AGP Executive Report

Film Adaptation Buzz: Anna Kendrick is set to direct and star-produce the feature adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s LGBTQ historical hit The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, with the story centered on Evelyn’s seven marriages and her secret romance. Publishing & Community: Cressida Cowell visited a Bethnal Green primary school to back Amazon’s Literacy Champions and the National Year of Reading, as UK reading-for-pleasure figures keep slipping. Faith & Self-Help Books: New releases include Karen Lynn Kerekes’s The Way of Light and Lisa Vento Nielsen’s The Book on College Readiness, both aimed at practical encouragement for everyday life and big transitions. Rare Book Market: University Archives’ Rare Autographs auction (June 17) spotlights signed items from Ayn Rand, Francis Crick, and Vladimir Lenin. Controversy in Academia: University of Nebraska at Kearney will drop a human sexuality textbook after complaints about “graphic images.” Literary Dispute: A Malayalam plagiarism row pits K. R. Meera’s Kalachi against Haritha Savithri’s Zin over plot similarities. Book Trade Watch: Kolkata’s College Street booksellers fear eviction despite denials from local authorities.

Neonatal Research: A phase 1 trial reports citrate-functionalized manganese oxide nanoparticles as a potential new treatment path for newborns at risk of acute bilirubin encephalopathy, aiming to complement or improve on phototherapy and exchange transfusion. Publishing & Culture: Kiss announced Kiss Destroyer: The Definitive Visual History (Oct. 27), a 272-page deep dive into the making of 1976’s Destroyer with interviews and rare photos. Local Literary Life: A Midwest poet’s debut, A Midwestern Introvert’s Atlas, is out via Shipwrecked Books, with a June 4 reading and signing in Minnesota. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Netflix dropped the trailer for I Will Find You, adapting Harlan Coben’s novel with Sam Worthington as a father who claims his child is alive. AI & Faith: Pope Leo XIV’s AI encyclical warns against “unfettered” development, framing the choice as building “Babel” or rebuilding “Jerusalem.” Industry Watch: Wiley is buying Emerald Publishing for £337m, a major consolidation move in academic publishing.

Publishing & Prizes: Bennington College named Scarlett Choi and Emma Gaffney as winners of the 2026 Ben Belitt Prize for Undergraduate Writers (short stories), with Carrie Colley taking the poetry award—each student receiving $1,000, chosen by visiting writer Jo Ann Beard. Rare Books: A pristine first-edition paperback of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold for £17,000 at Rare Book Auctions, a new world record for the format. AI, Books, and Ethics: Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt said the chain would stock AI-written books as long as they’re clearly labeled, reigniting debate over authenticity in publishing. Children’s Literature & Identity: A new essay argues that queer parenthood still faces backlash in children’s publishing, even as social norms shift. Books, Borders, and Tension: North Korea’s 2025 map and book reportedly omit Takeshima/Dokdo, fueling speculation about its sovereignty claim. Community Reading: Connecticut Public’s “Where We Read” spotlights local author events and reader meet-ups, with a June list of recommended books. Education Admin: CBSE opened an online portal for answer-book verification and re-evaluation for Class 10 and 12, running until June 6.

Publishing & Culture: Reese’s Book Club pick The Fine Art of Lying is being adapted for TV by UCP with Scarlett Johansson’s These Pictures producing, turning Alexandra Andrews’ art-world thriller into a series. New Fiction Releases: Maggie O’Farrell’s Land (mapmaking in 1860s Ireland) and other June standouts like Jordan Harper’s noir A Violent Masterpiece and Momo Yamaguchi’s Hello, Limerence are fueling the month’s buzz. Kids’ Books & Inclusion: A new trilingual picture book, Hazel Bazel Makes New Friends, spotlights friendship across languages and appearances. Book-to-Screen: Netflix is moving ahead with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with Anna Kendrick directing. Community Reading: Putnam County libraries mark 60 years with a major used-book sale, while Clark County Public Library kicks off its summer reading program. Awards & Authors: Rachel Reid wins Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Canada Changemaker Award for elevating underrepresented voices.

