AGP Executive Report

AI Copyright Crackdown: AAP has teamed with Vermillio to help publishers spot and remove infringing book copies online. Reading Revival Push: India’s Vice President released a book on P.N. Panicker, warning that short-form entertainment and phones are eroding deep reading. Libraries as Resistance: In Gaza City, the Phoenix Library reopened with thousands of salvaged books, aiming to rebuild a culture of reading amid destruction. Education Under Pressure: An Oxford academic says students could earn degrees without reading books if AI-written essays slip through. Courtroom Update: India’s Supreme Court modified an earlier NCERT-related order involving three academics over a judiciary corruption chapter. Entertainment Watch: Netflix’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder season 2 is landing, with fans already asking whether season 3 is next. Health Milestone: The EMA backed a first drug option for severe PROS overgrowth disorders. Pop Culture: Prime Video’s Spider-Noir debuts Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in a 1930s noir Spider-Man world.

AI Workforce Jolt: Industry analyst Jeff Kagan warns the AI-driven “Fourth Industrial Revolution” will bring major job disruption before the economy stabilizes. AI Search Push: A new guide urges leaders to fund “generative engine optimization” by tying AI visibility gaps to revenue risk and running a small test first. Copyright vs. Training: Five major publishers and novelist Scott Turow filed a class-action against Meta over alleged training of Llama models on copyrighted books and articles from piracy sites. Local Culture & Books: Mindanao’s “Writing Mindanao, Righting Mindanao” festival kicked off at Ateneo de Davao, while a Belfast event spotlights Maine author Caitlin Shetterly’s The Gulf of Lions. Entertainment Adaptation: Prime Video’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War lands as a feature follow-up to the book-based franchise’s TV run. Community Spotlight: BDCU (Yorkshire) racked up four awards, including Small Financial Business of the Year.

Barnes & Noble AI Backlash: CEO James Daunt is walking back comments from the Today show after backlash over B&N selling AI-written books. In a new statement, he says the retailer doesn’t “endorse or intentionally sell” AI titles, claims it excludes them from online listings and won’t knowingly stock them in stores, and says B&N would only sell AI books if they’re clearly labeled and there’s proven customer demand. Publishing Leadership: Simon & Schuster UK appoints Kirsty Bradbury as its new children’s managing director. Crime Writing Buzz: The McDermid Debut Award 2026 shortlist is out, spotlighting fresh UK and Irish crime voices ahead of the Theakston festival reveal. AI in the Real World: A new author argues companies should be “value first” with AI, not “AI first,” pushing strategy over tool hype. Community & Culture: Echuca hosts a Stella Prize “Day Out” with regional author conversations, while tributes continue after EastEnders and Blake’s 7 actor Michael Keating dies at 79.

New Releases: Deborah Lutz’s long-awaited Emily Brontë biography This Dark Night lands on shelves, using once-hidden notebooks to reframe the author of Wuthering Heights as a writer shaped by grief, class, and race. Psychological Fiction: Author Black Bird drops A Locked Room Made of Water, a fictional story inspired by public “Epstein files” reporting, focused on survival and manipulation without naming real people. Publishing Meets Pop Culture: Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward is headed to TV with Tomorrow Studios, as Sanderson writes the pilot. Book-to-Community: Carpinteria libraries are set to discuss George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy in a West Coast “One Book One Coast” event. Controversy Watch: Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt clarifies the chain will stock AI-written books only if they’re labeled—prompting fresh backlash. Local Life: Roebling Books in Newport, Ky. is cleaning up after a burst water heater ruined about 500 books.

AI in bookstores: Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt says stores are fine stocking AI-written books as long as they’re clearly labeled and not pretending to be something else—though online readers are pushing back over space for indie authors and plagiarism fears. Winds of Winter: George R.R. Martin repeats his bleak line: if he dies before finishing, nobody else will complete the series, as fans wait on a book that’s still years from done. Local publishing & community: Palmetto Publishing releases a volunteer firefighter memoir, while the Vision Council opens registration for its 2026 Lab Leadership Forum in Las Vegas. Pop culture on the page: Nintendo is betting on cozy creativity with “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” for Switch 2, and Coronation Street teases a fresh twist in its latest ITVX release.

Markets & Rates: US stocks slid again as bond yields jumped, with 10-year Treasuries hitting their highest level since 2025—setting up a big Wednesday for Nvidia earnings and the latest Fed meeting. Search Goes Agentic: Google unveiled an AI assistant for search that can book, track news, and contact businesses—turning the search bar into an always-on helper. Big Publishing Moment: The International Booker Prize 2026 went to Taiwan Travelogue, the first Mandarin-to-English winner, spotlighting translation as a power move. Book Industry Tech: Next Chapter AI announced a free, multi-day summit built for publishing pros, aiming to move from AI anxiety to practical workflows. Local Reading Push: Yorkville’s Rep. Jed Davis launched a summer reading program with certificates and ice cream vouchers. Community & Accountability: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is demanding release of redacted residential-school records to help identify missing children. Adaptation Buzz: Prime Video’s Off Campus surged to the top—while backlash flared over claims of lesbophobic portrayals in the source books.

