Worth Noting!

New book-trade figures show higher print-book sales in Australia and New Zealand during Love Your Bookshop Day week, including a 12.2% rise in Australian sales value.

The American Association of School Librarians has commended four Connecticut-based literacy and school-library initiatives, recognising community partnerships in reading and information skills.

Keiran Rogers and Grace Breen have launched Manuka Books, a sales representation business for independent publishers, with Five Mile Press as its first client.

The Poetry Foundation has awarded $1.52 million in operating grants to 52 poetry organisations, publishers, magazines and literary-arts services across the United States and its territories.

Apateon Press has launched a programme to restore eligible out-of-print or rights-reverted books to sale without charging authors a republication fee, offering new print or digital editions through Amazon.

Libraries in Ireland and England are celebrating the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels with exhibitions exploring its rare editions, translations, illustrations and enduring literary influence.

Six English-language children’s and young-adult books were honoured at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s 2026 awards on 26 October, spanning fiction, poetry, historical writing, nonfiction and picture books.

A new International Publishers Association review marks ten years since the Marrakesh Treaty took effect in September 2016, highlighting growth in cross-border access to books in accessible formats.

Researchers at the Algiers International Book Fair have highlighted Amazigh-language manuscripts written in Arabic script and their role in preserving Algeria’s linguistic and intellectual history.

A conference at the Algiers International Book Fair examined authors’ rights, digital publishing and the proposed use of ISBN-based tools to improve the tracing of books and their rights.

Swedish translator John Swedenmark has won the 2026 International Vigdís Prize for his contributions to the translation and international circulation of Icelandic literature.

The 29th Algiers International Book Fair opened to the public on 29 October, after its formal inauguration on 28 October, and continues until 7 November.

Tanzanian imprint Mbiu Press is recovering hard-to-find works and publishing collected editions of Swahili literature, with new multilingual initiatives intended to introduce major authors to wider audiences.

Five works have been shortlisted for Finland’s 2026 Tore Bearer Prize, which recognises fiction with international potential. The winner will be announced at the Tampere Book Festival on 29 November.

Australia’s Macquarie Dictionary has introduced an API offering access to its Australian English database for applications ranging from word games and editorial tools to language-localisation and speech technology.

Independent publisher Catapult Book Group is ending operations on 30 October. Its workers have reached a separation agreement, while questions remain about the prospective buyer of the publisher’s assets and the future handling of forthcoming books.

Baker & Taylor has proposed a liquidation plan in its U.S. bankruptcy case, disclosing an estimated liquidation value of about $1.67 million against more than $10.2 million in post-petition debt. Eligible creditors have until 1 December to vote.

Jamaican poet Lorna Goodison has received the 2026 Derek Walcott Prize for her reinvention of Dante’s Inferno in Jamaican speech and Caribbean literary traditions.

Australian independent bookseller Dillons Bookshop has announced plans for a second location at Adelaide Central Market, expected in early 2027. The shop will add an emphasis on food writing and cookbooks to its wider book range.

Everyman’s Library celebrated the thirty-fifth anniversary of its 1991 revival at a London reception held on 21 October. The event also marked 120 years since the series was established in 1906.

Jeff Kinney’s Fight or Flight, the twenty-first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, has entered the Official UK Top 50 at number one. NielsenIQ BookScan reports 43,071 copies sold during its first official week on sale.

M. R. Carey’s Once Was Willem has won Best Novel at the 2026 World Fantasy Awards, announced during the World Fantasy Convention in Oakland. The awards also recognised Clive Barker and Joyce Carol Oates for lifetime achievement.

English PEN is accepting applications until 30 November for translation grants, including PEN Translates support for UK publishers and a separate South Asian literature strand.

Australian bookseller Readings has awarded its 2026 New Australian Fiction Prize to Olivia De Zilva for Plastic Budgie, a sharply observed debut novel published by Pink Shorts Press.

British Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s new English verse version of Gilgamesh, published in October, brings one of the earliest surviving epic narratives to contemporary readers.

The British Library has acquired an extensive archive of A. S. Byatt’s writing, research and correspondence, illuminating the making of her novels and criticism.

The inaugural Bridget Jones Prize will support unpublished, unagented writers in northern England; applications open on 23 November 2026.

The 2026 An Post Irish Book Awards shortlists feature fiction, Irish-language writing, poetry, history, biography and children’s literature, with winners due on 1 December.

Arts Council England and Inpress will support 12 small publishers at next year’s London Book Fair, reducing the cost of attending an international rights and publishing event.

Former Amazon executives Jeff Belle and Nicholas Denissen have launched Macguffin Co., a studio developing book-centred entertainment franchises through investor backing and audience testing. Publishers can acquire options on projects before committing to full acquisitions. The company has already reached its first agreement with Andrews McMeel Universal for Arthur Trope’s The Inscrutables.

St. Martin’s Publishing Group has announced Tytora, a new imprint devoted to puzzle and games books. The Macmillan division expects the line to begin publishing in autumn 2027, with an annual target of 24–30 titles. Nichole Argyres and Courtney Littler, who worked on the Murdle puzzle-book series, will lead the new programme.

The 2026 Tom Wolfe Literary Prizes have named Sarah Anderson’s Fallow as their fiction winner and Carlos Barragán’s The Yahoo Boys as the reportage winner. Organised by Air Mail, the prizes are in their second year and recognise satirical storytelling and literary long-form journalism. The results appeared in the magazine’s October 24 issue.

Bloomsbury Publishing has reported a 30% drop in adjusted pre-tax profit and a 5% decline in revenue for the six months ending August 2026. Despite the weaker first half, the UK publisher maintained its forecast of record full-year results, pointing partly to forthcoming Sarah J. Maas books. The figures come from its 22 October financial announcement.

The Public Library Association and Microsoft have announced a programme providing free artificial intelligence learning resources for American public library staff and patrons. The initiative will offer toolkits, peer-learning activities and workshops beginning in December 2026. Its stated emphasis includes checking AI output, protecting privacy and helping libraries decide how to adopt the resources.

The UK Society of Authors has withdrawn from an international charter on ethical uses of generative AI following objections from members, including concerns about consultation. The organisation announced its decision on 21 October and plans to discuss next steps at its November annual meeting. Other participating organisations have not collectively withdrawn from the charter.

Nearly 300 authors have filed individual copyright complaints against Meta in a California federal court, alleging that the company used their books without permission to train artificial intelligence systems. Filed on 19 October, the cases take a different approach from collective actions and seek statutory damages. The allegations have not been adjudicated.

Australia’s Footpath Library has received an A$20,000 grant through the CommBank Staff Foundation to replenish its mobile library services. The organisation operates more than 35 outreach services across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. Volunteers provide books, reading glasses, children's activities and opportunities for regular community connection.

U.S. independent publisher Catapult Book Group is expected to end operations on 30 October amid plans for an asset sale, according to its newly unionised staff. The prospective buyer has not been identified publicly, and the future of planned titles remains uncertain. The workers’ union says it is negotiating separation arrangements with the company.

