AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Censorship Under Pressure: Hong Kong police raided independent bookstores and arrested sellers over “seditious” publications, adding to fears for the city’s Chinese-language publishing scene. Author News: Japanese mystery giant Keigo Higashino died at 68; tributes poured in across Asia as his books surged in searches and translations. Book-to-Screen: A24 UK won the rights to adapt Josh Silver’s adult debut Fruit Fly, a queer satire about publishing privilege and the exploitation of pain. Literary Community & Events: Gen Con 2026 opens with a record sellout, signaling how publishers increasingly lean on established universes for lower-risk launches. AI & Reading Rights: New reporting highlights how AI tools are reshaping reading and raising fresh copyright and trust concerns, from training disputes to “personalized” AI books. Industry Business: Clover Press is reviving Marvel Masterworks after Marvel canceled the line, starting with new volumes collecting classic runs. Legal & Corporate Accountability: eBay agreed to pay about $55.7m to a Massachusetts couple targeted in a stalking and harassment campaign tied to former employees. Health Memoir: A vicar in Horsham released Called Through Cancer, turning her treatment journey into a faith-and-vocation memoir.

AI Reading Tools: New apps let readers chat with the exact text they’re reading, with features like “Ask a Question” in audiobooks and “Ask this Book” on Kindle—raising big questions about how stories, authorship, and discovery change when AI becomes a built-in reading companion. AI Books in Stores: A new study using AI detection software says a growing share of self-published novels sold on Amazon include chatbot-written prose, with readers often unable to tell. Publishing Policy Watch: In the Philippines, Rep. Brian Yamsuan pushes a five-year review requirement for public school textbooks, aiming to keep learning materials current. YA Horror Mystery: Jacqueline West announces Black Point, a YA folk horror mystery about a flooded small town and the secrets locals try to bury. Design & Festivals: New Zealand’s PANZ Book Design Awards shortlist highlights standout typography and emerging designers, while Malaysia’s Selangor Children’s Literature Festival targets gadget addiction by steering kids toward reading and hands-on activities. eBay Fallout: eBay agreed to pay about $50M to a Massachusetts journalist couple after a harassment and cyberstalking campaign included live insects and a bloody pig mask. Book World Loss: Korean bookstores mourn Keigo Higashino, with memorial pages and features as fans in Asia revisit his most famous mysteries.

Publishing & Books: Japanese mystery titan Keigo Higashino has died at 68, with Kodansha citing colorectal cancer—closing a four-decade run of global bestsellers including The Devotion of Suspect X. Publishing Industry & AI: British and Spanish booksellers are warning that tech firms are bulk-buying out-of-print titles for AI training, often via odd delivery patterns and third-party resellers. Copyright & Courts: A Delhi High Court ruling says OpenAI can use copyrighted material to train ChatGPT, adding fresh pressure to the already tense AI/rights debate. Book Launches & Culture: New releases spotlight everything from anticipatory grief in Miss You Already to midlife desire in Sexy Menopause, plus a Harper excerpt on why Hulk Hogan’s heel turn changed wrestling storytelling. Media & Legal Drama: Trump says a judge let his team amend a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, while eBay is set to pay $55.7 million to settle Massachusetts cyberstalking claims. Comics & Pop Publishing: Penthouse Comics returns to comic stores in October 2026, and DC teases more big comic moves ahead.

AI Copyright Fallout: A judge has given final approval to Anthropic’s $1.5B settlement with authors, a landmark payout for books used to train Claude—while also reinforcing a “fair use” path for AI companies using lawfully acquired texts. Author Impact: Local writers say the process feels deeply personal, with compensation framed as a win that still leaves questions about how training works. Publishing Under Fire: Ukraine is moving to create state support for book publishers hit by Russian shelling, citing massive losses to warehouses, printing, and school textbooks. New Book-to-Screen Push: Curiosity Entertainment and its Storyteller Media arm unveiled a debut page-to-screen slate and named CBS veteran Laurie Seidman to lead film/TV development. Comics & Culture: Canadian writer Mariko Tamaki won two Eisner Awards for YA graphic novel This Place Kills Me. Myst Franchise Update: Cyan Worlds confirmed a new Myst-universe title in early development and detailed physical-media plans for the back catalog. Literary Loss: Japanese crime-fiction star Keigo Higashino died at 68.

