AGP Executive Report

Publishing Shake-ups: South Korea’s Dawoo Kiwoom Group was named preferred bidder for Munhakdongne, a major literary publisher, while California’s Catapult sale leaves staff and its spring 2027 books in transition. AI and Authorship: A Quebec publisher dropped a Goncourt contender over suspected AI use, as a South African author defended producing 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months and “human-made” labels gain ground. Books and Readers: Ahmedabad’s international book festival opened with more than 700 stalls and 125 publishers; Pakistan and Azerbaijan also moved toward a joint Urdu edition of a children’s book. Literary News: Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami died at 74. Shortlists were announced for the East Anglian and An Post Irish Book Awards. Rights and Access: ACE and Inpress will fund places for 12 small publishers at the 2027 London Book Fair. Sonia Gandhi also revealed her memoir’s cover ahead of its November 10 release.

Publisher Shake-up: Catapult’s assets are being sold ahead of an Oct. 30 shutdown. Staff jobs will not transfer, and 16 spring 2027 books face an uncertain future. AI and Authorship: Quebec publisher Boréal cut ties with Thélyson Orélien over alleged AI use, while Canadian publishers say detection tools are unreliable. A South African author defended publishing 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months, as France launched a prize for AI co-written fiction. Market Watch: Bloomsbury reported falling profits but cited strong demand for Sarah J. Maas’s next A Court of Thorns and Roses novel. Books in the News: Sally Rooney’s titles are drawing renewed attention after UK sales were halted over her Palestine Action ties; Irish bookshops reportedly helped readers get copies. Literary Loss: Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami, author of Audition and Almost Transparent Blue, has died at 74.

Publisher Shake-up: Catapult Books has been sold and is set to close within days; staff jobs will not transfer, and the fate of 16 forthcoming titles remains unclear. Industry Support: Arts Council England and Inpress will fund places for 12 small publishers at London Book Fair 2027. AI and Authorship: Quebec publisher Boréal dropped Thélyson Orélien after confirming AI helped write his novel, while South African author Coral Hart defended producing more than 370 AI-assisted books in 20 months; France has also launched a prize for AI co-written fiction. Literary News: Japanese novelist Ryū Murakami, author of Almost Transparent Blue, has died at 74. Sally Rooney’s UK books withdrawal continues to draw support and spark debate, with readers rushing to buy copies. Bookshops and Awards: Harvard Book Store plans a second location in downtown Boston, while Maggie O’Farrell, Louise Kennedy and other writers feature on the An Post Irish Book Awards shortlist.

AI and Authorship: South African writer Coral Hart says she has produced 370 books with AI since early 2025, putting the technology’s role in publishing back in the spotlight. In Canada, publisher Boréal cut ties with Thélyson Orélien over alleged AI use, while Library and Archives Canada has tightened ISBN rules for AI-generated books. Irish Book Awards: The 2026 shortlist spans 19 categories, with Maggie O’Farrell, Vincent Browne and the late Manchán Magan among the featured names. Winners will be announced on December 1. Publisher Shake-up: California’s Catapult Book Group has been sold, and staff have been told their jobs will end October 30, raising concerns about the future of its imprints and authors. Rooney Book Row: Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from UK sales after her support for Palestine Action; more than 150 writers and artists have signed a letter backing her. Fantasy Sales: Bloomsbury says demand for Sarah J. Maas’s next A Court of Thorns and Roses novel is “simply staggering”; the sixth book is due October 27, with another scheduled for January.

AI and Authorship: Canadian publisher Boréal has cut ties with award-winning novelist Thélyson Orélien, saying AI was used to write his debut. France has meanwhile launched a literary prize for AI-co-written fiction, sharpening debate over authorship. Books and Free Expression: Sally Rooney’s books have been withdrawn from UK sale amid a legal row over her support for Palestine Action; more than 150 writers and performers have signed an open letter backing her. Copyright Battles: Music publishers are suing Anthropic, alleging its Claude model was trained on copyrighted lyrics and can reproduce them. Publishing Outlook: Bloomsbury says it remains on track for record annual results despite weaker first-half sales, citing strong demand for Sarah J. Maas’s next novel and a hoped-for Harry Potter boost from the upcoming TV series. New Releases: Sonia Gandhi has shared the first look at her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, due November 10. New Imprint: Writer and editor Jamal Mehmood has launched London-based Celestia Press, focused on contemporary Muslim literature.