AI & Publishing Business: Google’s shift from links to AI-led answers is raising fresh fears of “Google Zero,” where publishers get less traffic and fewer clicks. Tech in Culture: A new Dune trilogy teaser spotlights a rare sci-fi choice—no AI—leaning instead on human “mental tech” like prescience and spice. Books & Heritage: Malaysia’s Hikayat Fandom launched a five-volume illustrated mini-encyclopaedia on the Malay Archipelago at KL’s book fair, with plans for film and transmedia. Ukraine’s Literary Scene: Kyiv’s Book Arsenal Festival returned with 150+ publishers and a “Carrying Freedom” theme focused on responsibility, war, and memory. Education & Access: Ireland’s “My Little Library” invites nearly 60,000 primary starters in Tipperary to pick up free book bags and join local libraries. Publishing Deals: Sceptre is reissuing David Nicholls’ first five novels, while Jessica Kingsley is publishing LGBTQ+ legal pocket guidance by barrister Oscar Davies. Prison Reading: Lee Child launches a UK prison reading project aimed at cutting reoffending. CBSE Portal Scrutiny: India’s CBSE says vulnerabilities in its OnMark portal have been contained as questions swirl around OSM evaluation glitches.

Literary Honors: San Juan College faculty member Ron Striegel’s historical novel “Land Shadows” has racked up multiple Eric Hoffer Awards, spotlighting stories of Highland Clearances, Indigenous displacement, and land fraud in the American West. Policy & Power: Israeli figure Einat Wilf’s new English-language book “Peace, Not Now” argues for a sharper national security reset ahead of Israel’s elections. Publishing & Reading Culture: A China-focused piece asks whether today’s book fairs are drifting from books toward flashy merchandise, while another report at Kuala Lumpur’s fair highlights how social media is boosting writer-reader ties and sales. Book World Under Pressure: A Facebook whistleblower, Sarah Wynn-Williams, appeared silently at the Hay Festival after Meta secured an order blocking her from promoting “Careless People.” Children’s Literature Spotlight: Canadian creator Jon Klassen wins the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, underscoring how major prizes shape what children read worldwide. New Releases & Events: Browseabout Books lists June author signings in Rehoboth Beach, including eco-poetry and romance titles. Climate Fiction: A review of “All the Water in the World” follows a teen and AMNH scientists as a melted New York fights for survival. Tech in Publishing: Microwide Publishing Press launches a digital push for Namibian authors, pitching e-commerce and digital distribution as the next growth lever.

Publishing Policy: Philippines poet Virgilio Almario and publisher Marvin Aceron have asked the Supreme Court to strike down a 12% VAT on digital books and other online-published literature, arguing it creates a “tollgate” to education and violates freedom of expression. Education & Curriculum: Indian Prairie School District 204 is updating its middle-school advanced English program, Project Arrow, replacing out-of-print classics and vocab materials with a mix of classic foundations and newer texts. Arctic Geopolitics in Print: Kenneth R. Rosen’s “Polar War” (Simon & Schuster) argues warming Arctic conditions are accelerating militarization and competition among Russia, China, and Western states. Book-to-Stage/Screen Culture: Roald Dahl biopic play “Giant” spotlights the art-versus-artist debate, while Cannes’ “The Black Ball” blends love and war across three generations. Local Book Life: Ada Public Library hosts children’s author Kenny Wilson for a signing; elsewhere, a Kohima travelogue compiles student memories from 2025 educational tours. Reading in the Digital Age: A report on Pope Leo XIV’s Vatican Publishing House remarks adds fuel to the printed-book debate, praising physical reading for reflection and comprehension.

Publishing & Culture Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia has officially opened a Guest of Honour pavilion at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2026, using literature, rare manuscripts, poetry sessions, and live traditional arts to deepen cultural ties with Malaysia. Literary Awards: Czech writer Dora Kaprálová won the EU Prize for Literature for The Maribor Hypnosis, announced at the Warsaw International Book Fair. Book World Spotlight: A new review roundup highlights Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck as a Berlin-set story where personal hope “evaporates” alongside the politics of the GDR’s collapse. Controversy in Education: A UK exam board is set to drop George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London from A-level specs, replacing it with Anna Funder’s Wifedom. Business & Books: Virion Therapeutics reported Phase 1b progress toward an HBV functional cure with VRON-0200, including sustained HBsAg declines without rebound up to 2+ years. Local Literary Life: Kashmir Literature Festival 2026 opened in Srinagar with Manoj Sinha urging writers to shape civilizations beyond institutions.