Penguin Random House and United for Libraries have announced the 2027 round of grants for small and rural US libraries. The programme offers US$25,000 in cash awards and 20 book-donation awards of US$500 each. Applications open on 8 December 2026.

Brisbane Writers Festival has reported more than 19,000 attendances for its 8–11 October 2026 programme, nearly 20% above last year. The four-day event featured over 200 authors and more than 100 sessions; the figures describe attendance, not necessarily distinct visitors.

UK publisher Penguin Michael Joseph is launching Coral Press, an imprint devoted to books on health, wellbeing and personal development. Deputy publishing director Ione Walder and editorial director Corinna Bolino will lead the new list.

Simon & Schuster imprint Summit Books has acquired Ashley Hay’s novel The Running Dream through agent Jenny Hewson at Lutyens & Rubinstein. Its story follows a recurring dream that appears in different sleepers, linking lives across time and place.

Australian publisher MidnightSun has acquired world rights to Nicky Zhang’s Rice Sister, Noodle Sister, a contemporary reimagining of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. The novel follows two Chinese-New Zealand sisters negotiating different expectations about family, identity and personal choice.

The Australian Publishers Association will offer two Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowships in 2027, each worth up to A$20,000. The relaunched programme adds mentoring and places an emphasis on professional exchange and travel within the Asia-Pacific region.

University of Western Australia Publishing has acquired Australian and New Zealand rights to Megan Cheong’s literary novella Exchange. The Berlin-set work explores language, travel and artistic ambition, with the deal negotiated by publishing manager Kate Pickard and agent Bella Suckling.

A survey of 5,025 recent US book buyers found disagreement over whether AI should be used to create books, but 85% supported disclosure of its involvement in writing. Conducted by BookInsights.ai, the study measures reported attitudes rather than actual purchasing behaviour.

HarperCollins and Netflix are preparing new editions of C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia ahead of Greta Gerwig’s forthcoming film of The Magician’s Nephew. November releases include illustrated boxed sets and a movie-cover paperback; Ben Hatke’s graphic-novel adaptation is scheduled for 12 January 2027.

Collins Booksellers is preparing to open a locally owned franchise in Horsham, Victoria, on 26 October. Wimmera residents Casey Kosch and Lynell Sudholz will lead the shop. The new location will extend the Australian chain’s regional presence, with opening details announced earlier this month.

A new study by Studyportals and Cambridge IELTS estimates that international graduates from the 2024 cohort could generate US$1.7 trillion in economic output over their working lives in countries where they studied. The projection draws on international graduate outcomes and covers 15 major study destinations; it is a modelled estimate, not money already earned.

Australian writer and journalist Amy McQuire has received the 2027 Peter Blazey Fellowship, worth A$20,000, for her nonfiction work in progress State of Disappearance. The manuscript examines the stories of five missing First Nations women and the experiences of their families. The award was announced on 17 October.

Six writers have made the 2026 Richell Prize shortlist in Australia: Chloe Anne, Mike Boynes, Farrin Foster, Euri Glenn, KT Major and Gillian Worrall. Chosen from a 24-person longlist, they remain in contention for A$10,000 and a year of publishing mentorship. The winner will be announced on 6 November.

Nonprofit publisher Qilin Press has created a $1,000 fellowship named for speculative poet Linda D. Addison. The award supports an emerging poet developing an unpublished collection. Applications open on January 18, 2027, with submissions limited to the first 50 completed applications.

Laika’s stop-motion adaptation of Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis’s fantasy novel Wildwood is scheduled to reach cinemas on October 23. In a new interview, the married writer-illustrator team described their involvement in the screen version and the differences between making a book and a film.

August sales at roughly 1,411 US publishers reporting to the Association of American Publishers’ StatShot programme rose 8.9% year on year. Adult books grew more quickly than children’s and young adult publishing, while digital audio and e-books moved in different directions across categories.

Independent publisher Walking Tree will bring its Travel with a Writer books to the US and UK in January 2027. The first four titles pair Catherine Lacey with New York, Emily Itami with Tokyo, Brian Winter with São Paulo and Eleonora Marangoni with Rome.

The 2027 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award has announced 277 nominees from 80 countries and regions. Australian nominees include Alison Lester, Susanne Gervay, Ursula Dubosarsky and Magabala Books. The international children’s-literature prize will name its next laureate on 6 April 2027.

Tim Winton’s 1991 novel Cloudstreet has taken first place in ABC Radio National’s 2026 Top 100 Australian Books countdown. Readers cast more than 280,000 votes. Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief finished second and Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe third.

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance says executive director Linda-Marie Barrett will step down at the end of 2026. Barrett joined the regional booksellers’ organisation in 2017 and became its executive director in 2020. The board is preparing a search for her successor as the association continues to support independent bookstores across the southeastern United States.

Fraser Tanner is preparing to leave Batch for Books at the end of October after 26 years with the UK-based bookselling-services company, according to Publishers Weekly. Tanner has spent two years leading its US operation. Managing director Izzy Carlile has been named as his successor.

The US National Book Foundation has named actor and memoirist Kyle MacLachlan as host of the 77th National Book Awards ceremony on 18 November in New York. Author and musician Michelle Zauner, known for Crying in H Mart and Japanese Breakfast, will be the musical guest. The ceremony will be livestreamed and will announce the winners across five book categories.

Australia’s Love Your Bookshop Day on 10 October drew strong interest, according to the Australian Booksellers Association. The association reported that some participating shops experienced exceptionally high foot traffic and sales. A delayed promotional Personal Penguin figurine was replaced at participating stores by a book-nook card entitling qualifying customers to collect the figurine later.

Must Read Magazines, publisher of several major science-fiction and mystery periodicals, has announced changes to contracts for cover artists after objections from illustrators John Picacio and Donato Giancola. Its initial October 9 statement addressed work-for-hire commissions; a subsequent October 16 update said revised agreements would retain artists’ copyrights and remove moral-rights waivers.

U.S. print book sales reached 531.3 million copies in the first nine months of 2026, down just 0.1% from the comparable period a year earlier, according to Circana BookScan data reported by Publishers Weekly. Growth in adult fiction helped offset declines in adult nonfiction and young adult fiction.

Bernice Barry has won the adult category of Australia’s 2026 ARA Historical Novel Prize for The Names of a Hare, while Meg Caddy received the children’s and young adult award for A Flash in the Dust. Wayne Marshall won the Readers’ Choice prize for Henry Goes Bush. The winners were announced on 15 October.

British-Nigerian writer Abimbola Omisore has won Simon & Schuster UK’s New Chapter award for emerging authors. The prize brings a two-book publishing agreement with a six-figure advance; her debut novel is planned for publication in 2028. The competition received more than 500 submissions, and four other shortlisted writers will be offered mentoring by the publisher.

HarperCollins Children's Publishing has acquired Australian and New Zealand rights to Survive the Story, an interactive middle-grade fiction series by Amie Kaufman and Lili Wilkinson. The first book, Cursed Kingdom, combines branching story choices with puzzles, mazes and dice-based decisions. The publisher is preparing the title for a 2027 release, positioning the series at the intersection of traditional reading and game-inspired storytelling.

