Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world. This week may be a quieter one, with no earth-shattering headlines or major developments to unpack, but I won’t leave you empty-handed. Let’s start with the loudest story of them all. I) Paramount Enters Publishing Paramount (yes, the major multinational media and entertainment conglomerate behind films like Titanic , Interstellar , and Shrek ) is… entering the book publishing world?? The new venture is called Paramount Global Publishing, original, I know. It appears to have emerged alongside recent changes involving Simon & Schuster, which was previously up for sale before being acquired by private investment firm KKR. In response, Paramount seems to be expanding into publishing itself, perhaps a touch of corporate FOMO at play. The division will be overseen by Josh Silverman, President of Global Products & Experiences at Paramount, while the imprint will be led by Amy Jarashow. II) The Works Wants to Help Kids “Find Their Story” The National Year of Reading is back again, this time we have The Works  to look to for its contribution. The retailer has launched a campaign called Find Your Story , which reimagines how young readers discover books. It includes themed in-store tables organised by interests rather than traditional genres, alongside online discovery tools designed to match children with books based on their hobbies and personalities. The initiative also extends beyond retail, featuring a touring “book bus” that brings events directly into communities, as well as broader school and outreach programmes. The aim is simple: to meet readers where they are, rather than waiting for them to come in. In doing so, The Works  is positioning itself as more than a discount bookseller, it’s increasingly acting as a cultural curator for young readers. III) Alesha Dixon Backs ‘Library of No Returns’ Reading Initiative The scheme, called Library of No Returns , allows children to take books home and keep them permanently. It is being supported by singer, children’s author, and television presenter Alesha Dixon. The initiative is led by Experian (a data and technology company) and Mischief (a creative communications agency), in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. The campaign also featured an immersive pop-up experience in Walsall. Below is a soundbite of Alesha Dixon speaking about the campaign: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nchy6w   IV) Freida McFadden Reveals Her Real Identity Crime and thriller author Freida McFadden has revealed her real identity, confirming that her name is a pseudonym. While it was already known that she writes under a pen name and also works as a doctor, she explained that she decided to reveal her identity because, “I’m at a point in my career when I’m tired of this being a secret.” Her real name is Sara Cohen. V) Authors Warned Over Scam Emails  Authors are being warned to watch out for scam emails in which fraudsters impersonate editors from major publishing houses. These scams are designed to build trust and ultimately extract money, personal information, or unpublished manuscripts. The Authors Guild and publishers are urging writers to remain cautious, noting that legitimate editors typically do not make unsolicited contact or request upfront payments. The publishing industry relies heavily on trust and informal communication, which can make these scams difficult to identify.

Overall, I was genuinely impressed. I’ve read some pretty bad dark romances, and this was not one of them. The prose is strong, and the author writes like a seasoned storyteller. That said, I got completely lost in the magic system; by the end, it was so overwhelming that I just defaulted to Harry Potter logic. Setting the war and its darker themes in the background was brilliant, raising the stakes for the romance. The story is dark and intense, with influences from Harry Potter  and The Handmaid’s Tale . One of the most striking elements is the persistent theme of Helena’s lack of bodily autonomy. Kaine, the male lead, is written with enough depth and respect to feel more than a romantic or sexual catalyst. Some aspects didn’t work as well. Published fanfiction often leans on the original material, and Helena is not a fully reliable narrator, her trust in and feelings toward Kaine can feel sudden and unexplained. Part Three was weak, and the religious element, which had potential, was quickly sidelined in favour of the romance. Finally, the sexual assault scenes did not sit right with me, which has been a major point of online discussion.

I found this book just okay. The plot was highly predictable, what you’d expect if a group of young boys were stranded on an island and slowly descended into conflict. Its short length was a relief, as I’m not sure I would have wanted to read much more. The story had moments of promise and a brisk pace, but it never fully captured my interest until the final fifty pages, when the tension reached its peak. I especially enjoyed following the main character, a boy trying to uphold order and morality in a world where others no longer value these principles and face no consequences for their absence. Golding excels at showing children attempting to act like adults, lacking the wisdom or experience to succeed. You see glimpses of the adults they might become, either morally grounded contributors to society or ruthless figures suited to a savage environment. The portrayal of herd mentality in larger groups adds further psychological realism. I know this book is widely praised, and I can see why, but speaking purely from an enjoyment perspective, I found it quite dull at times.