Publishing & Royals: Queen Letizia toured the opening of the 85th Madrid Book Fair in Retiro, with humor as this year’s theme and major author panels from Siri Hustvedt to Fernando Aramburu. Documentary Spotlight: “Ask E. Jean” is expanding after a strong run, even as a Trump DOJ probe keeps E. Jean Carroll’s legal story in the headlines. Indie Awards: Daniel de Llano’s LGBTQ nonfiction “The Sparkle Trap” won the IndieReader Discovery Awards’ Overall Nonfiction First Prize. Books in the Classroom: A Menomonee Falls LGBTQ picture-book ban fight continues after DPI limited its role, leaving families and schools in legal limbo. Community Reading: Hillingdon’s Hillingdon Crime Festival lines up top crime writers for June 1, while Edmonds Bookshop hosts Pride story time with Michelle Jing Chan. New Fiction Buzz: VJ Garske’s “The Griffin Moonstone” keeps building momentum with strong reader reviews and a PenMasters win. Literary Culture: Berlin’s influence on Anna Funder is explored in a new look back at how the city shaped her writing.

TV Adaptation: HBO and A24 are developing a series version of William Hjortsberg’s Fallen Angel/Angel’s Inferno, with Zac Efron set to lead and executive-produce and Jonathan van Tulleken directing multiple episodes—another big-screen-to-small-screen turn for a cult literary thriller. Publishing Deals: Nosy Crow is teaming with the University of Cambridge on a “powerful” non-fiction title, while Quercus has signed Amelie Rhys’s self-published enemies-to-lovers romance The Season for Hating You. Awards & Reviews: Gráinne O’Hare’s Thirst Trap won the 2026 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year at Listowel Writers’ Week, and the BBC’s Middlemarch adaptation is being praised for bringing George Eliot’s novel “to life.” Book Trade & Community: IndieReader named winners of its 15th Discovery Awards (1,000+ indie submissions), and Ithaca’s fifth Book & Zine Fair returns with 40+ independent publishers and zine-makers. Education & Policy: Kenya’s publishers warn the government owes Sh9.48b for school textbooks, threatening Grade 11 delivery. Science & Health: A large review in The Lancet suggests parental mental health—not antidepressant use in pregnancy—drives the autism/ADHD link.

Literary Events: The Times’ “Meet the Writer” series brings William Boyd to London for an evening in conversation about his new Gabriel Dax mystery, Cold Sunset, with tickets and optional add-on copies. Publishing & Education: Indiana University Press spotlights college creativity with Quick Hits for Creativity in the Classroom, while a separate piece argues perennial-food writing is also about attention—how we “tend a place across time.” Iran & Intellectual History: A look back at Jalal Al-e Ahmad’s 1963 “Journey to the Land of Israel” shows how one admired political model sparked outrage and still unsettles readers. Health & Biomarkers: A CMSC review suggests ferritin may track both MS progression and myelin repair potential, though conclusions are still preliminary. Film-to-Book Culture: Paz Vega is set to star in Ana no, adapting Agustín Gómez Arcos’s 1977 novel. AI Reality Check: Reports describe people who say AI chatbots helped trigger “reality-warping spirals,” raising new questions about how fiction-like responses can take hold. New Fiction Releases: Debra Ison’s The Confession leans into redemption after a murder-for-hire plot, while The Seven Children of God tackles cult influence and trafficking trauma.

Publishing Deals: HarperNonFiction is set to publish Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp and Supersonic producer Simon Halfon’s “immersive exploration” into The Beatles, while Canongate acquired Delia Smith’s political-essay book “Us: Nine Ingredients to Change Our World,” and Orbit UK will publish MR Carey’s new fantasy novel. Rights & Trade: Tor (Pan Macmillan) snapped up T Kingfisher’s “A Devil of a Crime” plus a second novel in a two-book deal, and Salt promoted Kirsty Hamilton-Emery to publicity manager. Book Culture & Events: Romania will take part in the 85th Madrid Book Fair with a major author program and Spanish translation push. Crime Writing Spotlight: The Crime Writers’ Association 2026 Dagger Awards shortlist has been revealed, with Bloody Scotland also announcing a debut prize shortlist featuring an all-women line-up. Legal/Controversy: The US Justice Department opened a criminal probe into writer E. Jean Carroll over alleged perjury tied to her Trump lawsuits. AI & Piracy: The Publishers Association warns of unauthorized AI narration being used for audiobooks as pirated versions spread online. Global Literature: George Takei’s graphic memoir “They Called Us Enemy” is being discussed via library livestream events under “One Book, One Coast.”

