AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Community Events: Left Bank Books in Belfast hosts a July 16 author talk and signing for debut novelist Cassandra Neyenesch, with Jessica Berger Gross joining in conversation for the paperback release of Hazel Says No. Local Libraries & Reading Programs: Portage la Prairie Regional Library kicks off its summer with the TD Summer Reading Club “Dive In,” plus themed activities and a returning book sale fundraiser. New Books & Memoirs: Orillia author Susan Langlois self-publishes Surviving the COVID Pandemic – Contents of a Diary, turning years of journal entries into a nearly 400-page memoir. Religion, Books & Vetting: Malaysia’s JAKIM urges publishers to carefully vet religious books containing Quranic verses and hadis texts, after controversy over inaccuracies in a religious influencer’s title. Literary Culture & Identity: Barbados’ Trevor Prescod proposes structured state support for young writers via school and ministry procurement, aiming to stabilize income for emerging authors. Books in the Spotlight: A new dystopian novel, To Our Untamed Core, from Sonido Reyes (Sept. 22) centers a transgender protagonist facing a Catholic-inspired society’s violent “El Torneo.” Media & Power: Veteran journalist N.S. Shankar dies at 67; his work spanned Kannada journalism and film, including Ulta Palta.

BookTok & Backlist Buzz: A 1983 children’s title, “The Weighty Word Book,” is surging again after a TikTok push, driving fresh orders and even prompting UNM Press to juggle multiple print vendors to meet demand. Publishing & Power: Nigeria’s Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) rejects a reported ₦2,000-per-page assessment fee and ranking framework, warning it could chill intellectual freedom and creativity. Major Book Club Push: Oprah Winfrey picks Sophie Chen Keller’s “Little Wonder,” published by Hager’s Thousand Voices imprint with Penguin Random House, while Jenna Bush Hager helps connect the author to the decision. Literary Tourism Trend: BookTok’s “literary tourism” is taking off, with travel sites reporting big interest in trips inspired by books and libraries. Author Spotlight (Fiction): Brett Ann Stanciu’s “Call It Madness” (Regal House Publishing) digs into family secrets and disputed memories in a Vermont-set story. Comics Preview: DC tees up Batman #11 and Batgirl #21 for July 1, leaning into mind-bending mystery and memory-driven suspense. Money & Markets (Publishing-adjacent): A separate report on iShares’ emerging-markets ETF downgrade highlights AI/tech concentration risks, underscoring how investor mood can ripple across media and publishing budgets.

Religious Publishing Oversight: Malaysia’s religious affairs minister urged authors and publishers of Islamic books to double-check accuracy and originality after a controversy over Quranic verse quotations, signaling tighter monitoring. Queer Memoir Spotlight: Jeremy Atherton Lin will discuss his memoir Deep House at Vroman’s, tying a binational love story to the legal fight over same-sex marriage and immigration. Censorship & Library Rights: An ACLU-backed challenge is growing after a Michigan library board reshelved 148 LGBTQ+ titles without completing its promised review process, raising First Amendment concerns. Banned-Books Activism: Pop star Dua Lipa is set to open a Portugal “Manifesto Library” for banned and censored books, launching with carefully chosen titles. Publishing in Conflict: Despite pausing new sales, Springer continues distributing Russian journals via a partnership, drawing scrutiny over links to sanctioned institutions and narratives about occupied territories. Local Book Culture: A rare-book shop in Idaho highlighted a potentially historic acquisition, while Baltimore announced new dates for major fall literary festivals. Children’s Reading & Community: From a Texas Bible-in-classes reading list debate to new children’s releases and library programs, the week kept spotlighting what schools and communities choose to put in kids’ hands.

Film & Franchise Buzz: “The Garfield Movie” review says the latest outing finally rescues the franchise with a fast, energetic plot and standout voice work from Samuel L. Jackson and others. Summer Reading & Community Events: Boise’s “Taste of Downtown” returns with restaurant deals and experiences, while the Miles City Public Library hosts an Adult Book Fair Extravaganza with used books, crafts, and a book-and-bakery walk. Local Authors & New Releases: Paul Rohrbaugh’s “Friendship Memorialized” spotlights the McKinley National Birthplace Memorial; Tiffany D. Jackson’s middle-grade “Ghost in the Night” lands in August; and Erin Baldwin’s YA “Good Luck, Babe!” (Viking) releases June 23. AI, Science & Publishing: Researchers report AI-designed proteins with potential for vaccines and cancer treatments, and there’s continued attention on AI knockoffs and how platforms handle them. Censorship & Library Activism: Dua Lipa’s Portugal library launches with 100 censored titles, and Massachusetts court/law developments keep pushing back on book bans. Health-Reading Tie-In: Back-to-school sleep and misinformation tips show up alongside book coverage, reinforcing how reading culture intersects with everyday life.

