AGP Executive Report

Publishing on screen: Warner Bros is in talks for film rights to Allen Levi’s bestseller Theo of Golden, with Tom Hanks in talks to star—an unlikely self-published hit now headed for Hollywood. AI and books: New reporting claims Amazon staff have been cutting bindings off rare books to train language models, while other coverage points to AI firms buying up old books and scanning them at scale. Copyright pressure: Fresh GTA 6 leaked footage has triggered Rockstar takedowns, raising questions about what legal trouble leakers could face. UK publishing-adjacent business: Domino expands its Circular Planet recycling scheme for thermal inkjet cartridges across the UK and Europe. Royal reads: Earl Spencer says his upcoming Diana tell-all Swan Song: Diana, My Sister will “tell the truth” and correct “untruths” ahead of the 30th anniversary. Local literacy: King’s Lynn publisher Badger Learning doubles its National Year of Reading donations to £20,000 for children’s books in hospitals and rural schools.

UK Publishing & Books: Barrow-in-Furness poet Caleb has stocked a “give a book, take a book” Little Book Stop on Dalton Road, backed by Penguin’s 90th birthday push, as he gears up for a first-ever poetry slam at Full of Noises (Aug 26). Royal Reads: Earl Spencer says his new Diana book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, aims to “tell the truth” from his perspective, after being inundated with requests ahead of the 30th anniversary. Memoir Spotlight: Sonia Gandhi’s Belonging: A Journey of Love lands in the UK on Nov 10 in hardcover/ebook, with audio via Penguin Random House. New Fiction: British-Arab author Amy Abdelnoor’s debut Ever Land follows a British-Jewish teen in a West Bank settlement, with the author describing writing as “method acting” amid Gaza coverage. Media & AI: A new round of debate continues over AI’s hunger for print and publishers’ copyright limits, as Big Tech’s rare-book use for training remains in the spotlight. Culture & Community: A Channel 5 documentary expert role for East Ilsley author Helen Saxton keeps the Jeremy Bamber case in the book news cycle.

Bookshop Relief Fight: Authors including Philip Pullman and Maggie O’Farrell back an open letter urging Andy Burnham to extend business rates relief to bookshops, warning rising bills could force closures. Royal Publishing Buzz: Charles Spencer’s Diana book “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister” is set for September 22, promising to “tell the truth” amid ongoing royal rifts. Memoir Spotlight: Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging: A Journey of Love” lands November 10, tracing her life from Cambridge romance to Congress leadership. AI Transparency Push (US): A New York law now requires warning labels on AI-generated “synthetic models” in ads, with early complaints including a British eyewear brand. Local Reading & Culture: HMV is expanding at Bluewater with a bigger two-storey shop stocking vinyl, manga and books. Publishing & Print Tech: UK independent booksellers and the wider industry keep pressing on copyright and AI training as secondhand sales surge and publishers face new questions. Roadworks Roundup (Inverness): Overnight resurfacing will affect two roundabouts from Aug 31 to Sept 7, with diversions to keep traffic moving.

Publishing & Books: Disney Live Action is developing a feature adaptation of South Korean fantasy bestseller The Dallergut Dream Department Store, with British author Patrick Ness writing the screenplay; the novel has sold 1m copies in Korea and topped 2m worldwide across 20+ territories. Culture & Reading: Penguin Classics has reissued Victor Hugo’s Ninety-Three, recalling how the book once appeared in the life of a young priest-in-training who later became Stalin—an unlikely reminder of how literature travels through history. Books & Society: A major debate has erupted after the death of former Cambridge sociology professor Jason Arday, with coverage focusing on race, academic standards, and the role of relentless media scrutiny. Tech & Inequality: A WHO Europe review argues digital health and telemedicine can widen inequality, with access gaps by geography, language, income, age and disability. Local Heritage: Southport’s Hesketh Park Observatory (installed in 1901) will open for free during Heritage Open Days, part of a national programme running Sept 11–20.

Publishing Deal-Making: Riot House Publishing launches as an independent press with an author-first model built on equitable profit-sharing, opening with acquisitions including a Rutgers professor’s book on Trump’s tariffs and economic chaos. Press Standards: UK regulator IPSO is reviewing a high volume of complaints about media coverage following the death of Cambridge professor Jason Arday, urging sympathy and discretion. Book Retail Shake-up: Inverness’s TG Jones (formerly WH Smith) has put up “store closing down” banners, with a sale starting immediately amid wider chain cutbacks. Media/Tech & AI Skills: The NCTJ says news employers are asking graduates for advanced AI skills, prompting a rethink of how AI literacy and ethics are taught. Royalty & Culture: Prince Harry signals he wants to return to the UK “more and more” after a reunion with King Charles. Games & Comics: Titan Comics will publish a new four-part comic series tied to Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines 2.