Free Speech, Civility, and AI: Ohio’s Supreme Court kicked off its Civility Symposium with a clear message: liberty needs free speech—and it needs it with restraint—while speakers framed the next challenge as AI-generated ideas reshaping how we argue in public. AI Outreach for Small Business: AgentOutreach.io launched an AI workflow that finds relevant contacts, checks how to reach them, and drafts outreach pitches ready to send. Book World, Big Names: Ruskin Bond marked 92 with a new friendship-focused release; Magic Cat expanded Jamie Oliver’s preschool series with four new titles; Renegade Books snapped up Hazel McBride’s romantasy duology. Education Admin Fix: CBSE extended the deadline for Class 12 scanned answer sheets to May 23 after portal glitches. Local Literacy Push: A $10,000 gift in Fond du Lac will buy books for pediatric patients through Reach Out and Read. Tech Meets Travel: OwlTing announced an OwlPay booking engine for AI agent-initiated hospitality payments, rolling out in June.

Women in News Under Fire: A new wave of reporting spotlights how misogyny shapes daily newsroom life, from “be likable and nonthreatening” pressure to harassment and violence—turning professional credibility into a gender test. Justice Department in the Spotlight: Rachel Maddow’s new book, Department of Fate, lands Nov. 10 and promises a sweeping 150-year history of the DOJ’s “triumphs and misdeeds,” timed for the midterm aftermath. Publishing & Community Momentum: A Little Free Courthouse Library opens at an Indiana juvenile center, offering free books to families; in South Dakota, a pop-up community book swap brings titles directly to neighborhoods. Culture & Faith on the Page: A new translation poetry collection, The Portrait of an Adivasi Beloved, launches in Dhaka, centering indigenous life and land-rights struggles. Local Author Wins Attention: A Sun City West retiree publishes Meraki, blending poetic fiction with themes of love, faith, and new beginnings. Media/Entertainment Buzz: Off Campus Season 2 is confirmed, with early hints about where the Elle Kennedy story may go next.

Acquisitions & Debuts: Fox & Ink Books has acquired Stolen Things, AM Howell’s debut adult novel, adding a new adult fiction title to the author’s track record in middle-grade historical mysteries. Community Events: Severn Township Public Library in Coldwater, Ontario is hosting Josh Hellyer on June 13, spotlighting his “absurdist” Highclere Inn and Carriage House Mysteries. Reading & Literacy: Emporia Public Library kicks off its 2026 Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story,” running May 27–July 31 with weekly goals, prizes, and family activities. Publishing Culture: The DAG Foundation has named the finalists for the $20,000 DAG Prize for Literature, spotlighting early-career prose writers. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Prime Video’s Off Campus is already renewed for season 2, with a new release date expected soon after season 1’s May 12 drop.

A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL SET: Auckland FC and Sydney FC earned their spots with emphatic semifinal wins, sending the Toilet Seat to Mount Smart Stadium this Saturday—no fairy tales, just momentum. Stress & Self-Help: A relationship-and-life guide argues that when life feels too big, you beat it by tackling one small area at a time. Books Meet Tech: Sri Lanka’s The Book Studio unveiled the country’s first fully automated book vending machine, pushing “everywhere can be a reading space” into everyday foot traffic. New Releases: A new Steve Jobs “exile” book revisits the NeXT years; meanwhile, comic previews keep rolling with Superman Unlimited and Fantastic Four setting up fresh story turns. Culture & Community: Imperial County reopened its renovated Calipatria library branch, while Doha’s book fair continues to blend literature with hands-on creativity. Global Reading Scene: The week also spotlights a Kazakhstan history volume approved for publication and a long-running push to preserve languages through Bible translation in Northeast India.

Widowhood, in public: A Palm Springs widow says a sudden loss in 2019 pushed her to write a book and build a site for other widows to share their stories. Author signings & rare finds: Fox anchor Bret Baier drew readers at Raptis Rare Books in Palm Beach, while an unread “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” paperback kept in an attic for nearly 30 years is expected to sell for up to £10,000. Publishing in motion: Shueisha says Takeru Hokazono’s Kagurabachi will return May 25 after a one-issue health break. Big-screen buzz: HBO has greenlit Big Little Lies Season 3, with cameras expected to roll in fall 2026 and a mid-to-late 2027 premiere window. Culture & craft: An accordion-style children’s book celebrating Indian rooftops wins a top UK illustration prize. Safety & privacy: Hyderabad police booked 27 social media accounts over alleged POCSO victim identity leaks.