Hello! This is my bi-weekly update on publishing. I hope you haven’t missed me too much, but here I am again with another catch-up for all you wonderful people who are dying to get into the industry just as much as I am. So, without further ado, here’s another segment of the blind leading the blind! Over the past week, I had a really enjoyable task to work on while staying in touch with the social media manager of an independent publishing house. She had asked me to reach out after the book fair, just to stay on her radar. We ended up discussing the possibility of volunteering at next year’s Book Fair for them, which was wonderful, it meant I had something secured well in advance, rather than sending out endless emails hoping for a chance. Meeting them at the fair had already strengthened my desire to volunteer; they were so welcoming and kind, and it made the idea of contributing even more exciting. Just when I thought that was the end of our correspondence, she asked me to create a calendar for internal use. The calendar needed to highlight important author birthdays, relevant awareness days like Mental Health Day or World Book Day, annual events like Father’s Day or Back to School month, and even film releases that relate to the books they publish. I was given complete creative freedom, so I could design it in a way that was clear for the team to use while reflecting the tone and aesthetic of the publishing house through colours, fonts, and overall style. This was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate both my administrative skills and my creativity. I dedicated a lot of time to making the calendar as polished as possible, knowing it was a meaningful project that would reflect my attention to detail and understanding of the brand. It’s also a valuable piece of experience for my CV or portfolio, highlighting volunteering and hands-on experience in publishing. Who knows, if they like my work, it could lead to even more responsibilities in the future. Regardless, it’s just really rewarding to be trusted with a project and contribute something meaningful. And to all my lost bookworms, Stay Steadfast x

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world. I) Harlequin Goes AI: Romance Meets Animation I suppose some big publishers aren’t resisting the AI trend, they’re joining it, likely not wanting to miss out. Harlequin Enterprises (a division of HarperCollins) is a global publisher based in Toronto, Canada, known for romance and women’s fiction. They recently announced a multi-year agreement with an AI entertainment company called Dashverse, which specialises in short-form videos. Together, they will co-produce forty animated micro-dramas inspired by Harlequin’s romance titles. The videos themselves will be developed by illustrators but assisted by the production system, Frameo. This can be a bit misleading in terms of understanding how much AI is actually involved. To break it down: the story and core illustration are created by humans, while animation, scaling, efficiency, and visual generation appear to be AI-driven, from what I’ve gathered. The tricky part, which I’ve discussed here before, is that “AI-assisted” is incredibly vague. Someone can assist you in nearly every step, but if you came up with the original idea, it can technically still be considered human work. Many argue this approach saves money and speeds up production compared to a fully human process. But these “assists” are reducing jobs to smaller, more limited roles. Honestly, how long until AI is used to write the books themselves, simply because it’s cheaper and faster? Just because something is cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better, even for a company as large as HarperCollins, especially in a book industry that thrives on human creativity and connection. Interestingly, after the partnership was announced, some Harlequin authors whose titles were selected for adaptation said on the social platform Threads that they hadn’t been notified of the deal in advance, though Harlequin claimed they would receive royalties. I’m honestly tired of talking about AI at this point.  