New Fiction: Mark Tuohy’s debut novel Walk the Ball follows retired amateur footballers in Dublin as one man chases redemption through walking football, unpacking aging, regret and reconciliation. Summer Reading: CBC’s The Current rounds up what book lovers look for in a summer read—fast, fun, and easy to return to—plus local library and bookstore picks. Community Literacy: Mat-Su school closures are being turned into second chances, with hundreds of books from shuttered Meadow Lakes and other schools headed to families via Bright Lights’ summer program. Publishing Industry: The Broken Binding Publishing appoints Simon Spanton as part-time commissioning editor as its fantasy slate expands. Book Bans & Access: Pride Month spotlights LGBTQ+ titles banned in Texas schools, while Aesop and the ACLU Foundation’s Aesop Queer Library keeps distributing queer books nationwide. Rights & Books in the News: A Kazakh activist’s family faces possible repatriation to China after police arrest his sister, raising fresh concerns about Xinjiang-related retaliation. Caregiving & Kindness: German author Volker Kitz brings his caregiving memoir Aging Parents to Korea, framing it as a meditation on choosing kindness. Book-to-Screen: Carley Fortune shares updates on Netflix’s adaptation of Meet Me at the Lake, including that a director is attached but details remain under wraps.

Community Book Launches: Filipino Canadian author Jose Larano debuted Snippet of Stories in British Columbia, spotlighting Filipino heritage and local voices. Author Tours & Programs: South Dakota’s One Book program brought A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore to Yankton, while Griefdogg and Henry Goes Bush author talks kept the focus on storycraft and place. Publishing & Culture in Focus: Moscow’s state library says it has archived 18,000 “Russophobic” books removed from Russian-held Ukrainian areas, framing it as preservation for research. Books in Court: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a Mississippi case tied to an assistant principal fired for reading I Need a New Butt!, leaving reinstatement in place. Reviews & Reading Lists: Pride Month coverage ranged from reviews of Queer India Now and Mixed Metaphors to store bestseller charts and Pride reading recommendations. New Releases & Adaptations: Netflix began filming Dept. Q (based on Jussi Adler-Olsen’s books), and DC’s animation panel previewed Mister Miracle alongside other titles. Local History for Kids: Volga German heritage is getting children’s books via Hays High students’ Tom and the Farm and The Blue Dress.

Housing Policy & Industry Impact: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act cleared the Senate (85-5) and House (358-32), and could expand retrofit work for HVAC—though President Trump postponed a signing ceremony pending another voting condition. Book Trade & Access: Massachusetts lawmakers advanced a bipartisan bill to protect school and public libraries from book bans, giving librarians primary selection authority and setting up review committees for challenges. Publishing Business Watch: US publishing revenue rose 4.4% in April, per AAP, while UK/Europe deal and market items included EasyJet letting Castlelake access its books and Morocco widening IPO price bands to ±20%. Rights, Releases & Adaptations: BOOM! Studios acquired Invader Zim publishing rights; Marvel is pushing Avengers: Doomsday companion books; DC is moving ahead with Absolute Batman and more animated tie-ins. Culture & Community: Libraries and festivals kept the spotlight on reading—plus a new children’s basketball keepsake book and ongoing summer reading programs.

Democracy Under Pressure: Michigan Law professor Barbara McQuade’s new book The Fix (Seven Stories Press) argues the current U.S. administration is pushing democracy toward “mob-style” corruption, and urges collective action to push back. Interactive Learning for Careers: Cambridge researchers released The Professor, the Pipette & the Path Not Taken, a branching adventure book with 277 pathways and 10 endings to help students choose science careers. Translating Kannada Poetry: Roopa Pai’s debut translation Every Day a Celebration brings K S Nissar Ahmed’s Kannada poems to English readers, tracing how the project grew from viral Olympic-era blog posts to a Seagull Books collection. Local Libraries, Big Costs: Wellington’s central library website is under an independent review after public criticism over a nearly $600k price tag. Publishing & Platforms: An Amazon search suppression story surrounds Rob Redding’s Graphic Graphite, which still hit No. 1 on Juneteenth via direct links and social sharing. AI in Audio Classics: ElevenLabs released an AI Michael Caine–voiced Odyssey audiobook, reigniting debate over synthetic narration. Book-to-Screen Culture: A new report looks at how social media is driving more book adaptations and reshaping audience expectations. Community Reading Events: Gloucester’s second arts-and-books fair and John Day’s “Summer at Seventh Street” both spotlight local authors, free books, and family programming.