The 2026 Frank R. Paul Awards have announced nominees for excellence in science-fiction, fantasy and horror cover art, covering books and magazines published in 2025. Shortlisted artists include Pascal Blanche, Lindsey Carr, Tristan Elwell and Cynthia Sheppard among the book-cover entries. The organisers will present awards at Philcon on 20 November. The announcement concerns nominees, not winners.

Australian novelist and creative-writing lecturer Romy Ash has been named the 2026 Joyce Thorpe Nicholson Creative Fellow at the University of Melbourne. The fellowship, reported as worth A$20,000, will support a project responding to the university's Joyce Thorpe Nicholson Collection. Ash plans to produce speculative fictional pieces as audio works linked to individual books and passages in the collection.

The Institute of Professional Editors has confirmed 18–19 August 2027 for its next conference, which will take place online. The Australia–New Zealand professional body had previously announced the virtual format; the October update supplies the dates for the next biennial gathering of editors and publishing professionals.

Hachette Book Group reported a 4% increase in third-quarter 2026 sales compared with the same period in 2025. Parent company Lagardère Publishing recorded €836 million in quarterly revenue, up 3.1% on a reported basis but 0.9% on a comparable basis. Stronger English- and Spanish-language publishing helped offset weaker results in France.

The British Fantasy Society announced the winners of its 2026 British Fantasy Awards following their presentation at Fantasycon in Glasgow. The prizes recognise work published or released in the previous eligibility period across fantasy, horror, short fiction, art and the wider genre-publishing community. Kell Woods won the Robert Holdstock Award for best fantasy novel with Upon a Starlit Tide. The August Derleth Award for best horror novel went to Stephen Graham Jones for The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.

A new Australian digital literary publication, The Black African Family, is preparing to launch in January 2027. Founded by Zimbabwean Australian writer Charmaine Nyathi, the subscription-based project plans monthly issues examining literature alongside film, art, design, history and family life. The publication is being developed as a platform for perspectives on Black African experiences across the continent and the diaspora.

The Australian Publishers Association has expressed concern about proposals affecting copyright in a letter sent by the parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The concerns were reported on 14 October 2026 by Books+Publishing Australia. The association welcomed aspects of the committee’s discussion that referred to creator control, payment and support for Australian cultural expression.

UK-based information and events group Informa has announced plans to separate Taylor & Francis, its academic publishing business, as it redirects its main operations towards live business-to-business events. The group described the move as a separation process in which different options for the publisher’s future are being reviewed. The announcement accompanied Informa’s agreement to acquire Clarion, an events business, for approximately £2.24 billion.

Writers’ organisations from Australia, Britain, the United States, Canada and New Zealand have joined other creative-industry bodies to launch an international Charter of Ethical AI Use in the Creative Industries. Announced on 14 October 2026, the voluntary initiative seeks public commitments on how organisations assess and disclose their use of generative artificial intelligence. The Australian Society of Authors and the UK Society of Authors are among the organisations behind the charter.

Swedish audiobook and publishing group Storytel says it added 80,000 paying subscribers during the third quarter of 2026, reaching 2.83 million and reporting net sales of SEK 1.179 billion.

The 69th International Belgrade Book Fair has announced its 2026 awards, recognising publishers, illustrated books and a seven-volume dictionary preserving an endangered Serbian dialect.

The International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations has released a study examining generative AI, copyright law and economic effects on creators, combining legal analysis with a survey of nearly 2,000 respondents.

Brazilian writer Ruy Castro has won the 2026 Jabuti Book of the Year award for Trincheira tropical, a work of historical nonfiction about Rio de Janeiro during the Second World War.

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing has named five Italian-language self-published books as finalists for the 2026 Kindle Storyteller Prize. The winner is scheduled to be announced on 9 January 2027.

Jesús Alberto Parga Avendaño has won Mexico’s 2026 Enriqueta Ochoa National Poetry Competition for La estética del odio. The jury selected the manuscript unanimously from 416 submissions; the award includes publication of the collection.

The Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur opened its 2026 University Book Fair on 27 October. Running through 30 October, the event centres on poetry and welcomes the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana as guest institution.

The Netherlands’ 2026 thriller prizes have recognised Alexander Colin for a Dutch-language novel and Angela Marsons for a translated thriller, with translator Wilma Paalman credited. Children’s-writing awards and a career honour were also presented.

The 2026 Seville Book Fair begins on 28 October in the Jardines de Murillo and is scheduled to run through 8 November. The free-entry event brings books and readers to the city’s historic centre.

Bogotá’s 2026 Reverso poetry festival has named four first-prize winners across children’s, youth, experienced-writer and oral-poetry categories. The city reports more than 50 activities and about 2,000 participants during the four-day event.

Maja Mozga-Górecka has received Poland’s 2026 Conrad Prize for her debut essay Figlarnie. Przestrzenie radykalnej prywatności. The award was presented in Kraków on 24 October and recognises a prose debut published in 2025.

Portuguese poet and translator João Luís Barreto Guimarães has won the 2026 Ruy Belo Prize for Claridade. A jury selected the 2024 collection unanimously for its observational precision, irony and distinctive poetic voice.

The Académie Goncourt has reduced its 2026 shortlist to four novels by Clémentine Mélois, Yannick Haenel, Philippe Jaenada and Sylvain Prudhomme. The final winner is due to be announced on 3 November.

Spanish novelist Enrique Vila-Matas has received the 2026 National Prize for Spanish Letters, a €50,000 career honour. The jury recognised his distinctive experiments with fiction, authorship and the relationship between literature and reality.

Fiona Sze-Lorrain has won ALTA’s 2026 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize for Mirror, her English translation of Chinese poet Zhang Zao’s work.

Sigbjørn Skåden’s Láŋtdievvá / Planterhaug has won the Nordic Council Literature Prize, the first victory for a Sámi-language work in 35 years.

Applications for ALTA’s 2027 Emerging Translator Mentorship Program remain open until 30 November 2026, with fourteen mentor specialisms across several languages.

Spain’s Ministry of Culture has opened registration for creators to join 540 literary activities in public schools and art colleges in 2027, including a centenary programme on the Generation of 1927.

Olivia de Miguel Crespo and Pablo Martín Sánchez have received Spain’s 2026 National Translation Prizes, recognising a career of translation and a version of Georges Perec’s Lugares.

Margaret Jull Costa’s new translation of Adolfo Bioy Casares’s Morel’s Invention offers an updated English rendering of an influential Argentine novel.

Mara Faye Lethem has won ALTA’s 2026 National Translation Award in Prose for her English translation of Irene Solà’s I Gave You Eyes and You Looked Toward Darkness.

PEN Portugal will honour Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca at Lisbon’s National Archive of Torre do Tombo on 30 October. Beginning at 18:00, the free event will feature literary commentary from Maria Fernanda Abreu, António Carlos Cortez and José Manuel de Vasconcelos, alongside a poetry recital by Aurelino Costa accompanied by flamenco guitarist Nuno Rocha.