AI and Authorship: Canadian publisher Boréal has ended its relationship with Thélyson Orélien after an investigation found AI tags in drafts of his novel; Orélien denies using AI. Censorship and Free Expression: Sally Rooney’s books are no longer being supplied to UK sellers after her publisher cited legal risks over royalties to Palestine Action. More than 150 writers and artists have urged the UK to change course. Copyright Concerns: Korean publishers are pressing for safeguards after Kyobo rejected approaches from overseas firms seeking one copy of roughly 100,000 titles, amid fears the books could be used to train AI. Publishing Under Attack: Russia’s summer attacks destroyed 13 million books in Ukraine, according to the country’s culture minister. Children’s Books: The Arab Children’s Book Award shortlisted 25 titles from eight countries, selected from 475 entries.

AI and Authorship: Quebec publisher Les Éditions du Boréal is cutting ties with Thélyson Orélien, saying metadata analysis indicated AI was used to write his debut novel; Orélien has denied using AI. Memoir Watch: Former Disney CEO Bob Iger will publish One Last Time, about his turbulent return to the top job and reported clashes with successor Bob Chapek. Censorship Dispute: More than 150 writers, artists and actors—including Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones—are urging the UK government to change laws that led Faber to stop selling Sally Rooney’s books in Britain over her support for Palestine Action. War’s Toll on Books: Ukraine’s culture minister says Russian attacks destroyed about 13 million books this summer, as the government considers support for publishers. AI and Copyright: South Korea’s Kyobo Book Centre rejected an order for 100,000 different books after it could not establish who would receive them or how they would be used, amid fears of unauthorized AI training.

Publishing Deal: Italian printer SoFiGraf has acquired CPI Books and CPI Antony Rowe, which employ more than 900 people and produce over 100 million books a year. The companies say the deal will support investment in staff, training and equipment. AI and Copyright: A U.S. judge ordered Meta to identify managers and executives involved in downloading pirated books for AI training, widening scrutiny beyond the employees who carried out the downloads. Books Under Fire: Ukraine’s culture minister says Russian attacks destroyed 13 million books this summer; the government is developing support for publishers and plans to add book projects to a cultural funding program. UK Book Sales: Faber has stopped selling Sally Rooney’s books in the UK amid legal concerns linked to the author’s support for Palestine Action, fueling debate over censorship and the consequences for writers and publishers.

AI and Rights: Publishers are escalating pressure over AI training on books without permission or payment. Korean publishers have accused Anthropic of using books, including pirated works, while Meta’s new terms, due to take effect Oct. 30, could let it scrape content from publishers’ websites linked to business accounts. Sales and Censorship: Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from UK sale after her publisher said selling them could risk prosecution over her support for Palestine Action. Penguin Random House has also halted a children’s book on Palestinian history amid an editorial dispute with its authors. Industry Calendar: The Algiers International Book Fair opens Oct. 28, with 1,567 publishers from 51 countries expected. Books and Readers: This week’s US top-paid list is led by John Grisham’s The French Illusion; Winnie-the-Pooh’s centenary is bringing anniversary editions and renewed calls for the original toys to return to Britain.

AI and Authorship: Haitian-Canadian novelist Thelyson Orelien denies using AI on his award-winning book but admits to past plagiarism, renewing questions about trust and originality. Book Access: A federal appeals court says Florida school board members can be questioned under oath about library book removals. Editorial Battles: Palestinian authors pulled a children’s history book from Penguin Random House over disputed edits; in the UK, Faber is withdrawing Sally Rooney’s books amid legal concerns over payments tied to her support for Palestine Action. Copyright: A publisher’s $21 million Anthropic award will be shared with authors, as publishers and writers press for compensation when books are used by AI firms. Sales and Adaptations: Netflix’s East of Eden has drawn 19.1 million views, helping lift sales of Steinbeck’s novel nearly 200%; Penguin Classics has reprinted it 25 times this year. Global Publishing: The Algiers International Book Fair, opening Oct. 28, is set to bring together 1,567 exhibitors from 51 countries.

Book Fair Pressures: Serbian publisher Vukotić Media will skip Belgrade’s International Book Fair, citing rising costs, uncertain sales and dissatisfaction with organizers. It plans discounts and author events outside the fair. Censorship Disputes: Faber is withdrawing Sally Rooney’s books from UK sale over concerns about potential legal consequences tied to royalties. Separately, Palestinian authors withdrew a children’s history book from Penguin Random House after an editorial dispute over its treatment of Palestinian history. AI and Rights: A publisher of Harry Potter books won $21 million from Anthropic, with proceeds to be shared with authors. Korean publishers are also demanding consent and payment for AI training on books. Literary Honors: Canadian poet and writer Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, while New Zealand novelist Catherine Chidgey was named an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate.