AI & Copyright: A US judge approved a $1.5B Anthropic settlement over alleged book piracy for Claude training, while fair-use arguments still hinge on whether training used legally obtained texts. Book Bans & School Censorship: A US bill to bar K-12 programs and materials that mention transgender people (and more) advanced in Congress, adding pressure on publishers and educators. Publishing Rights Deal: Atlantic Books acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to a new political biography, Starmer at 10: The Unfulfilled Premiership. Global Author News: Japanese mystery titan Keigo Higashino, best known for The Devotion of Suspect X, died at 68 of colorectal cancer, with publishers confirming a private funeral. AI Reading Tools: New services let readers “talk to” books via chatbots tied to the text, with Audible and Amazon also rolling out similar features. Children’s Books for War: Ukraine’s wartime reality is finding its way into children’s publishing, including Why Isn’t Dad at Home?, aimed at helping families explain loss and fear. Mystverse Update: Cyan Worlds shared a teaser for a cancelled Myst prototype, Project Anglerfish, giving fans a bittersweet look at what never shipped. Children’s Publishing Expansion: UK brand Herdy secured global children’s book and greeting-card licensing deals, pushing the character into mainstream retail.

Kashmir’s Reading Boom: The 3rd Chinar Book Festival wrapped up at SKICC in Srinagar after nine days, with an estimated 57,000–73,000 visitors on weekdays and over 1 lakh on weekends, featuring 200+ publishers, 800+ authors, and major talks plus bilingual releases. Publishing & Faith: Koren Publishers’ new Mikraot HaDorot volume, Mikraot HaDorot: Devarim (#38), expands parsha-by-parsha Torah commentary with centuries of scholarship in a fresh, reader-friendly format. Comics Industry Watch: DC’s Next Level initiative rolls into 2027 with new Batman, Vixen, Static, and Jonah Hex projects, while Marvel’s Midnight Universe schedule through 2027 was mapped for retailers at ComicsPRO. Royal Memoir Pressure: Prince Harry is reportedly weighing a “Spare Part Two” as legal bills strain the Sussex finances, after the original memoir’s huge sales. Ukraine’s Book Losses: Russian strikes have destroyed 1.5 million books in Ukraine since early July, hitting publishers, warehouses, and school textbooks. Children’s Releases: Veritas Publishing House is set to release Rachel Evans’ picture book Mischievous Melvin, built for preschool read-alouds.

AI & Copyright: A federal judge approved a $1.5B Anthropic settlement over books used to train Claude, while disputes over what counts as fair use for legally bought books continue to ripple through publishing. Publishing Under Fire: Ukrainian publisher Knyholav says Russia destroyed nearly 250,000 books in a Kyiv attack, underscoring how war is hitting the book supply chain. Comics & Crossovers: DC’s Absolute Universe swept major 2026 Eisners, while Marvel announced a Japan manga line with Kadokawa and SDCC also teased new manga-era plans. Books to Screen: Marco Robinson’s Start Over brand is expanding into feature film THE COMEBACK, showing how bestsellers keep migrating to Hollywood. Classics & Translation: A University of Pennsylvania professor’s English Odyssey translation has topped one million sales, boosted by renewed interest tied to Christopher Nolan’s film. Industry Events: Registration opened for the Beirut International Book Fair, with participation limited to rights-respecting publishers and cultural institutions. Reading Culture: A new oral history, The Mighty WMMR, lands from Temple University Press, capturing decades of Philadelphia rock radio.

Comic Industry Awards: DC’s Absolute Universe dominated the 2026 Eisner Awards, with Absolute Batman and Absolute Martian Manhunter among the big winners, underscoring how major imprints are turning prestige comics into headline events. Publishing & Rights: A major AI copyright fight keeps escalating: a judge approved a record $1.5B Anthropic settlement over books used to train Claude, while related coverage highlights how publishers are watching AI tools reshape licensing and traffic. Book Trade & Community: New Zealand bookselling news: Schrödinger’s Books won Bookshop of the Year at the Aotearoa NZ Book Industry Awards, and the broader theme is clear—bookshops and libraries are doubling as community hubs. New Releases: IDW confirmed the final arc title for Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, with the last chapter set for February 2027, as horror comics keep leaning into long-form worlds. Memoir Spotlight: Former President Joe Biden’s memoir Promise Me, America is slated for Nov. 17 from Little, Brown, a publishing moment that could quickly become a political one.