Portugal’s book and library authorities have invited schools, libraries and bookshops to join European Authors Day activities from 11 November to 12 December 2026. The reading programme, promoted under #ReadForReal, encourages encounters with writers and activities for younger readers. The Portuguese National Reading Plan will act as the country’s coordinating hub.

Chile’s Santiago International Book Fair (FILSA) will return to the Centro Cultural Estación Mapocho from 13 to 22 November 2026. Organised by the Cámara Chilena del Libro, this year’s edition will take place under the theme Conecta, bringing together readers, writers, publishers and booksellers for ten days of literary, educational and cultural activities.

Brazilian author Cindy Stockler’s novel Caipiroska! has gained a Greek-language edition through an agreement between Letras do Pensamento and Greek publisher Vakxikon. The arrangement grew out of international publishing meetings in Brazil. Brazilian Publishers announced the development on 23 October as an example of literature moving between Brazilian and European markets.

A new Rightscenter analysis of film and television scouts’ requests from 2019–2026 finds strong demand for older books and increased attention to international stories. Backlist works accounted for nearly two-thirds of requests, while interest in international titles was reported at 3.5 times the previous year’s level. The figures reflect one platform’s activity, not the entire screen industry.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions is inviting specialists to join a new panel examining the future of international librarianship. Announced on 21 October ahead of IFLA’s centenary, the group is intended to include 8–12 members and develop a discussion paper on professional identity, practice and international cooperation. Submissions are invited by 4 November.

Sixty translators from across Europe have gathered in Helsinki for FILI’s annual fellowship devoted to Finnish literature. Opened on 21 October, the programme brings specialists together for presentations on contemporary Finnish fiction, Finland-Swedish writing, translation technology, nonfiction and books for younger readers. Participants are also taking part in events connected with the Helsinki Book Fair.

New Zealand novelist Pip Adam has won the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction for Audition. Announced on 21 October, the US$25,000 award recognises imaginative fiction. The novel was first published in New Zealand in 2023 and later appeared through Coffee House Press in the United States.

Literary translators working from Modern Greek, Swahili and Arabic have described the long process of finding publishers and readers for books in new languages. Their recent interviews highlight the role of translation samples, rights negotiations and sustained editorial relationships.

Nigerian writer and visual artist Victor Ehikhamenor’s Central Hotel is scheduled for publication by Masobe Books on 30 October. The illustrated collection contains 11 interconnected stories about family, movement and the consequences of difficult choices; a separate launch event is planned for 31 October.

Nigerian theatre organisation Sabi Arts has opened its inaugural 2026–27 Playwright Prize. Three awards total ₦1.4 million, and the winning play will receive a professional production. Eligible Nigerian playwrights aged 18 or older may submit one original play by 20 December.

France’s Syndicat national de l’édition has selected 50 titles from 26 publishers for the ninth J’aime le livre d’art programme. Specialist booksellers will judge the selection before the award on 2 December; a new young-booksellers panel will make a separate choice.

Brazil’s National Library Foundation has named the first-placed works in 13 categories of its 2026 literary prizes. Paulliny Tort’s Os imortais leads the novel category, while Adélia Prado’s O jardim das oliveiras takes first place in poetry. A reconsideration period runs until 23 October, ahead of the final administrative results.

Masobe Books has listed 4 March 2027 as the publication date for Chimeka Garricks’s new novel A Prayer for Wolves. The book follows twin brothers Isaiah and Ezekiel from north-central Nigeria in a multigenerational story that reaches Tulsa, Oklahoma. Earlier reporting gave only a broad 2027 release window.

The forthcoming English-language Mafalda: Book Two, translated from Spanish by Frank Wynne, has received a starred review from Booklist ahead of its scheduled 1 December release. The second volume continues Elsewhere Editions’ English presentation of Quino’s Argentine comic-strip characters, including Mafalda and her school-age friends.

Masobe Books has acquired Sue Nyathi’s 2012 novel The Polygamist for a new edition planned for the first quarter of 2027. The publishing announcement follows the novel’s adaptation into a 22-episode Netflix series, released in June 2026. A precise date for the new book edition has not yet been set.

A NielsenIQ survey commissioned by Audible found that 63% of respondents had bought a print or e-book by an author after listening to that author’s audiobook. Covering 18,000 listeners in 11 countries, the research also found that 34% had increased their spoken-word listening over the previous year.

Nigerian literary magazine Saraba has appointed writer and scholar Tolu Daniel as editor-at-large, with responsibility for developing its nonfiction programme. He will help commission and edit essays, memoir, criticism and other forms of literary nonfiction as the magazine expands its renewed publishing activity.

The 29th Algiers International Book Fair will bring together 1,567 publishing houses from 51 countries between 28 October and 7 November. Saudi Arabia is this year’s guest of honour. Organisers confirmed the figures on 19 October, ahead of the fair’s public opening on 29 October.

Brazil’s National Library Foundation has opened applications for its National Research Support Programme, offering doctoral researchers opportunities to study collections ranging from theatre archives to Portuguese grammar and Latin American historical sources. Applications close on 8 November.

Two studies presented at Frankfurt Book Fair drew contrasting responses to AI in literary work. A survey of 1,785 European literary translators reported widespread concern about income and assignments, while a smaller survey of Czech publishing professionals found practical uses in research, marketing and routine tasks.

Portugal’s National Archive, Torre do Tombo, has announced an exhibition devoted to maps documenting the Portuguese army’s role in demarcating the Guadiana border under a 1926 Portuguese–Spanish convention. The display opened on 16 October and is scheduled to run through 31 December 2026. The archive lists weekday visiting hours.

Portuguese writer António Carlos Cortez has been named recipient of the Jacinto do Prado Coelho Essay Prize for O Fim da Educação: crise, crítica, ensino e utopia, published by Guerra & Paz. The award recognises culturally and literarily significant essays in Portuguese. The presentation was scheduled for 15 October at Lisbon’s Torre do Tombo archive.

Brazil’s National Library Foundation is accepting applications for five undergraduate research fellowships in its scientific initiation programme. The ten-month placements involve supervised work on projects at the library in Rio de Janeiro. Applications are open until 15 November; candidates must meet the academic-year eligibility requirements specified by the foundation.

Colombia’s 2026 Festival of Books for Children and Young People has opened registration for training sessions in reading mediation, editing and reading promotion. The festival runs from 28 to 31 October. One session at the Colombian Academy of Language includes an opening address by Brazilian illustrator and author Roger Mello.

The National Library of Sweden has announced workshops for publishers and editors concerning diamond open-access scholarly journals. The consultation forms part of a pilot project designed to understand the costs, practical needs and sustainability of journals that charge neither readers nor authors. Its findings are intended to inform discussion with publishers, researchers and funders.

Thailand has opened entries for its 2027 Outstanding Books competition, organised through the education authorities and announced by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand. Eligible works must have been first published as printed books in 2026, with submissions due by 11 December. The programme aims to encourage high-quality Thai-language writing, illustration and publishing.

Portugal has opened applications for the fifth Eça de Queiroz literary residencies, a programme supporting writing in Portuguese. Selected authors will spend one month at Tormes, with accommodation, expenses and a €1,330 honorarium. The application window runs through 29 October, and the next residencies begin in February 2027.