II) HarperCollins Meets AI… Again HarperCollins is very popular today, but once again, because of AI! The publisher has announced another multi-year partnership, this time with Toonstar, another “AI-powered” animation studio, to adapt its titles into original YouTube series. The first project is Friendship List , based on Lisa Greenwald’s popular YA series of the same name, with HarperAlley set to publish an accompanying graphic novel inspired by the animation. No timeline for the project has been provided yet. HarperCollins and Toonstar will co-produce the animation franchises, with episodes ranging from two to ten minutes depending on the series. HarperCollins has described the process as “creator-led,” but details on how authors will be involved, or whether they will receive royalties, remain unclear. This announcement came just a couple of days after the Dashverse partnership. III) AI Reading Unpublished Manuscripts… I Promise This Is the Last One I suppose I should call this the Literary AI Ledger , because there’s more AI news, but I’d like to focus on something else. Still, I want to cover the top stories, and these are them. It has been speculated, based on conversations at the Book Fair, where editors may have grown a little too comfortable sharing common practices, that some editors are uploading unpublished, confidential manuscripts into AI tools like ChatGPT to speed up their reading and evaluation. These concerns were raised by a literary agent at Curtis Brown. I mean, it’s obvious why this is a problem: manuscripts are private intellectual property. Uploading them to AI tools could expose them to third-party systems. Authors are typically required to disclose AI usage, but editors may not be held to the same standard. Reading manuscripts is literally a core part of their role, so what else could be offloaded to AI? It’s wild to think they could be putting themselves out of their own jobs! While this isn’t proven to be widespread, it’s certainly believable. IV) Yulia Navalnaya Launches One Book Publishing to Fight Censorship Yulia Navalnaya has launched a new independent publishing house, One Book Publishing. Interestingly, the idea came to her while she was trying to publish her late husband’s memoir, Patriot , by Alexei Navalny. She realised the process might be more effective if she published independently rather than relying on other houses, so she decided to start her own publishing company. This is both a personal and political move. Censorship in Russia has made many books unavailable, and her publishing house aims to bring these works back to readers, especially for a Russian-speaking audience. Navalnaya emphasises the importance of keeping Russian readers connected to global literature. One Book Publishing will focus on contemporary literature, translated works, and books by Russian-language authors, pushing back against cultural isolation and state control. V) International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist The shortlist for the International Booker Prize 2026 has been announced, featuring six translated novels. The prize recognises fiction translated into English, with the award split between the author and the translator. This year’s shortlist was selected from an impressive 128 submissions, first narrowed to a longlist of 13 before being reduced to six finalists: Daniel Kehlmann – The Director  – A once-renowned film director is drawn back into Nazi-controlled Europe, facing a moral dilemma as he becomes entangled with the regime he once hoped to escape. Marie NDiaye – The Witch  – In a repressive household, twin girls inherit powerful witchcraft that drives them toward freedom, forcing a painful break from their controlling family and the limitations imposed on their mother. Yáng Shuāng-zǐ – Taiwan Travelogue  – In 1930s colonial Taiwan, a Japanese writer falls for her Taiwanese interpreter, only to confront the hidden forces shaping their relationship. Shida Bazyar – The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran  – A polyphonic novel tracing one Iranian family’s experiences from revolution to exile in Germany and back again, exploring how their lives and identities unfold across decades of political upheaval and cultural change. Rene Karabash – She Who Remains  – A woman in the Accursed Mountains becomes a sworn virgin to escape an arranged marriage, unleashing tragedy within her family, and years later recounts her story, revealing long-buried truths and lost possibilities. Ana Paula Maia – On Earth As It Is Beneath  – On the site of a former plantation, a brutal penal colony faces its final days as inmates are hunted each full moon, exposing humanity’s capacity for violence and the consequences of societal neglect. Each shortlisted title receives £5,000, split between author and translator. The overall winner, worth £50,000, will be announced in May 2026 at a ceremony in London. Excitingly, the majority of authors and translators on this year’s list are women.