San Diego Comic-Con Buzz: Yen Press used its Industry Panel to announce ten new acquisitions, including the Girls Love light novel Watching the Angel Sleep, Drowning in Bed Together (Yen On), as manga and light-novel fans gear up for more English releases. Korean Webtoon-to-Print: Ize Press is bringing English print editions to Codename: Anastasia and Mignon via collector-friendly releases, underlining how BL webcomics are driving demand for physical collector formats. Comic Sales Watch: Terminal #1 topped the Wednesday-to-weekend comic bestseller list, while DC still led direct-market comic store marketshare (40.62% vs Marvel’s 27.72%)—a reminder that big launches and variant-heavy backlists keep shifting shelf power. AI + Copyright in India: A Delhi High Court interim ruling in the ANI vs OpenAI dispute said storing ANI articles for training falls under India’s research/private-use exception, with ANI able to appeal. Vietnam Press Rules: Vietnam’s Press Authority ordered tighter pre-publication checks for news on historical events and national leaders, adding new editorial hurdles for publishers and broadcasters. Children’s Publishing: UK libraries got a boost as a “Book Nook” program placed children’s books and reading furniture in community spaces, aiming to make reading easier at home and on-site. Classic Literature Meets Film Hype: A Penn professor’s Odyssey translation is getting a spotlight after Christopher Nolan’s adaptation, showing how major screen projects can pull readers back to older texts.

Bestseller Watch: New York Times White House correspondents’ Trump-era debut “Regime Change” is back at #1 after a quick dip and rebound in sales. YA Mystery Finale: Jennifer Lynn Barnes closes the Hawthorne mansion saga with “The Gilded Blade,” landing #1 on children’s fiction lists. Romance in the Heat: Chelsea Curto’s “In Stormy Weather” (enemies-to-lovers forecasters) earns a starred review and debuts at #9. Comic-Con Publishing Buzz: Actor John Cusack’s surreal “Momo” graphic novel (Mad Cave Studios) hits San Diego Comic-Con, while LAIKA’s “Wildwood” portal experience brings the book-to-film world to life. Book-to-TV Pipeline: A look at how Irish novels keep getting adapted for screens, from Marian Keyes to Catherine Ryan Howard. AI & Copyright: A landmark $1.5B Anthropic settlement over training on pirated books gets final court approval, with fair-use training still contested. Censorship & Pressure: Prosecutors search libraries for “foreign agent” and “forbidden” books, and Finland’s Päivi Räsänen takes her hate-speech conviction appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Local Publishing Wins: Lucky Penny Press gains Children’s Book Council membership, and Greenfield Public Library launches a zine contest for adult summer readers.

Children’s Publishing: Knopf Books for Young Readers will publish Leo Lionni’s never-before-seen manuscript, “How to Make Paper Mice,” in fall 2027—an in-story adventure featuring Frederick plus a hands-on collage craft guide. AI & Copyright: India’s Delhi High Court signaled that OpenAI training on copyrighted material can fall under fair dealing, while a separate U.S. case moves forward with Anthropic’s $1.5B settlement over pirated books used to train Claude. Book Bans & Courts: A Florida school board tied to book removals deposed students in a lawsuit, then argued officials should be protected by “legislative privilege” from being deposed themselves. Publishing Business Tools: Pellerin launched a sales-data dashboard aimed at giving authors clearer commercial insight. Indie Bookselling: Ogden, Utah’s Underground Books shows how indie stores are blending community, games, and reading spaces. Global Lit & Translation: Vivek Shanbhag’s Hyphen launches as a multilingual translation-focused journal and publishing platform, betting on stronger India-to-English literary bridges. Comic Culture: Comic-Con coverage highlights DC’s crossover plans for “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe,” plus more book-to-screen buzz.

AI Copyright: A federal judge has given final approval to Anthropic’s $1.5B settlement over allegedly pirated books used to train Claude, while keeping intact a separate ruling that training on legally bought books can be fair use—so the “buy vs. steal” line stays central. Publishing Industry: Yen Press announced four new manga/light novel and audiobook acquisitions ahead of San Diego Comic-Con, including a Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki audiobook expansion. Book Trade & Community: Black Dog Books opened on Tucker’s Main Street, aiming to reflect the town’s diverse voices with independent publishers and Southern authors. Festivals & Culture: Sri Lanka’s first Colombo Literary Festival opens today as a trilingual event (Sinhala, Tamil, English) blending talks, music, and cinema under one roof. Rights & Access: The Muse Writers Center is planning a Hampton Roads writers conference with agent/editor pitch sessions and contests. Books & Faith: Pope Leo’s new AI-focused encyclical argues that speed can smother the desire to ask questions—making slow reading part of the point. Pop Culture Adaptations: Peacock’s Dungeon Crawler Carl TV adaptation adds audiobook narrator Jeff Hays as the voice of Princess Donut.