Publishing & Book Retail: Waterstones is set to open a new Bolton shop at Middlebrook Retail Park, adding a café and a wider games, puzzles and vinyl range alongside books. AI & Copyright: A new report argues AI’s hunger for print is fuelling a secondhand surge and putting fresh pressure on UK copyright limits. Books & Media Industry: Metro’s leadership discusses how freesheets are adapting as commute-era habits fade and Google search changes hit click-through rates. Publishing & Technology: Heidelberg UK says it’s holding the line amid headwinds, with growing focus on packaging and lifecycle solutions for print customers. Royal Charity Spotlight: King Charles and Kate attended Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary reception at St James’s Palace, marking a major public-facing moment for the charity. Immigration Policy: Shabana Mahmood faces fresh criticism over Windrush-linked promises as Labour rebels challenge proposed ILR rule changes.

Cambridge Plagiarism Shock: Jason Arday, Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, has died aged 41 after resigning amid plagiarism allegations; police say the death is unexpected but not believed suspicious, while his family cites a “campaign of sustained abuse” and the public argument over what it all means for multicultural Britain rumbles on. Publishing & Books in the Spotlight: Antiques Roadshow featured a guest’s inherited Sri Lanka watercolour book, while a separate piece highlights how secondhand books are booming amid AI concerns. Book Culture Meets Film: Edinburgh’s premiere of Skintown (based on Ciarán McMenamin’s novel) brings Troubles-era youth and rave culture to the screen. Health & Reading Communities: UKHSA figures suggest the maternal RSV vaccine programme has halved infant ICU admissions in England. Local Bookish Life: A Scottish myths-and-legends creator is drawing huge audiences back to local folklore through maps, old books and storytelling. Industry Watch: A UK hotel group has been placed into administration, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

Publishing & Books: A Cambridge plagiarism scandal has dominated UK headlines after the death of Jason Arday, Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, aged 41, with a GoFundMe now topping £30,000 for funeral and family costs. Housing & Social Policy: Birmingham’s “right to buy” rules are blamed for draining council homes, with a probe alleging sell-offs outpace new builds and leaving taxpayers paying more to rent back former public assets. Culture & Community: A new library series is set to bring cooking, music and more into one venue, aiming to make libraries feel like community hubs. Books & Mental Health: One writer credits self-help titles with helping them process grief and burnout, eventually leading to training as a psychotherapist. Royal Books Buzz: A royal biography claims a dispute over Kate’s name spelling, adding fresh fuel to the ongoing fascination with royal publishing narratives.

Cambridge Shock: UK PM Andy Burnham called for “reflection” after the death of Jason Arday, Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, found dead in south London days after resigning amid plagiarism scrutiny; his family alleges a “campaign of sustained abuse” and “misinformation,” while police say the death is unexpected but not suspicious. Book Trade & AI: UK and Ireland secondhand booksellers report a surge in bulk orders they suspect are linked to AI firms, after a US fair-use ruling cleared the way for large-scale book scanning for training. Publishing & Rights: An Arabic London bookshop removed copies of Mein Kampf from sale after backlash, saying it wanted to be a “welcoming bookstore for everyone.” Independence & Memory: India’s 80th Independence Day coverage and Partition remembrance pieces underline how history is being taught and re-taught—especially around 1947’s violence. Local Culture: A new Japanese-style bakery opens in Warrington, bringing patisserie and breads to the high street.

Cambridge Plagiarism Death: Jason Arday, Cambridge’s youngest Black professor who resigned amid plagiarism allegations, was found dead in Battersea at 41; his family says a “campaign of misinformation” and “sustained abuse” became unbearable. Publishing & Books: A new UK book, Sharks, Shipwreck and Survival, brings a largely forgotten Edwardian Indian Ocean survival story to British readers. Literary Culture: A Cambridge beach-reading roundup shares what local writers are enjoying, from Sarah Perry’s The Essex Serpent to Satu Rämö’s detective fiction. Nature & Community: RSPB Scotland’s Abernethy reserve could get 13 new wildlife ponds to help the rare Northern damselfly. Books on the Move: The world’s largest floating book fair, Logos Hope, docks in Dublin (9–16 August) with thousands of titles onboard. Bookish History: Guy Walters’ Stealing Hitler’s Rocket spotlights the resistance plot to smuggle V-2 components out of Poland.

Local Radio Shake-up: WMT radio in the US is saying goodbye to its local voices after iHeartMedia cuts staff and swaps in national programming, raising fears about losing community “heartbeat” coverage. Botanical Art Spotlight: Perth artist Philippa Nikulinsky’s detailed watercolours of Western Australia’s flora show how art can grow from decades of scientific illustration. Climate & Wildfire Reality: Wildfires in the UK’s West Midlands have destroyed homes and injured firefighters, with speculation swirling about a TikTok-fuelled A-level craze. Books & Community Events: Rutherglen launches a month-long book festival for its 900th anniversary, with comic artist Frank Quitely and crime writers Denise Mina and Callum McSorley among the guests. Publishing Culture: Poetry sales are booming, with Homer’s resurgence via Nolan’s The Odyssey and the rise of “Instapoets” driving new readers to the genre. Tech & Reading Tools: A guide highlights how to convert files to PDFs using browser features, no extra software needed.