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world. I) HBO’s Harry Potter Teaser Trailer – My Initial Reactions The   Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone teaser trailer dropped yesterday, and there’s already a lot of thoughts and discourse around it. First of all, whatever you think of it, in some shape or form this is exciting. But, in all honesty, I think another remake should have happened at the earliest, twenty years after the last  film was released (back in 2011). For a successful franchise that already did well with its films, it’s very risky to have a remake so close to what we last remember watching. Sure, if the movies had been received poorly, or were cancelled halfway through (cough cough, Percy Jackson series), then making a TV show would make sense. But this? These are massive, huge  shoes to fill. Even if they try their best, you can’t recreate the nostalgia that the original films brought. At the same time, they also can’t really go off-script and do their own thing. So you end up stuck in this awkward middle ground where no option feels like a good one. And it’s not like anyone could forget the original movies, but the more distance there is from them, the less harsh the criticism might be. It would also give the new cast more space to exist as their own versions of the characters, rather than being constantly compared to the original performances (which they inevitably will be). The first thing I noticed is how dark it is, the colouring. I think the first films, directed by Chris Columbus, captured J.K. Rowling’s vision so clearly, and I’m really glad he started things off as bright and youthful as he did, because that’s exactly what those first two books felt like. But if we’re going to start with this kind of colouring, I’m worried that by season seven we won’t be able to watch it during the day, even with every light turned off and the blinds drawn, because we will struggle see anything! This is what I mean, though, the original films felt so perfect aesthetically that people are naturally going to want that again. And if that’s what they want, they might as well just watch the films. It makes the whole thing very tricky. Although, I am so excited for it to include all the things the films couldn’t fit into such a short amount of time. With this being a long-form, eight-episode, one-hour format, just think about how much more we’ll see, and how much more character development there’ll be!!! Think of Peeves, S.P.E.W., St Mungo’s Hospital, Charlie Weasley, Voldemort’s backstory, Ron and Hermione as Prefects, the Marauders, and GINNY HAVING A PERSONALITY! Those are the little things that made the overall experience of Harry Potter so brilliant when reading the books, so maybe all of that will save the show. But one of the most important things is the acting. Good child actors, in my opinion, are really, really hard to find and get right, and if they aren’t right, it will completely throw me off. Unfortunately, they’ll be compared to Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, who I think did some of their best work in the first three films. And finally, I am anxious and intrigued to see how the race swap of Snape will play out with the new actor, Paapa Essiedu. Changing white characters to Black works for literally any other character besides Snape, Voldemort, and the Death Eaters overall. I think it was a bad decision, because certain dynamics may take on racial undertones that never existed before. Harry dislikes Snape not just because he is mean, but because of the morally complex tension between them. Yet, with this character change, his deep suspicions and distrust now carry an added layer of prejudice. A race swap can be successful, think of Hermione, who in the new adaptation and stage play is played by a Black actress. That works because Hermione is already part of a discriminated group as a Muggle, so making her Black doesn’t change her story; if anything, it adds depth and elevates the character. But Snape is a Death Eater, a group that clearly functions as an allegory for white supremacists. So the idea of a Black man being part of a group symbolically linked to the KKK or Nazis just doesn’t make sense. It also complicates Harry Potter’s father, James Potter, who is morally complex but ultimately good. At worst, he is a bully who picks on the equally cruel Snape, but with this change, he’s just a racist. II) More National Year of Reading News to Share! The NYT and the Department of Education have teamed up to launch the Go All In Campaign, what for, you ask? You guessed it: to get people reading more! This government-backed initiative carries the simple message: “If you’re into it, read into it.” Love football, music, or gaming? There’s literature for every hobby and interest. That’s the beauty of it, you can access anything through reading! The campaign also reaches a wide age range, from babies and toddlers aged 0–5, to young children 5–10, and teenagers aged 11 and up. There are so many campaign ambassadors, from Dermot O’Leary to Leah Williamson and Jack Edwards, and it’s supported by over 60 partners! Find out more:   https://goallin.org.uk/ III)  More About Shy Girl  and Its AI Controversy Last week I wrote about the book Shy Girl , published by Mia Ballard, which was pulled from shelves in the UK and had its US release cancelled. While its removal was the right decision, it’s alarming that the