ArabLit Books has released Musings of a Young Woman, an English-language edition of writing by the early twentieth-century Arab author May Ziadeh. Published on 12 October, the book is the second title in ArabLit’s Erased Not Forgotten series. Edited by Ibtihal Rida Mahmood, the volume brings work originally published in Arabic to new readers.

Indonesia held its 2026 Literaia literacy festival in Jakarta on 11, 13 and 14 October, bringing writers, publishers and creative-industry professionals together at the National Museum. Organisers offered talks and workshops on children’s publishing, book-to-screen adaptation, manuscript pitching and publishing law. The festival was supported by the Indonesian Publishers Association.

Joachim Kaufmann, the incoming head of the Frankfurt Book Fair, has outlined early priorities for its future. Speaking at an October industry session, he said the fair must remain valuable for international rights trading while expanding its appeal to general readers on public days. Kaufmann intends to consult staff and industry partners before announcing a detailed plan in 2027; the discussion adds fresh detail to an appointment announced earlier in the year.

The African Poetry Book Fund is accepting entries for the 2027 Evaristo Prize for African Poetry until 1 November 2026. The US$1,500 award is open to qualifying African poets who have not yet published a full-length poetry collection. Entrants must submit a packet of exactly ten poems through the competition's online submission system. The prize was originally founded by Bernardine Evaristo and is now administered by the African Poetry Book Fund.

Literature organisations from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the Faroe Islands shared a stand at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair. Iceland's Literature Center says it was the second year of their joint arrangement, with this year's stand in Hall 3.1. The centre used the event to meet publishers, agents, translators and other international partners, presenting literature from the Nordic region through a shared professional space.

Colombia's sixth Grita Independent Publishers Festival is inviting applications from independent presses for its 13–16 November 2026 event in Bogotá. The programme will bring 30 selected publishers to the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Centre to present their catalogues and take part in readings, workshops and other book events. Applications are open until 21 October, according to organiser Fondo de Cultura Económica Colombia.

New market figures presented by NielsenIQ BookData at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair describe sharply different trends across comics, manga and graphic novels. Manga sales in French-speaking markets have eased from their 2022 peak, while print manga has resumed growth in parts of Latin America. In the UK and Ireland, comic-strip fiction accounts for 21% of the value of middle-grade fiction sales, according to the figures reported from the session. The findings underline differences between national markets rather than uniform global growth.

Publishers, library-service providers and digital-content specialists discussed the economics of electronic lending during the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair. At a Publishing Perspectives Forum session, speakers considered how public libraries can offer access to ebooks and audiobooks while paying publishers and authors. Representatives of the Palace Project, OCLC CloudLibrary and Hoopla described different models for purchasing and licensing digital books.

The Royal Library of Belgium, known as KBR, has received a collection of more than 600 novelisations from Jan Baetens, emeritus professor of cultural studies at KU Leuven. Announced on 14 October 2026, the donation documents a literary form in which an existing film is adapted into prose fiction. Novelisations reverse the relationship most readers know from film adaptations of novels. They may appear near a film’s release and can differ in detail or presentation from the screen version.

The Association of College and Research Libraries released findings from its 2025 annual US academic libraries survey on 13 October 2026. The report covers the 2024–25 academic year and examines staffing, budgets, collections, circulation, visits and information services. ACRL reported that digital materials account for 79.7 percent of collection holdings and 98.2 percent of total circulation in its weighted national data.

PEN International and Fondazione Feltrinelli announced the inaugural shortlist for the PEN–Inge Feltrinelli Writing as Resistance Award on 13 October 2026. The distinction recognises writers whose work is connected with freedom of expression, cultural identity and the experiences of communities under pressure. Its first winner is scheduled to be named at BookCity Milano in November.

The 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair recorded 236,000 visitors from 137 countries, according to figures released by its organisers after the event. The total comprised 119,000 trade visitors and 117,000 members of the general public. The fair reported around 4,000 exhibitors and more than 3,800 events. The attendance total was slightly below the approximately 238,000 recorded for 2025, while the organisers highlighted broader international participation.

Nigerian poet Ogaga Ifowodo has received the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature for his collection Why Does God Need a Gun? The award, supported by Nigeria LNG Limited, carries a prize of US$100,000. The winning work was selected from 223 entries in a year devoted to poetry. The award was celebrated at the Nigeria Prizes Grand Award Night in Lagos on 9 October.

Beirut’s 67th Arab International Book Fair opened on 9 October 2026 with a new arrangement joining institutions that previously operated separately. The Arab Cultural Club and the Lebanese Publishers’ Association reached an understanding about organising future editions, while French-language publishing events have joined the larger Arabic-language fair. The fair, scheduled to run through 18 October, brings together around 140 Lebanese publishers and 23 from elsewhere in the Arab world, according to organisers quoted by Publishing Perspectives.

The Australasian Horror Writers Association has announced the winners of its 2025 Australasian Shadows Awards, recognising horror and dark fiction published during the year. A. Rushby won the Novel category for Slashed Beauties, while A. G. Slatter received the Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction for The Cold House. Other winners included Geneve Flynn for short fiction, Katya de Becerra for poetry, Jeff Clulow for collected work, Lee Murray and Dave Jeffery for edited work, and Louise Zedda-Sampson for non-fiction and criticism. Announced on 3 October 2026, the results covered seven winning categories, with no graphic novel or comics award presented.

The T. S. Eliot Prize has announced its 2026 shortlist, selecting ten poetry collections from 174 submissions by 65 British and Irish publishers. The list includes Andrew Motion’s Gravity Archives, Jorie Graham’s Killing Spree and Imani Mason Jordan’s debut PIVOT. Judges Leontia Flynn, Ishion Hutchinson and Daisy Lafarge highlighted the collections’ varied approaches to language, reflection and contemporary experience. The winner will be announced on 18 January 2027, following shortlist readings in London the previous evening.

U.S. literary agency Dystel, Goderich & Bourret has resigned from the Association of American Literary Agents following changes to its professional ethics code. The revised rules, effective September 1, allow agents offering paid editorial services to non-clients to negotiate how earlier fees are treated if they subsequently agree to represent those writers.

The agency argues that the arrangement creates potential conflicts of interest and may place aspiring authors under financial pressure. AALA maintains that its revised framework includes safeguards against abuse while allowing agents to develop additional sources of income. The disagreement drew renewed attention at the association's September 30 People of Publishing conference in New York.

The Library Newsroom Project is expanding efforts to turn U.S. public libraries into centres for community-generated journalism. Founded by journalist Terry Parris Jr., the initiative builds on a Brooklyn pilot whose residents have produced 13 issues of the Sunset Park Sun, containing more than 100 stories about local concerns.

New projects are being developed with library and journalism partners in Miami-Dade County, New Jersey and Boston. They aim to help residents investigate local questions, develop reporting skills and share information through publications and community activities. The expansion remains gradual, with participating locations at different stages of development.