DCU Spotlight: “Supergirl” hits theaters June 26 with Milly Alcock’s punky, self-destructive Kara Zor-El—critics say the film has attitude and spectacle, but struggles to match its own energy. Debut Novel Buzz: Beth Homicz’s middlegrades adventure “Some Guy Wants To Buy the Fourth of July” follows a young finalist uncovering corruption in Washington. Romance Release: Twinkle Zaman announces “It’s Got To Be You,” debuting Sept. 8, 2026, a music-and-destiny love story. Publishing & Rights: Cornerstone (Penguin Random House UK) will publish Pope Leo XIV’s “Freedom Under Grace” in September 2026, collecting homilies and writings. Food & Impact: Robert Lee’s new book “Millions of Meals Hidden in Plain Sight” argues practical food rescue can tackle hunger, waste, and inequality. Culture & Faith: Venezuela’s San Juan Bautista festivities fill streets with drums and Afro-descendant tradition. Censorship Watch: A UCL study flags rising UK book-banning attempts, including a Salford school using AI to “audit” hundreds of titles. Local History: The Glenville Historical Society releases “Lake Glenville Area History: Then & Now,” documenting the lake and dam’s WWII-era transformation.

Education Leadership: Dr. Michael J. Barnes’ new book The Modern Superintendent argues superintendents must shift from administration to instructional leadership, with chapters on curriculum, assessment, professional development, and school culture. Local Literacy Push: Edinburgh marks 20 years as a UNESCO City of Literature with “Readers in residence” and “Six-Minute Reads,” plus a report putting literature’s economic impact at £50.9m a year. Community Author Events: Tuscarawas County Public Library schedules summer talks with local authors Pete Kavadas and Carrie Ruegsegger, pairing readings with Q&As and book signings. Publishing & Access: Rhode Island joins a multistate effort to rein in e-book licensing costs for libraries, while Mississippi’s Supreme Court leaves in place a ruling tied to a second-grade book-reading case. AI in Books: The Odyssey gets an AI “Michael Caine” digital narrator release, reigniting debate over voice use. Book-to-Screen Buzz: The Blair Witch Project remake lands a September 2027 release date. Children’s & Values: Kendal’s Charlotte Mason-Curl launches Elf Chloe’s Surprise to spark low-waste gifting conversations for ages 2–7.

Book-to-Screen Buzz: Scholastic and Legendary are teaming on a live-action feature adaptation of The Magic School Bus, with Elizabeth Banks as Ms. Frizzle and Rob Letterman directing; the franchise has sold 90M+ books since 1986. Publishing & Rights: Bubbles Zine licensed Suehiro Maruo’s horror manga New National Kid for a winter 2026-2027 release, with Ryan Holmberg translating. Literary Events: Brattleboro’s ByWay Books hosts a June 27 poets’ showcase for The Country in the Mirror (Martin Espada headline), while South Pasadena’s Classics Book Club meets June 27 to discuss Sappho via J. M. Edmonds’ translation. Local Book Culture: Worcester’s Bloomsday relay reading keeps Ulysses alive in public, and Swampscott’s Scary Mommy founder Jill Smokler dies at 48, remembered for candid motherhood writing. New Releases & Memoirs: Christina Baker Kline headlines Belfast for The Foursome (conjoined twins reimagined), and Christa Ryan’s memoir The Compliant Cowgirl tackles codependency and reclaiming boundaries. Industry Watch: Rakuten Kobo rejects nearly half of self-published submissions citing AI.

Local Crime Fiction: Clacton author Chris Buckle released his fourth book, The Clacton Verdict, inspired by online Facebook pile-ons—now a murder plot set around local landmarks and pubs. Publishing & Community Loss: Te Kamo’s beloved bookshop will reopen under a charitable trust after owner Evon Morgan’s death, keeping the store’s community role alive. Water & Public Accountability: UK Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds warned that a proposed rescue plan for Thames Water could raise costs, cut standards, and delay infrastructure—sparking renewed debate over renationalisation. Ethics & Democracy: Markus Gabriel’s Doing Good: How Ethical Capitalism Can Save Liberal Democracy argues capitalism can be reformed to protect liberal democracy, even if the ideas are “stimulating and provocative.” Diplomacy Education: The Pedro Gual Institute is refurbishing its CIDERE library center as it moves toward a University of Peace Diplomacy. AI, Books, and Culture: Seoul’s International Book Fair returns with a theme of “Declaration of Humanity” in the AI era, spotlighting reading as active questioning. Media/Policy Pressure: Disney/ABC is rallying viewers as the FCC moves toward early license review tied to The View and broader speech concerns. Book-to-Screen Buzz: The trailer for Klara and the Sun lands, adapting Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel with Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams. Book Industry Watch: University Press of Kansas marks America’s 250th birthday with weekly 50% off sales on history-focused titles.