book slipped completely under the radar at a top publisher (Hachette) without proper checks or edits. This is concerning because our fears are becoming reality, we now have to be extremely vigilant about whether books use AI. This is a cause for industry-wide panic, as publishing now has to worry about AI undermining the very thing it is built upon. I do think this book could have been caught. Looking at the examples given for why it is considered an AI-generated book, it seems glaringly obvious, but over time, detecting these signs may become much harder, which is alarming. Publishers have relied on certain safeguards and trust mechanisms that AI now blurs, so you can’t just rely on author honesty anymore. This makes the process incredibly difficult. I can even imagine a whole team being created in publishing just to sift through works they suspect might use AI, similar to how applications are screened. But then again, some might use AI to do that, and I don’t think AI detecting AI is any more reliable than humans. If anything, it’s far less effective. Humans can sniff it out far better, because how does a robot know when another robot is pretending to be human if it doesn’t really know what being human looks like? This is both worrying and very sad, and it has happened far sooner than I would have liked, sooner, meaning ever. IV) Bridgerton Season Five Announced – My Thoughts (Spoiler Alert) I’m sure everyone and their mother knows that Netflix announced, not long after the release of the fourth season (Benedict and Sophie Bridgerton’s love story), that the next chapter will focus on Francesca and Michaela. This shocked quite a few people, who had expected it to be Eloise’s turn. There’s been a lot of discussion about how Francesca has already had significant storylines and screen time in the past two seasons, and now she’s getting her own spotlight, while Eloise’s character has been developing since the beginning. In the third season, Francesca fell in love and got married; in the fourth, she faced fertility issues with her husband and then grieved him after his sudden death. Many thought it would make sense to shift the spotlight to Eloise, giving Francesca’s storyline a proper break to process her grief. I do think Netflix is just messing with Bridgerton a bit and hasn’t fully learned from the mistakes of the third season, ignoring the chronology the audience wants and expects. But maybe because everyone is anticipating Eloise’s story, they’re holding her back to guarantee viewers for another chapter, no matter how Francesca and Michaela’s story is received. That said, Eloise has already been somewhat shortchanged because her arc hasn’t been set up enough, and she hasn’t had enough character development. It’s proof they could have done it, but so much time was spent on the younger Francesca that it wasn’t possible. We’ll just have to see how it plays out. V) Bidding War Ends: HarperCollins Secures Exciting Children’s Series I think we have a new name to watch out for soon: Rhiannon Findlay. Five other publishing houses competed fiercely over her three books in a competitive auction, with HarperCollins ultimately winning. Rhiannon Findlay is a pen name for the author who also wrote the children’s series Ten Minutes to Bed , whose first book is called The Cuddle Monster . This new series is a children’s picture book collection focused on early childhood emotions. Findlay has already been published before, so she comes with experience (and likely a proven sales record) which explains why so many publishers were eager to secure her work.

Hello! This is my bi-weekly update on publishing. I hope you haven’t missed me too much, but here I am again with another catch-up for all you wonderful people who are dying to get into the industry just as much as I am. So, without further ado, here’s another segment of the blind leading the blind! Since the fair, things have been much calmer. I’ve spent the time catching up with the connections I made, seeking out opportunities from those conversations, and updated my LinkedIn so that people I follow can see my journey, which is actually the post that got the most traction (yippee!). I’ve also started applying again, armed with my newfound advice and motivation, so we shall see what’s to come! And to all my lost bookworms, Stay Steadfast x

Hello! This is my bi-weekly update on publishing. I hope you haven’t missed me too much, but here I am again with another catch-up for all you wonderful people who are dying to get into the industry just as much as I am. So, without further ado, here’s another segment of the blind leading the blind! Hello, hello! This post is a bit later than planned, but things were so hectic at the beginning of March, I honestly couldn’t believe it. It was busy in a positive sense, and I haven’t felt so invigorated and productive in such a while. I mean, I’ve always been applying for jobs and keeping myself busy even when I’m not, but it can feel like wading through mud. These last few weeks haven’t felt like that, and it’s been such a pleasant change. This month was the London Book Fair, which I briefly mentioned I was volunteering for, and I want to take some time here to tell you about my experience. The Beginnings First of all, I wouldn’t have thought of volunteering without my mentor (from SYP) encouraging me to. And of course, like with many things, you have to cast your net wide. My first piece of advice to anyone thinking of doing it: don’t ask to volunteer for one of the Big Five publishing companies, it’s not going to happen. Instead, go through the exhibitor list on the LBF website, work your way through it, and email as many as you can, including smaller businesses, companies, agencies, bookstores, and publishers, etc., because you probably will not hear back from about 97% of them. The ones I did  hear back from were very lovely and invited me to visit them at their stalls, but they didn’t need any help. So out of what was hundreds of emails (okay, it wasn’t that many), I had one company say yes!  