Guinness World Records plans a “most people reading together online” push on Oct. 8.

Accessibility in Publishing: Bloomsbury will release a dyslexia-friendly edition of Stephen Graham and Orly Klein’s Letters to Our Sons on the same day as the standard book, using clearer larger type, more spacing, and cream paper; the program will expand to 13 more titles in 2026. Awards & Reading Culture: The Washington Center for the Book named 2026 Washington State Book Award winners across seven categories, including Sinkhole, and Other Inexplicable Voids (fiction) and Eve (general nonfiction/biography). New Books & Publishing Moves: HarperCollins will publish Quentin Tarantino’s The Adventures of Cliff Booth on Dec. 8, timed around the film release cycle; Blackstone Publishing will reissue Bobby Seale’s Seize the Time and publish his new memoir I, Bobby. Genocide Scholarship: Bloomsbury published The Concentration Camps of the Armenian Genocide, a 500-page edited collection focused on camp formation and major sites. AI & Money: A report on AI agents paying for real services finds only a small share of settlements look like genuine commerce, challenging hype about machine-to-machine spending. Local Book Events: Apalachicola’s Margaret Key Public Library hosts a Sept. 26 $5 fill-a-bag sale benefiting the library.

Publishing Calendar & Industry Events: London Book Fair 2027 will host the Children’s Media Conference, signaling more cross-over between kids’ content and publishing. Book Fairs in the Middle East: Qatar will play a major role at the Amman International Book Fair’s silver jubilee (Sept. 24–Oct. 3), with a cultural program that includes AI’s impact on writing and publishing; Jordan’s fair leadership says the 25th edition will spotlight “the Jordanian narrative,” with Syria as guest of honor. New Releases: Today’s big publishing day includes Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party (Knopf), Leigh Bardugo’s Dead Beat (Flatiron), Kate Atkinson’s Our Noble Selves (Doubleday), plus major nonfiction like Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s End Times Fascism (FSG). Rare Manuscript: A 17th-century natural history manuscript by John Aubrey is published in full for the first time in 370 years, restoring a major early county natural history record. Reading & Learning: A new book, Beyond the Degree, profiles adult learner “comeback” stories and what colleges can do to support re-enrollment.

Community & Events: Dalkeith’s Touch a Book brought authors, readers, and publishing how-tos together over two days, with local writers discussing everything from copyright to getting from idea to publication. Education Policy: Kenya Literature Bureau is facing scrutiny over Sh600m in dead stock CBC books after a curriculum review, with lawmakers pushing for answers. Publishing & Equity: A new book, Sag̱aytg̱awdi: Grounding Assessment in Indigenous Knowledges for Equity and Well-Being, argues assessment can either gatekeep or support learners, urging educators to rethink classroom practice. Book Industry Business: Austin’s Letterpress Play is expanding into Letterpress Play & Books, adding an independent bookstore led by Noah Hawley’s creative partnership. International Rights & Translation: Macau’s history title has been released in English and Portuguese to broaden access beyond Chinese readers. Literary Culture: Counter Culture: New York City’s Greatest Diners and Luncheonettes turns photo books into a love letter to iconic NYC eateries. Books & Society: A new men’s mental health book, Hey, Man. Heal!, tackles healing through personal experience and practical guidance.

Publishing & Rights: Fontana Books will publish Nobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s unfinished novel, written while he was imprisoned in the USSR. Academic/Arts Publishing: Manchester University Press is set to publish Allison Leigh’s account of how misogyny shaped six giants of modern art. Romance Dealmaking: One More Chapter (HarperCollins UK) acquired world English-language rights to Chaos Davie’s six-book sapphic dark romance series. Health & Pop-Science Publishing: Souvenir Press acquired Dr Alice Murray’s The Bum Bible, on gut and butt health. Industry & AI Pressure: New reporting warns AI “slop” is flooding online marketplaces, squeezing human authors’ paychecks. Trade/Distribution Tech: Specialist Holidays Group’s new trade booking portal is expected to grow online sales, but “agent behaviour” will drive how much shifts to self-service. Global Publishing Events: The 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair opened at ADNEC with 95 countries and Qatar participating via its Ministry of Culture. Books & Culture: A new Marco Robinson archive supports his START OVER expansion into film/TV, with casting now underway.