Publishing & Culture Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission opened its pavilion at the Beijing International Book Fair 2026, aiming to spotlight Saudi writers and expand translation and publisher partnerships with China. Local Books & Community Spaces: Terrace Mill in Minnesota marked its 2026 summer season with a grand opening, debuting “The Skally Line” songs commissioned from the book “Terrace: The Story of a Prairie Hamlet.” New Titles & Reading Lists: CBC Books curated Father’s Day picks, including Tyler Hellard’s “Searching for Terry Punchout,” while summer children’s releases spotlighted everything from Greek myths to dinosaur stories. Rights & Deals: Joffe Books signed a nine-book deal for Amber Royer’s Bean to Bar mystery series. Book-to-World Moments: A new UNBANNED 100 Days campaign targets the impact of book banning policies on access to literature. Indigenous Voices: Reuben Quinn and Melissa Powless Day won 2026 Indigenous Voices Awards, with Quinn recognized for prose tied to Cree language revitalization. Industry Watch: OpenAI’s “clean” balance sheet drew regulator attention over massive off-the-books compute commitments.

Copyright Clash: Major publishers and author Scott Turow sue Meta over alleged unlicensed AI training using millions of books and journal articles, claiming Meta stripped copyright info and downloaded 267+ terabytes from piracy sites. Global Rights Market: Korea kicks off the 2026 K-Book Copyright Market in Seoul, pairing 100 Korean firms with 100 overseas buyers for rights deals, with big names like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Hachette attending. Book-to-Screen Buzz: House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere sparks fresh debate with major Fire & Blood changes, including Rhaena taking Sheepstealer instead of Nettles and a reshaped Battle of the Gullet. Literacy in Action: A UK school workshop brings Victorian ghost stories to life with bestselling author Adam Bushnell, blending history and creative writing for pupils. Research Fellowship: Music writer Dr Norman Meehan wins the Lilburn Research Fellowship for 2027 to write a book on Rattle Records’ cultural impact. International Literature: “The Secret History of the Mongols” is published in Finnish, opening a 13th-century epic chronicle to new readers.

Publishing & Books in the News: Croatian feminist writer and journalist Slavenka Drakulic has died at 76, leaving behind widely translated work that helped bring feminist issues into public debate across former Yugoslavia. Local Author Spotlight: Salisbury children’s author Richard “Ricky” Elliot has published The Quintet Chorus – A River Adventure, a follow-up that uses river pollution themes to teach young readers about environmental issues. Education Results: India’s CBSE has begun releasing Class 12 verification and re-evaluation outcomes in phases, with 87%+ of applications processed first, available via official portals and DigiLocker. Books & Culture: Front Row Classics marks the 70th anniversary of Carousel with author-professor Laurence Maslon. Politics & Publishing: A forthcoming book, Regime Change, alleges U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made disparaging remarks about Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of a White House meeting. Literary Community: Children’s literacy advocate Kirsten Cappy discusses how books can help immigrant kids feel belonging and support emotional healing. Science & Discovery: A new book recounts major fossil and origins-of-life research, including Morocco’s exceptionally preserved trilobites.

Publishing & Books in the UK: Oxford-born novelist Angela Tomaski has made the shortlist for the 2026 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for The Infamous Gilberts, a country-house satire inspired by a Gothic mansion tour. Local Literary Events: Ludlow is rolling out summer reading workshops (“Read to the Beat”) with robotics and music, then a First Wednesday Book Club featuring authors including Antony Beevor, Alison Weir and Jonathon Coe. Author Spotlight (Spiritual Memoir): Ripon engineer Philip Wade has published The Living Soul with a companion app, aiming to make self-realisation practical for everyday life. Big-Name Nonfiction Buzz: NYT reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan’s Regime Change claims Trump privately compared himself to figures like Mao and Hitler and called Benjamin Netanyahu a “con man,” with excerpts reported ahead of a June 23 release. Book-to-Reading Culture: Oshkosh Public Library’s summer reading program runs through Aug. 7 with a playbill, bingo-style tracking and age-based prizes. Education & Access: In Afghanistan’s Zabul province, about 600 students attend classes in rented shops due to a lack of school buildings, books and qualified teachers.