I ended up volunteering for the fine leather-bound book company, Rare Biblio, founded in California, USA. I also couldn’t believe it when I realised the other volunteer I was working with was a girl I went to university with, we’d even sat in some of the same modules! A Good Shout For Volunteering First of all, I would say that if you can, try to volunteer with Bookcareers.com . It is founded and run by Suzanne Collier, who is a huge advocate for young people trying to get into the industry. She does everything you could think of to support them and is a strong promoter for young people being paid for any type of work experience, as well as helping them find their way into a career in publishing. The reason you should go through them is because they take on a number of volunteers, so there is a higher chance of getting a place. I met a few people who applied through them, and they were all lovely, so with someone who is genuinely eager to help young people gain experience, it is a really good route to consider. But like I said, do not limit yourself to one avenue, ever, because no one else is, including the people you are applying to. If they have the option of hundreds of applicants, you should give yourself the same number of opportunities to apply to. The Venue and Getting Set Up Okay, so technically my first day was not actually the first day of the fair. The founder, the marketing director, the other volunteer, and I had to help set up the stand. The physical structure was already there, tables, chairs, carpet, shelves, etc., but we had to make it look charming by arranging the books, adding decorations, and putting together many, many brochures with their signature bookmarks inside. The venue itself was massive, with the Big Five publishing stands (I don’t even think you can call them stands, more like open-air buildings that take up about 25% of the room) sitting centre stage with their incredible space. They had reception areas and what felt like bodyguards manning them, making sure no one uninvited could go in. Unlike other companies, the Big Five are there for business meetings, international rights sales, networking, and setting the tone for the publishing year. Hence why I said it is pretty much useless to even think you will be able to talk to them, let alone volunteer.  It was nice to experience the Book Fair at the Olympia venue before the move to Excel next year. The only thing I associate with Excel is sitting exams during my final undergraduate year, so if I step in there and my heart starts going a million miles an hour, I will know it is not because of the books, just some casual PTSD. Making Connections  What was so brilliant about contacting so many people to volunteer beforehand is that even if they rejected my offer, they still wanted to see me, which was amazing. When I went up to them, I felt like I had a reason and a purpose, because approaching someone unannounced and starting a conversation can be hard. Just saying something like, “I emailed you before about an opportunity for volunteering and you asked me to stop by… I just wanted to say thank you for responding and being so warm,” makes it much easier. From there, the conversation starts naturally, you can ask how they’ve been finding the fair, do a bit of background research on them so it’s obvious you know what they do, why you like them, and why you wanted to volunteer. Of course, as I said, you need to offer yourself to many people, but it doesn’t have to look like that. Show them you like their company for them . Two things can be true at once: you can genuinely like their company while also offering yourself to many others in the industry. It was also nice having somewhere to go when I wasn’t at the stall. Moving between people and stalls felt like more than just physical movement, it was emotional too. I could feel myself making progress with every person I spoke to, and even just becoming more comfortable and at ease felt like I was accomplishing something. At the beginning, I had felt a bit out of place, so that really helped. A Mentors Advice Having my old mentor there as well was such a privilege. She came to visit my stall, gave me advice, and we walked around the fair together. Having someone who is already in the industry to guide me and make me feel welcome made a huge difference. The best advice she gave me for when I felt anxious about speaking to people was: “Not every conversation you have will be this monumental exchange that lands you a job. Chances are, it’s just another contact for you to know in the industry.” From that, my tactic became to make a friend first. That way, it doesn’t feel like you’re just trying to get something from someone. Interesting people are interested in others, and walking into any interaction saying, “Can I have a job/work experience/volunteering?” isn’t