Poetry Spotlight: Sihle Ntuli’s acclaimed collection Owele lands at Exclusive Books in Westville on June 25, with the event framed around Durban’s UNESCO City of Literature push and Ntuli’s isiZulu-inflected writing. Publishing Deals: Avon signs seven debut romance authors for 16 books, while HarperCollins snaps up a new Joe Marler non-fiction title on world rights. Audiobook Push (Siren): Seven Seas launches English audiobooks for Fluffy Café in Another World and Reborn as an Assassin’s Apprentice, plus a December 2026 box set for Skip and Loafer (vols. 1–5). Rights & Adaptations: Spain’s publishers tout literature as “safe IP” for global screen deals, and Venice’s Book Adaptation Rights Market brings 30 publishers/agents to match books with film and TV producers. Book Culture & Industry: Beijing International Book Fair draws 1,700+ exhibitors from 82 countries, with major pavilion activity including Saudi Arabia and a crowd-pulling immersive reading space from China’s Sisyphe. Community Reading: Indie Book Week highlights quirky local independent shops, from Newark’s Newark Bookshop to other niche offers. Accessibility in Comics: Legally blind artist Lance Footer draws fans at Heroes Convention, proving craft and community still lead.