Alaska Indigenous History Spotlight: A new book, “Ïyaġaaġmiut: People Who Live Among the Rock Caches,” by Ch’igiioonta’ She Holds a Child, digs into 18th- and 19th-century life in Interior Alaska through oral histories and early records—covering battles, famine, climate shocks, and forced relocations. Publishing Crime Update: In the U.S., Mike Sordilla pleaded guilty in a publishing scam that promised book deals and movie adaptations for upfront fees, defrauding 800+ victims of $48M+; sentencing is set for July 24. Qatar Book Fair Momentum: Doha’s 35th International Book Fair is drawing record crowds—1.85M books across 910 pavilions—while Qatar Charity spotlights its “Future Writers” program and Alqantara launches as a new publishing and distribution house. Community Reading Wins: South Dakota Historical Society Press’ “Badger Clark: Poetry Wrangler” took a national Wrangler Award for juvenile Western literature. Culture & Books on Screen: Cannes honored John Travolta with a lifetime award as he premiered his first directed film, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” based on a children’s book he wrote.

Doha Book Fair Spotlight: Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani toured the 35th Doha International Book Fair, stopping at culture and defense pavilions and reviewing new literary and scientific releases under the theme “Civilizations Are Built with Knowledge.” Global Publishing Push: Sharjah’s Sharjah Book Authority is also expanding abroad, recently visiting Kuala Lumpur to deepen ties with major book partners and study how Malaysia turns libraries into cultural and tourism hubs. New Titles & Big Moments: Prime Video confirmed a TV adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ blockbuster fantasy Fourth Wing, while a Spanish edition of essays on Xi Jinping’s economic thought debuted in Santiago, Chile. Community Reading: In the US, Hillsboro’s library program is spotlighting George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy with events culminating in a livestreamed author talk. Book Culture Debate: A fresh controversy swirls around how bookstores handle politically charged titles, with a letter defending The King’s English Bookshop’s decision to sell Gov. Cox’s book.

Literary Spotlight: Peter Ackroyd’s new biography, Auden, reframes W.H. Auden beyond funeral-epitaph fame, digging into his strict meters, rhyme habits, and even crossword-like patterns. Cultural Translation: London debuts The Book of Bratislava, a Comma Press anthology of Slovak short stories in English translation. Pop-Genre Push: Tokyopop expands Disney manga for Spring 2026, adding Pirates of the Caribbean box sets and new Nightmare Before Christmas editions. Publishing Pipeline: Yen Press announces 17 new acquisitions for its November lineup, including multiple manga and light-novel style titles. Community Books: In Ohio, Big Brothers Big Sisters spotlights children’s emotional health through a new “Princess Patty and Prince Patrick” book series. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Prime Video renews Off Campus for season 2 ahead of its debut, banking on the books’ built-in fan base. Rights & Access: Tennessee schools again face controversy as Roots is banned.

Education Tech: CBSE has rolled out an On-Screen Marking system to digitize evaluation, aiming to cut errors, keep answer sheets confidential, and speed up results—plus it’s adding a two-stage post-result review where students can first download scanned copies and then seek verification. New Releases: Jody Stallings’ coming-of-age novel Three Nieces lands with a 1967 Sullivan’s Island summer story, while Carey Powell’s The Zone Blueprint pushes a practical, neuroscience-backed focus framework for peak performance. Culture & Community: Wantagh kindergartners at Forest Lake Elementary published Todd Parr-style books after a full writing process, and Science Naturally’s Mara Plants a Seed and A Family for Zoya just won Green Earth Book Awards. Industry Watch: Canada Goose is guiding FY27 toward low-single-digit revenue growth via pricing and deeper product, despite softer demand. Global Books: Iran’s Tehran Virtual Book Fair returns with discounts, vouchers, and free shipping rules.

AI Shockwave for Publishing: Korea’s publishers are bracing for “AI readers,” with the Korean Publishers Association warning that books are becoming training material and pushing for clearer copyright rules and fair compensation. Streaming Romance Meets Heavy Themes: Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus is now on Prime Video, and the author says the adaptation keeps the series’ heavier subjects grounded in character trust—not instant intimacy. Big Legal Moment for Authors: A US judge is pressing Anthropic’s lawyers over its proposed $1.5B settlement with authors, focusing on fees and how payments would work in the biggest copyright deal of its kind. Industry Watch: Figma shares jumped after a strong quarter, but investors are watching how Anthropic’s government fight could affect federal sales. Global Book Fair Buzz: Doha’s 35th International Book Fair opened with record participation, drawing hundreds of publishers and millions of books. Local Community Reading: A Friends of the Library sale runs through May 17, with summer reading challenges kicking off June 1.