the best start. They don’t get a sense of who you are, what you’re like, and you won’t make a lasting impression. Now, take this with a pinch of salt, I still don’t have a job, but that’s just what I realised. A Mutual Contact I was also lucky enough to meet up with my brother’s friend, who works on the Rights side of the industry at an Intercontinental Literary Agency. We spoke for a bit, and she even invited me to a Junior Publishers social. It was mostly meant for young publishers to meet up and have a drink, but it wasn’t a problem that I came along. I met some lovely people, including two individuals who had recently started as editorial assistants at Penguin! They were very gracious and helpful, and it was brilliant to hear another perspective from someone just starting out in their career, what they might have done to land the role, and what the early experience is like. I gained a lot of knowledge, and it didn’t feel like I was begging or forcing anything; it was more social and relaxed, so people were much more open to opening up. The Value of Volunteering I do believe volunteering is so important because it’s better than just arriving as yourself, if you can help it. It’s good for people to see that you have a purpose beyond simply looking for work experience or a job, because this book fair is very much about B2B, buying and selling rights, and the relationships between agents and publishers. Hiring isn’t at the forefront of most people’s minds, but volunteering gives them a chance to notice you in a meaningful way. Going there with a role first, and an interest in experience second, might be the way forward. I had a lot of interest just from people coming up to the stall and asking about the company, which often led to conversations about other topics we found interesting, and sometimes those conversations became contacts that could help me later. But let’s be honest: of course I was interested in volunteering because of the connections and experience, but we can’t ignore the ticket prices. Without being an exhibitor or volunteer, the cost is extortionate, so in the current cost-of-living crisis, that’s a real consideration, and we shouldn’t feel guilty about it being a big reason. Things are getting more and more expensive while wages don’t keep up, so to be unemployed and spend that kind of money on a book fair where you might not gain experience, a job, or even a helpful conversation would be… devastating (yes, devastating). I see you all, because I am right there with you. Reality Check: Entering Publishing I also got to see a few people I went to university with! They were all doing an MA in publishing, and it was really interesting to hear their perspective on the industry from a completely different angle and see what they thought. But what I’ve learned is that, regardless of the route you take or the tactic you choose, it’s a struggle. There really isn’t a “wrong” way to go about it because the job market is so astonishingly tough. We don’t even need the stats to know that from experience, but for peace of mind, here they are: unemployment remained relatively high from November 2025 to January 2026, close to its highest level since 2015; the overall unemployment rate was near its highest level since 2021; and youth unemployment was just below its highest level since early 2015. (UK labour market statistics, House of Commons Library.) It’s not you, I promise, I have to keep telling myself that. I cannot believe I live in a world where I tried my very hardest at school, studied so I could go to a grammar school for A-levels, get the education I desperately needed, and then study at university. I was proud to go to KCL, only for my prospects to seem limited to hospitality or retail. I didn’t know that working so hard to give myself the best future possible could leave me… here. Turning a New Page… If You Can Get In I also went to one talk, hosted by the SYP, called “Turning a New Page in Your Career.”  Now, the ironic thing is that the talk was meant more for people already in the publishing industry, or for those looking to move ahead and further their careers. But in my humble opinion, once you’re in the industry… you’ve done it, you’ve made it. The people who need the most advice are those trying to get in. I also think that 99% of the attendees were not in the industry and didn’t have the privilege of thinking ahead, they just wanted to take something, anything, away that might help them later on. Funnily enough, I think the interviewer and panelists realised that, because their answers seemed much more tailored to people who haven’t even got their foot in the door. It was an enjoyable panel, and the ladies had some really interesting experiences and takes on the industry. But when you’ve been trying to get into publishing for such a long time, all the advice starts to sound the same. As I’ve always said, getting a job is 50% hard work and 50% luck. Using all the advice someone has given you in your applications is great, but if you don’t have the luck, well… it’s just words. So now I’m just waiting for that luck. Rare Biblio My experience with them was amazing. My roles really couldn’t be tied to just one thing, from setting up the stall to speaking with potential clients, contributing to social media content, networking, and pre-event planning. I was here, there, and everywhere. Thanks to the advice from my mentor, I knew it was important