Annie's Foundation, an Iowa-based nonprofit, has used public-records requests to investigate the removal of books from school libraries following the introduction of state restrictions in 2023. According to an October 2 report by Publishers Weekly, responses gathered by the organisation document more than 4,800 book removals involving approximately 1,500 distinct ISBNs.

The foundation is seeking information about whether withdrawn books have been stored, donated, sold or discarded. Its investigation has also revealed gaps in school districts' recordkeeping, making it difficult to establish what happened to some materials. The reported figures remain incomplete and have not been independently audited.

The Empire State Center for the Book has announced N. K. Jemisin, Lawrence Block and the late Kay Thompson as the three writers selected for induction into the 2026 New York State Writers Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place at the Lotos Club in New York City on November 17.

Jemisin is celebrated for her award-winning speculative fiction, particularly the Broken Earth trilogy. Block is known for his long-running Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr crime novels, while Thompson created Eloise, the enduring children's literary character associated with New York's Plaza Hotel. Thompson will be honoured posthumously.

Seven U.S. regional bookselling associations have announced plans for an annual Independent Bookstore Collective Action Day, inviting participating bookstores to donate a percentage of one day's sales to a shared charitable or nonprofit beneficiary. The initiative was unveiled at the Heartland Fall Forum in Minneapolis by Larry Law, executive director of the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association.

Organisers hope to launch the programme in January 2027, with the Minneapolis-based Family Housing Fund identified as its intended first beneficiary. Participation arrangements, donation percentages and the final launch date have yet to be confirmed.

The Australian Publishers Association has reported increased use of environmental targets and monitoring practices in its second industry sustainability survey. Among 29 participating publishers, 38% had set carbon-emissions targets, compared with 15% in the 2023 survey. The proportion calculating emissions rose from 19% to 31%, while 62% had designated staff responsible for sustainability. Published by the APA in September and subsequently highlighted by the International Publishers Association, the findings also examine printing materials, recycling and waste reduction. The results reflect participating companies rather than the entire Australian publishing industry.

Professional ghostwriters have reported fewer commissions and growing requests to revise manuscripts produced with generative artificial intelligence. In interviews with The Bookseller, several writers described declining enquiries as prospective clients experiment with AI tools, although others reported continued demand for specialist ghostwriting services. The Society of Authors has also raised concerns about the quality of machine-generated manuscripts and called for greater transparency in their use. The differing experiences suggest a changing market, but do not establish an industry-wide decline caused solely by AI.

Australia's Book Links History Award has expanded its eligibility criteria to include nonfiction alongside historical fiction for its 2027 edition. Established in 2021, the annual award recognises books that develop children's understanding of history. Biographies, autobiographies, illustrated books and other forms of historical writing can now compete for the A$1,000 prize. Eligible works must be intended for readers up to age 14, with entries closing on December 31, 2026. The change broadens recognition of historical writing for young readers beyond fictional narratives.

Australian publisher Allen & Unwin has acquired world rights to The Happy Mushroom and a second picture book by author and illustrator Brendan Deboy. North American English-language rights to The Happy Mushroom were subsequently sold to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in what was described as a significant pre-empt ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Deboy had previously released the illustrated, rhyming children's story independently, attracting attention from readers online. The agreements mark a notable transition from independent publication to an international publishing arrangement.

American book distributors are expanding library services following the closure of major wholesaler Baker & Taylor in 2025. Ingram is increasing inventory coordination and publisher outreach, while Follett has partnered with ReaderLink to improve the delivery of newly released titles. Brodart and Libraria are also developing distribution and collection-management capabilities. The changes reflect continued efforts to restore reliable book supply and improve purchasing options for public libraries adapting to a transformed wholesale market.

Bloomsbury has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to Sarah Lee Walker's debut novel The Alchemy of Salt following a six-way, six-figure auction. Separate North American rights were acquired by Harper, while translation deals have been concluded in 18 languages ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair. The novel, a love story with a central mystery set in a coastal community, is scheduled for publication in spring 2028. The agreements mark a significant international rights launch for the Canadian author's first novel.

Bloomsbury has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to the ninth volume of Beth Brower's The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. The agreement extends the publisher's involvement in the previously self-published historical-fiction series, planned to comprise twenty-five books. Translation rights have been sold into twelve languages, while Viking holds US publishing rights. The ninth volume is scheduled for simultaneous publication by Bloomsbury, Viking and HarperCollins Canada on February 23, 2027.

Audible has announced three interactive features designed to expand the audiobook listening experience. Character Guide identifies speakers and provides information about characters and performers; Interactive Story allows listeners to converse with AI-driven fictional characters; and Visual Explorer introduces images and contextual material during playback. Announced on October 1, the features are being introduced gradually through a limited beta in the United States and United Kingdom, beginning with selected Audible Originals.

The UK Intellectual Property Office has registered a certification mark developed by Books By People to identify books written by human authors. The initiative allows participating publishers to display a distinctive thumbprint symbol after an assessment involving authorship declarations, manuscript evidence and checks for AI-generated material. Five publishers have joined the scheme, with the first certified title expected before the end of 2026. The registration recognises the certification system but does not constitute government verification of individual books.

The Australian Society of Authors has urged the federal government to strengthen copyright enforcement and require AI developers to license protected works used for training. In submissions to two parliamentary inquiries, the organisation raised concerns about the unauthorised use of books and illustrations, the economic consequences for creators and the difficulties of pursuing overseas technology companies. The Australian Writers' Guild has separately raised related concerns about writers' rights and AI development.

Kit Chapman has won the 2026 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize for The Age of Alchemy: How Early Innovators Shaped Modern Chemistry, published by Profile Books. Announced at a ceremony in London on September 29, the £25,000 award recognises outstanding popular science writing. Chapman's book explores the development of chemistry through centuries of alchemy, metallurgy and experimentation, examining how practical discoveries across different cultures contributed to modern scientific knowledge.

The Book Industry Study Group has renamed its Industry Champion Award in honour of former executive director Brian F. O’Leary. Announced at the organisation’s September 16 anniversary celebration in New York, the change recognises his decade of leadership and work on publishing standards and cooperation. O’Leary retired on June 30; the award will continue recognising contributions to the wider book industry.

Submissions have opened for the Westminster Book Awards, with publishers invited to nominate eligible books by October 29. The awards cover three categories spanning works by parliamentarians and political books by other authors. Booksellers will select the shortlists before parliamentarians vote for the winners, who will be announced at the Houses of Parliament on January 27, 2027.

Fremantle Press is developing a pilot audiobook programme and a new podcast series, supported by the appointment of Tim Scott as audio production assistant. The pilot will focus on accessibility, education and bringing Western Australian stories to more listeners. A Minderoo Foundation grant supports the work, with further programme and imprint details expected in 2027.

Tayari Jones, Pamela Colloff and Elizabeth Acevedo have won the 2026 Kirkus Prizes, announced at a ceremony in New York on October 7. Jones received the Fiction prize for Kin, Colloff won Nonfiction for Catch the Devil, and Acevedo took Young Readers’ Literature for Anger Is Only a Shadow. Each winner receives $50,000. The annual awards recognise books across three categories selected from titles receiving starred Kirkus reviews.

Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Announcing its decision on October 8, the Swedish Academy recognised her inventive writing and its dialogue with the classical tradition. Known for Eros the Bittersweet and Autobiography of Red, Carson brings ancient literature into contemporary poetry and prose. The award will be presented in Stockholm on December 10.

The Quarto Group has appointed Andrea Fleck-Nisbet president of its U.S. division, effective November 2. Fleck-Nisbet has led the Independent Book Publishers Association since 2022 and will leave the organisation on October 30. At Quarto, she will manage the U.S. team and work alongside U.K. managing director Karine Marko. IBPA has established a transition task force to oversee the search for its next chief executive.

The National Book Foundation has announced 25 finalist books for the 2026 National Book Awards, with five selected in each category. Edwidge Danticat and Valeria Luiselli are among the fiction finalists, while the translated literature list includes Karl Ove Knausgaard, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr and Samar Yazbek, alongside their translators. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in New York City on November 18.

Walker Books will publish We’re Going on a Christmas Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. The Bookseller describes it as the first new Bear Hunt picture book since the original appeared in 1989. The announcement brings the creators back to a story world whose original read-aloud adventure has sold more than 16.5 million copies worldwide, according to Walker.

Producers Jamie Gordon and Maggie Malina have launched Rommi, a studio developing vertical live-action romance films in partnership with Bookish Media. Its slate combines adaptations of published novels with original stories by romance authors. The first planned release, Drive Me Mad, comes from an idea by Ali Rosen and is scheduled for October. Adaptations in development include Brittainy Cherry’s The Mixtape and Kate Robb’s This Spells Love.

Melbourne independent publisher Castledown is expanding beyond academic books and journals into commercial fiction and nonfiction. It is accepting completed manuscripts from both agented and unrepresented writers. The publisher told Books+Publishing that its new programme would prioritise digital and audio editions, followed by print. Its stated interests include fiction with literary appeal, narrative nonfiction, and expert advice and wellbeing guides.

The American Library Association has released a list of its most frequently challenged books, drawing on records from 1990 through 2025. Published ahead of its 150th anniversary on October 6, the compilation coincides with Banned Books Week. Entries include Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. The list records attempts to remove or restrict access to books; inclusion does not necessarily mean a title was removed.

Selections from Pope Francis’s private diary will be published worldwide on November 24 in five languages, with distribution planned across 94 countries. The Private Diary of Pope Francis presents notes kept between 1992 and 2024, selected and accompanied by commentary from Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández. Image, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, will publish the English edition in North America in partnership with the Vatican Publishing House.

A U.S. appeals court has upheld a copyright ruling in favour of Thomson Reuters, rejecting ROSS Intelligence’s fair-use defence for copying Westlaw headnotes to train a competing AI legal-research tool. The court found that the editorial summaries qualified for copyright protection and that ROSS’s commercial use served a closely similar purpose. The Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild welcomed the decision. Its findings concern this particular use, rather than establishing a blanket rule for all AI training.

Penguin Random House Australia has acquired Australia and New Zealand rights to An Unstable Element, a memoir by two-time Booker Prize winner Peter Carey. The deal was negotiated with Peter Straus at RCW. The book traces Carey’s journey from childhood above his family’s car dealership to his development as a novelist. Publication is expected in 2027.

Stephen Graham Jones’s The Buffalo Hunter Hunter has won Outstanding Novel: Adult at the 2026 Ignyte Awards, announced on October 3. Other winners include Trang Thanh Tran’s They Bloom at Night for young adult fiction, Naseem Jamnia’s The Glade for middle grade, and Amal El-Mohtar’s The River Has Roots for novella. Martha Wells received the Ember Award. The annual prizes recognise achievement across science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Canadian novelist Patrick deWitt discusses Dodge City, his 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel, and the books and films surrounding its creation. Set in 1967, the novel follows a young man travelling across the United States toward Canada after losing his military draft deferment.

The Unwin Award has named its judging panel for 2027, with broadcaster and journalist Hannah MacInnes serving as chair alongside novelist and screenwriter Nikesh Shukla and science journalist Anjana Ahuja. The £10,000 award recognises emerging non-fiction authors for the impact of their overall body of work.

Canadian writer Patricia Finn discusses the long development of The Golden Boy, her debut novel and a 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted title. Finn describes the book as an allegory that gradually came together over several drafts, eventually returning to the unfinished manuscript after years of balancing her own writing with other work.

An Australian component has been added to the 2027 Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop in Kathmandu, bringing Australian writers into the international programme. The week-long gathering, scheduled for late May and early June, combines literary discussions, readings, workshops and exchanges among writers from several countries.

Canadian novelist Colin McAdam discusses Daphnis and Chloe, his 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel and modern reimagining of the ancient Greek story. McAdam, who holds a Cambridge PhD concerning translations of Ancient Greek, transforms the classical tale into a contemporary fable about love, innocence and beauty.

The Women’s Prize Trust and Chanel have launched Originators, a new U.S. mentorship and development programme for emerging unpublished women fiction writers. Five writers will receive individual mentorship, industry access and financial support, with applications open through November 30.

Canadian poet, essayist and novelist Lisa Robertson discusses Riverwork, her 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel, in the latest Giller Spotlight. Set around the buried Bièvre river in Paris, the novel brings together archival research, literary history, women's labour and the hidden histories beneath the modern city.

Hachette Australia has acquired two new books by Australian author Tony Birch, including his forthcoming novel You Missed My Heart. Scheduled for publication in February 2027, the novel follows two brothers growing up in a country town and a disappearance that changes their lives.

Vietnamese Canadian author Mai Nguyen discusses Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead, her second novel and a 2026 Giller Prize longlisted title, in the latest Giller Spotlight. The conversation offers a closer look at the book and Nguyen's work following her 2023 debut, Sunshine Nails.

Canadian novelist Cordelia Strube discusses At Sea in a Sieve, her 2026 Giller Prize-longlisted novel, in the latest Giller Spotlight. Strube reflects on the ideas and experiences behind the book, adding another author perspective to this year's longlist as the prize approaches the announcement of its shortlist.

Canadian writer Jennifer Chevalier has discussed the historical origins of her Giller-longlisted novel The Winter Witch, tracing its beginnings to her fascination with seventeenth-century witchcraft trials. A 1670 case in Rouen eventually led her to imagine a connection between accused witches banished from France and the filles du roi travelling to New France.

Canadian writer Nicholas Herring has discussed the writing of his Giller-longlisted second novel, Your Breath in Charcoal, describing a book that changed direction repeatedly during its earliest weeks. Herring cites Javier Marías and László Krasznahorkai as stylistic inspirations for his attempt to write about blue-collar Maritime lives.

Canadian writer Nazanine Hozar has discussed the origins of her Giller-longlisted second novel, The Small Ones, tracing the story partly to memories of growing up in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. Hozar began developing the idea seven or eight years ago and cites literature and cinema—including Slaughterhouse-Five and Come and See—among its creative influences.

Publishers Weekly has released its third annual Freedom to Read issue, bringing together reporting and commentary on book challenges, library access, legislation and legal disputes across the United States. Published immediately before Banned Books Week, the 2026 package examines how libraries, authors and organisations are responding to continuing disputes over access to books.