Reading Access: The Works’ Find Your Story Book Bus rolled into Friars Walk, Newport, with workshops and free books for 300+ children as parents worry screen time is hurting focus and many families own fewer than 10 books. Publishing & Culture: Robert Carlyle’s moustache is back in cinemas via a 4K Trainspotting restoration, and he’s also promoting new short film Three at Edinburgh International Film Festival—an easy crossover for book-and-film fans. Local Books in the UK: Solihull residents are pushing back on “grey belt” housing plans, arguing infrastructure can’t cope—another reminder that where books get read depends on where communities get built. Health & Society: Glasgow A&Es hit a grim milestone: only 68.7% of patients were seen within four hours in June, with 10.1% waiting over eight. Faith & Language: Welsh Christians have launched a Welsh-dialect translation of the four Gospels in Pembrokeshire, bringing scripture closer to local readers. New Fiction: M.L. Arden announces debut novel Still Here (English/Polish) launching a ten-book Marta saga about motherhood, migration and loss.

Publishing & Books: A long-awaited English release is finally landing: Alain Damasio’s cult sci-fi novel Horde of the Counterwind (La Horde du Contrevent) gets a UK hardback on 12 November, with the story’s “endless wind” quest and team-based survival pitch aimed at fans of big, idea-heavy fiction. Tech & Reading Culture: Gadgets to God by David Wortley—originally published in 2012—has been republished as an updated paperback and Kindle on Amazon, revisiting warnings about AI, social media addiction and algorithmic manipulation that the author says have come true. Local Planning (Books & Community Angle): Harrow, Haringey, Barnet and Lewisham councils all have fresh planning submissions live via the Public Notice Portal, including Harrow School logistics details, a boardwalk at Alexandra Park, and redevelopment plans around former commercial sites—useful for readers tracking how neighbourhood spaces (and community facilities) change. Culture/TV Adaptations: Harry Potter casting continues to stir debate, with actress Bel Powley speaking out on trans rights while confirming she’ll still play Petunia Dursley in HBO’s adaptation.

Publishing & Books: GWR has added free short-story “dispensers” at Oxford station to keep kids reading in the summer, using 100-year-old folklore tales from Line to Legend Land. Literary Culture: The British Library announces American Writers’ Week to mark 250 years of the United States, featuring Joyce Carol Oates and Viet Thanh Nguyen. Book Industry & Tech: A report says book publishers are facing mounting questions in the backlash over AI. Local Reading Initiatives: Pembrokeshire libraries are pushing the Summer Reading Challenge (six books for a medal and certificate), while an Irish Writers Centre debut-novel competition has revealed 12 winners after a record 804 submissions. Controversy & Community: A Suffolk village row over a “dissident” bookshop escalated, with the owner closing the physical store and moving online. Education & Writing: A Cambridge plagiarism scandal involving Jason Arday continues to ripple through academia and publishing.

Publishing & Rights: The British Library launches American Writers’ Week with Joyce Carol Oates and Viet Thanh Nguyen, marking 250 years since the US was founded. Books & Translation: Alain Damasio’s cult sci-fi Horde of the Counterwind gets its first English translation, with an English hardback release slated for 13 Oct 2026 (UK date still being clarified). Film/TV Adaptations: Disney Live Action is developing a feature adaptation of Miye Lee’s fantasy bestseller The Dallergut Dream Department Store, with Patrick Ness writing the screenplay. Publishing Industry: BAFTA opens entries for the 2027 Games Awards, removing the 50% early-entry discount and splitting deadlines—big news for studios planning submissions. Book Culture: A new radio show spotlights authors chatting on the beach, adding to the UK’s growing push for book-led audio content.

Children’s Publishing: Oratia Books is rolling out I need a NEW BUM! (book 13 in Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird’s series) for Father’s Day 2026, with UK release plus North American edition planned. Publishing & Culture: A new review hails Philip Hensher’s A History of the Novel in Britain as a “masterpiece of criticism,” praising its connected, practitioner-led approach to fiction’s evolution. Local Housing & Books/Reading Communities: Birmingham City Council is investigating claims of a “soft touch” in the city’s exempt accommodation sector, after concerns about how thousands are housed in exempt HMO-style properties. Media & Privacy: Scotland’s smart-glasses debate heats up as a lawyer argues privacy protections should be strengthened, following complaints about being recorded and shared online. Arts & Heritage: The REME Museum in Lyneham will open free for Heritage Open Days with a “Day in the Life” trail using wartime diaries. Books & Society: A Kindertransport testimony blog highlights newly contextualised archival material around Emma Mogilensky’s account of infants found on her journey.