UK Book Sales: Faber is withdrawing Sally Rooney’s books from UK sale after saying it cannot pass her royalties to her because of legal risks tied to her support for Palestine Action. The dispute has intensified concerns about censorship and the reach of Britain’s proscription law. AI and Publishing: Reports say Anthropic obtained hundreds of thousands of Korean-language books for AI training, with Japanese and Taiwanese titles also targeted. Meanwhile, major publishers are using generative AI for marketing and publicity, prompting staff concerns about transparency and creative work. Literary Honors: Canadian poet Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. New Zealand novelist Catherine Chidgey, whose tenth novel has just been published locally, is among this year’s Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates. Book Fairs: Beirut’s 67th Arab International Book Fair closed after drawing about 165 publishers and hosting more than 95 seminars; Qatar will be guest of honour at the 2027 Cairo International Book Fair. New Voices: In Tamil Nadu, 85 books by inmates of Cuddalore Central Prison—poetry, stories, essays and more—have been published through a writing and rehabilitation initiative.

AI Licensing: Google is negotiating book-purchase deals with Korean publishers to train its AI, with some agreements reportedly already signed; terms remain unclear as publishers seek fair compensation and author consent. Editorial Dispute: Authors Alana Hadid and Jenan Matari withdrew their Palestinian history book from Penguin Random House after clashing with editors over coverage of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, and plan to publish elsewhere in 2027. UK Book Sales: Faber has stopped selling Sally Rooney’s books in Britain, saying it cannot pass her UK royalties to her under current law after she pledged them to Palestine Action. The move has fueled debate over censorship and the law’s effect on publishers. Book Fairs: Bangladesh’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair will run Jan. 7–Feb. 6, 2027, while Berlin’s Al Diwan fair brought together more than 110 Arab and German publishers. Publishing Milestone: Knopf has marked the 50th anniversary of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire with a special edition featuring an afterword by her son, Christopher Rice.

UK Book Sales: Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from UK sale after publisher Faber said it cannot pass on royalties she plans to donate to Palestine Action, which is proscribed in the UK. Editorial Dispute: Palestinian American authors Alana Hadid and Jenan Matari have pulled their children’s history book from Penguin Random House over disagreements about its treatment of Hamas’s October 7 attacks; they plan to publish elsewhere in 2027. AI and Copyright: Quebec author Thélyson Orélien has ended his effort to document how he wrote his novel, leaving AI-use allegations unresolved. Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler says he is considering legal action over AI images resembling his work. Publishing Finance: Welsh indie Lucent Dreaming is seeking £3,300 to plug an unexpected funding gap and continue publishing emerging writers. Book Fairs: Berlin’s Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair has drawn more than 110 publishers from the Arab world and Germany. Book Withdrawn: A German publisher has cancelled a Ukrainian wartime romance after criticism that its story risked romanticising occupation.

Book Fairs: Berlin’s Al Diwan fair has drawn 110 Arab and German publishers for a three-day programme; Beirut’s 67th Arab International Book Fair has brought 163 publishing houses together amid Lebanon’s economic crisis. Sharjah’s November fair is set to host 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries. Books at Risk: A Lebanese heritage group says more than three million books may have been destroyed in bombings since 2023, including collections in homes, libraries and cultural institutions. AI and Copyright: “Gruffalo” illustrator Axel Scheffler is considering legal action over AI-generated images resembling his work, while Quebec novelist Thélyson Orélien has dropped efforts to assemble material supporting his denial of AI use. Editorial Disputes: Palestinian authors have withdrawn a children’s history book from Penguin Random House, accusing the publisher of changing its account of Palestinian history. Royalties and Politics: Sally Rooney’s UK book sales have become a flashpoint after Faber said it could not pay her over her support for Palestine Action, raising concerns about censorship and the legal risks facing publishers.

Editorial Disputes: Penguin Random House halted a children’s book on Palestinian history after authors Alana Hadid and Jenan Matari rejected requested changes; they plan to publish it with Interlink Books. A German publisher also stopped a Ukraine-set romance after criticism that it romanticized occupation. UK Books Row: Faber says it cannot pass royalties to Sally Rooney under its interpretation of UK terrorism laws, prompting it to stop selling her books in Britain. Publishing Business: Pan Macmillan has acquired a stake in independent non-fiction publisher New River Books. Audiobooks: Spotify has expanded its service to Nigeria and Ghana, while YouTube is reportedly preparing an audiobook offer to compete with Spotify and Audible. AI and Authors: Korean publishers are demanding consent and payment for book use in AI training, as fresh reports raise questions about companies acquiring books for that purpose.