Hong Kong Booksellers Crackdown: Police raids on two independent bookstores led to arrests over “seditious” publications, and a Taiwan-made T-shirt slogan—“I am a bookstore employee”—has gone viral as readers rally for press freedom. Queer Healing Publishing: North Atlantic Books released Queer Expressions, a clinical guide blending expressive arts and somatic therapy for queer trauma recovery and dysphoria support. New Publishing Model: Market First Publishing launched “Platform Publishing,” aiming to build an audience while a manuscript is still in production. AI Copyright Fallout: A U.S. judge approved Anthropic’s record $1.5B settlement over books used to train Claude, with payouts to authors and publishers. Library Access Shift: One library system is leaving CloudLibrary and adopting Hoopla, citing high ebook costs and publisher borrowing limits. Comics Retail Spotlight: Books With Pictures Eugene is a finalist for the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award ahead of SDCC announcements. Reading Crisis Focus: A new report highlights how falling child reading-for-pleasure rates track with smartphone adoption, raising alarms for the future of publishing. Poetry & Voice Tech: Terence Ang’s stroke-survival poetry work is featured at NYC’s Poetry Festival, including an audiobook narrated via AI voice-cloning to overcome aphasia barriers.

AI Copyright Fallout: A US judge approved Anthropic’s record $1.5B settlement over pirated books used to train Claude, with thousands of authors and publishers set to receive payments after the class action’s claims process. Textbook Policy Shake-Up: Nigeria’s NERDC cut textbook assessment fees from N2,000 to N1,500 per page and slashed ranking fees from N1m to N750,000 per title, ordering refunds for publishers that already paid the higher rates. Publishing Distribution Push: BookWalker added Abrams Books’ Kana imprint to its digital platform, bringing new manga titles to its web and mobile apps. Local Reading Momentum: Whitcoulls’ Top 100 Books List shows a surge in Aotearoa New Zealand authors, with 26 local writers making the cut and fresh newcomers entering the rankings. Fantasy Universe Expansion: Janci Patterson discusses “Blightfall,” the first Riftwake trilogy novel, and what it takes to carry Brandon Sanderson’s Cytoverse forward. Book-to-World Events: Ignition Press is going bigger at San Diego Comic-Con, expanding its comics lineup and pop-up presence.

AI Copyright Fallout: A US judge approved Anthropic’s record $1.5B settlement with authors after pirated books were used to train Claude, with payouts of about $3,000 per eligible book and broad coverage already claimed by most rights-holders. Tech vs Creators: The same AI fight is widening: Anthropic is also facing a separate patent lawsuit from the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. Publisher Cash Relief: Nigeria’s educational council cut textbook assessment and ranking fees and ordered refunds for publishers who already paid higher rates. Legal Pressure on Publishing: A Bengaluru court issued an interim injunction blocking publication and distribution of a book alleged to defame former BJP MP Prathap Simha, with the case set to return in August. Censorship and Books: Human Rights Watch urged Vietnam to release five people arrested over a Ho Chi Minh book, calling it a crackdown on freedom of expression. Rights & Safety in Print: Jessica Kingsley Publishers launched removable “safety covers” for books amid rising hostility toward LGBTQ+ and other marginalized readers. New Christie Companion: British Library Publishing will release an Agatha Christie life-and-works book to tie in with a major exhibition. Children’s History Push: National Book Trust launched novels based on characters from Kashmir’s Rajatarangini to bring regional history to younger readers.

AI Copyright Fallout: A US judge gave final approval to Anthropic’s $1.5B settlement with authors after pirated books were used to train Claude, with about $3,000 per claimed work and 91%+ of eligible books already claimed. Global Publishing Pressure: Vietnam arrested five people over a Ho Chi Minh book, charging them under national security laws, while Hong Kong police raided multiple independent bookstores over “seditious” titles. Book-to-Screen Boost: Emily Wilson’s Odyssey translation is seeing a major sales surge after Christopher Nolan’s film release. Retail & Community: Melbourne’s best independent bookshops list spotlights local browsing culture, and Edmonds Bookshop hosts Tamiko Nimura for her Tule Lake memoir. Comics & Fandom: Skybound/Image’s Terminal #1 blind-bag promo teases rare surprises, and SDCC chatter continues as creators and retailers gear up. New Releases & Events: Aesop’s Women’s Library brings female-authored books to China duty-free retail, and Pope Leo XIV’s peace-and-disarmament anthology lands in print.