Literary Culture: Dara Horn brought her blunt, funny anti-antisemitism message to the Jerusalem International Writers Festival, arguing that honesty is a weapon against denial. Faith & Memoir: Christopher Beha’s new book, Why I Am Not an Atheist, follows his spiritual detours out of and back into belief after loss and illness. Book Reviews: Natalie Lemle’s debut Artifacts blends legal suspense with an art-world mystery tied to a missing antiquity; Lydia Millet’s nonfiction debut We Loved It All tackles extinction with her signature wit. Publishing & Labor: Dark Horse Comics staff formed a union, Dark Horse Workers United, citing layoffs, wage freezes, AI worries, and leadership upheaval. Community Reading: Lake Erie Ink’s teen anthology “Lights, Camera, Action!” celebrates youth creativity without grades or competition. International Books: Bulgaria will be guest of honour at Bucharest’s Bookfest International, with a packed program of events. Health Tech Meets Books: Cardiosense won FDA De Novo clearance for AI heart-failure monitoring software.

China’s Three-Body Problem shadow: Chinese authorities executed Xu Yao, convicted of poisoning billionaire gaming tycoon Lin Qi of Yoozoo Games, a dispute tied to the Netflix “3 Body Problem” franchise. Government delivery: Bangladesh’s PMO says it’s rolling out about 200 initiatives in its first 100 days, aiming for visible public impact. Book culture, on the move: Christina Baker Kline brings “The Foursome” to Charleston, while publishers keep stacking deals—Bloomsbury signs designer Eleanor Bowmer for board books and Wilton Square Books acquires “Everyone Everywhere” on mixed-race Britain. Travel perk for readers: Sri Lanka scraps a $50 Electronic Travel Authorisation fee for visitors from 40 countries, including the UK. What to read next: A sports-themed kids-to-adult roundup pushes baseball and marathon history as spring reading fuel. Local community pages: Otto Bookstore expands in a sports-minded town, and a new book club launches at a sauna venue.

Biotech Deal Shock: Eli Lilly says it’s buying three vaccine companies to expand into infectious-disease prevention, betting vaccines are the best defense as antimicrobial resistance erodes treatment options. Catholic Tech Debate: Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” pushes for AI regulation to protect workers and human dignity—sparking fresh arguments about whether the Vatican is getting ahead of industry. Local Reading, Real Impact: A Minnesota Historical Society Press cookbook event spotlights how family recipes carry history, while a study on “summer slide” reports book bags can help high-poverty students gain about two-thirds of a school year. Literary Spotlight: Benjamin Lloyd’s new post-apocalypse Essex thriller and a new “Invisible Man” feature keep the week’s reading momentum going. Science & Care: A wearable ultrasound patch aims to improve monitoring in high-risk pregnancies, offering continuous blood-flow data for doctors.

School Safety Push: In Lisheen, West Cork, a councillor is urging Cork County Council to widen the road and add parking at Lisheen National School—but engineers say the council can’t expand land it doesn’t own, so the plan may need to shift into the National Transport Authority’s Safe Routes to Schools scheme. AI vs. Writing: A new wave of debate keeps rolling in: a sci-fi experiment where an author “fights” an AI’s suggestions becomes a story about resisting cliché, while another analysis warns that AI guidance for finance still lacks the accountability a real advisor should bring. Publishing Deals & Adaptations: Tor UK has snapped up June Harrington’s debut historical fantasy Merely a Matter of Time after a tense auction, and a Teesside barrister-turned-author’s debut novel is headed for an Apple TV adaptation. Community Nature Access: Mayo’s libraries are rolling out birdwatching kits—binoculars, guides, and a way to log citizen-science sightings—aimed at making nature spotting easier for everyone. Book World, Lightly: And yes, someone has collected 59 hilariously awful book covers, because the internet can’t resist a little chaos.