Canadian writer Hollay Ghadery has discussed her debut novel The Unravelling of Ou in the Giller Prize's latest author Spotlight. Longlisted for the 2026 prize, the novel uses an unusual narrator—a sock puppet named Ecology Paul—to explore Minoo's life, family relationships and dependence on the companion that has helped her through difficult periods.

Canadian writer Michelle Good has discussed Eliza Sunshine, her second novel and a 2026 Giller Prize longlisted title, in the prize's latest author Spotlight. The multigenerational novel follows three generations of Cree women, extending Good's exploration of family, identity and the lasting effects of Canadian history as the Giller shortlist approaches.

Canadian writer Tara Gereaux has discussed the decade-long development of her novel Wild People Quiet in the Giller Prize's latest author Spotlight. Longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize, the novel follows Florence, a Métis woman concealing her identity in 1940s Saskatchewan, and grew through years of research and 10 substantial drafts before publication.

Cambridge Dictionary’s Word Watcher is examining the vocabulary emerging around climate change, from climate migration and climate haven to climate hushing and climate grief. Anna Stevenson stresses that the terms have not necessarily entered the dictionary; instead, they illustrate how English is developing new language for displacement, environmental anxiety and changing attitudes toward extreme weather.

The 2027 Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers’ Workshop in Kathmandu has added a dedicated Australian stream to its programme, with Australian writer and editor Sharon Rundle invited to develop the new component. Scheduled for May 29–June 5, 2027, the festival will bring together writers, readers and publishing professionals for workshops, readings and discussions, extending its international programme with a stronger Australian presence.

Libro.fm and Silent Book Club are partnering with more than 400 independent bookshops, libraries and reading groups for Banned Books Read-Ins during Banned Books Week, October 4–10. Events in the United States and other countries will combine communal reading with activities organised around opposition to book restrictions, while in-person participants can receive one of two free audiobooks.

The Australian Fiction Prize has named five unpublished novels to its 2026 shortlist: works by Matcham Caine, Azra Berberovic, Andrew Murphy, Annette Higgs and Kelly McWilliam. Selected from a nine-title longlist, the finalists are competing for a A$15,000 advance and publication by HarperCollins Australia, with the winner to be announced on October 12.

Pushkin House Bookshop, described by the cultural centre as the UK’s only English-Russian bookshop, has opened its new permanent home in Bloomsbury, London. Designed by artist-architect Alexander Brodsky, the shop occupies the ground floor of Pushkin House and brings together curated collections in English and Russian spanning literature, history, culture, art, current affairs and children’s books.

Min Jin Lee has returned with American Hagwon, her long-awaited first novel since Pachinko. Published by Cardinal on September 29, the 656-page family saga follows the Koh family from Seoul to Sydney and Southern California, exploring education, migration, class and changing ideas of success through the world of Korean hagwons, or private tutoring schools. The novel is the third instalment in Lee’s planned Diaspora Quartet.

Harry Connick Jr. has published his debut book, Babe: Elaboratio — A Tribute to My Mother, a companion to the orchestral work he created in memory of his mother, Anita-Francis Livingston Connick. Published by Harper Celebrate on September 29, the book combines memories, imagined scenes, personal photographs and excerpts from Connick's musical score, extending a project first performed at Carnegie Hall on what would have been his mother's 100th birthday.

Yuval Noah Harari will return with The Laws of History, a major new work exploring the forces and patterns that shape human history, on September 21, 2027. Penguin Random House will publish the book globally, with The Bodley Head handling the UK and several other English-language territories and Random House publishing in the US. The book will examine questions including why empires rise and fall and how political orders change.

Canongate has acquired world rights to Material Evidence, the first memoir by Scottish actor and artist Tilda Swinton, for publication in autumn 2028. Rather than following a conventional chronology, Swinton will tell her life through objects including a christening dress, a letter, a wooden leg and a photograph. Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired North American rights, with German, Dutch and French editions also secured.

Six novels have been shortlisted for the 2026 Goldsmiths Prize, the £10,000 award recognising fiction that experiments with and extends the possibilities of the novel form. Polly Barton, China Miéville, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Keith Ridgway, Aea Varfis-van Warmelo and Missouri Williams make up this year's shortlist, selected from a record number of submissions. The winner will be announced on November 4.

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction has announced its six-book 2026 shortlist, selected from more than 350 eligible titles. Nicholas Boggs, Anand Gopal, Patrick Radden Keefe, Edmund Richardson, Matthew Sweet and Andrea Wulf remain in contention for the £50,000 award, with shortlisted works ranging from biography and ancient history to investigative reporting and accounts of revolution. The winner will be announced in London on November 4.

Marvel and WEBTOON have announced a new digital comics platform scheduled to launch on 16 November 2026, replacing the long-running Marvel Unlimited service. Developed and operated by WEBTOON, the Marvel Comics app will offer more than 35,000 titles, including works from Marvel, Star Wars and 20th Century Studios. Readers will be able to explore traditional page-based comics and vertical-scroll formats, with personalised recommendations and tools for following ongoing series. Existing Marvel Unlimited subscribers will have options to transfer their libraries and reading histories to the new service.

Portuguese illustrator Catarina Sobral received the 30th National Illustration Prize at the FÓLIO International Literary Festival in Óbidos on 10 October. Her illustrations for As pessoas são esquisitas, written by Victor D. O. Santos and published by Orfeu Negro, earned the €10,000 award. Special mentions went to Catarina Alves for Natália Correia: Entre o riso e a paixão and Madalena Matoso for Fantasmas. The presentation coincided with celebrations marking three decades of the prize and the opening of an international illustration exhibition.

Nigerian poet Ameen Animashaun and Ghanaian poet Edinam Denoo have won separate awards in the inaugural Alhaji Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize programme. Animashaun received the $1,000 overall prize for his nine-poem suite Dog Fighting a Heron, while Denoo won the $1,000 Arole Grayling Wraith Prize for Bonu Bonu Kpoo.

The competition attracted 356 submissions from 21 countries, representing more than 3,500 poems. Guest judge Matthew Shenoda selected Animashaun's work, praising its treatment of historical memory, personal experience and belonging. Denoo's award, selected by the foundation's trustees, also includes a planned cinematic adaptation of one of her poems. Established in memory of West African songwriter Alhaji Arole Agarawu, the prizes celebrate contemporary Black poetry across Africa and its diaspora.

Spanish poet and academic Javier Adrada de la Torre has won the 2026 ESPASAesPOESÍA Prize for Cibercaja, a satirical narrative poetry collection exploring housing insecurity, economic precarity and bureaucracy. The jury unanimously selected the work on September 30, with the result announced on October 1.

Inspired by Adrada's own experience of buying a home, Cibercaja transforms mortgage applications, financial uncertainty and the search for housing into a contemporary poetic journey combining humour and social criticism. The ninth edition of the €10,000 prize received 223 manuscripts from 22 countries, twice the previous year's submissions. Espasa plans to publish the winning collection on November 25, 2026.