to branch out and not stay at the stall the whole time. After all, I was volunteering, this was my experience and my time too. They were incredibly easygoing about how I split my time between the stand and exploring the rest of the book fair. A Fun Perk  Oh, and one of the coolest parts, if you stay behind after everyone is packing up, some publishers give away their books to exhibitors and volunteers milling around the space. Since they have so many on display, 99% of them go to charity, but sometimes they’re kind enough to offer a few to people. So even if you don’t get paid for volunteering, you might make up for it a little in free books! Reflections on My Experience Honestly, I had a lovely time. The people I spoke to and interacted with were all so kind, and it makes a huge difference when they approach you with genuine interest. That makes it so much easier to ask for advice or find out opportunities, or anything else you might need from them. The best part is that everyone shared the same passion: books. You really can’t go wrong with that. I didn’t know what to expect from the Rare Biblio stall, since most of their business is in the US, and they were using the LBF to gauge the market in the UK, but it was quite a success. That gave me confidence in my own approach to meeting people: no one felt pestered, because if you work in publishing, 99.9% of the time, you like books, or at least the business of them. Sometimes we had to reach out to get people over to the stall, but once we did, they were hooked. Most of the time, they came on their own, which I found really interesting. It was long days, I don’t live in London, so I was up at 6 a.m. and to bed around 10:30–11 p.m., to do it all again the next day. But after being unemployed for so long, I really appreciated the structure. Your social battery is completely drained because you’re talking most of the time and putting your best self forward, I didn’t know I could talk for so long! The atmosphere was busy, engaging, and exciting, and the second you go home, you really feel it, but it's a productive, feel-good tired. Don’t get me wrong, it was intense, and I don’t want anyone to think I found it easy. I didn’t. There’s the insecurity of being unemployed and the pressure that every interaction could make a difference in your life and career, which makes you overthink everything, I definitely did. But that couldn’t take away from the positives I found there. It was also cool to see all the different types of stalls; some were really beautiful, including my own. And to all my lost bookworms, Stay Steadfast x

Hello! This is my bi-weekly update on publishing. I hope you haven’t missed me too much, but here I am again with another catch-up for all you wonderful people who are dying to get into the industry just as much as I am. So, without further ado, here’s another segment of the blind leading the blind! I feel like I had so much to share last time that there’s naturally not as much overflowing now, but I’m eagerly counting down to the London Book Fair, where I’ll be volunteering! I can’t wait to catch up with some familiar faces and meet new ones. Stay tuned, I'll have updates and stories to share sometime next next  week! And to all my lost bookworms, Stay Steadfast x

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world. I) AI Has Landed on Bookstore Shelves (Sort Of)  It’s officially happened: an AI-written book slipped through the cracks and made it onto UK shelves… before being pulled and cancelled in the US. The book in question is Shy Girl  by Mia Ballard, which was picked up by Hachette after initially being self-published, where it racked up thousands of ratings on Goodreads and relatively high scores. It was then traditionally published in November 2025, only to be met with a wave of criticism. Readers began raising concerns about the writing itself, pointing out strange sentence structures, glaring plot holes, and repetitive, uninspired phrasing. Now, I haven’t read it myself (so take this with a pinch of salt), but this is what a lot of commentators have been saying, especially YouTuber Frankie’s Shelf, who posted a video titled i’m pretty sure this book is ai slop . In it, he says, “I think that ChatGPT wrote every description in this story, of which there are way, way too many.” From what I could find, The New York Times  reported a statement from Ballard: “This controversy has changed my life in many ways, my mental health is at an all-time low, and my name is ruined for something I didn’t even personally do.” And honestly… I feel conflicted. On one hand, I’m genuinely glad (and, dare I say, proud) that Hachette is choosing to protect real, human-created work over AI, regardless of potential profit. That matters . But on the other hand, I’m also a bit shocked. How did this get through? Was it not properly edited? Did they just use the self-published version as it was? Because if anyone had  looked closely, surely some of the more obvious issues, like sentences randomly starting on new lines or basic structural errors, would have been caught? And this isn’t even the only controversy surrounding the book. The original cover was reportedly cropped from artwork by Wyn Lewis, which Ballard admitted to, saying she found it on Pinterest. That was eventually resolved, and the traditionally published version had a new cover, but still, not a great look. The whole situation is messy. Because here’s the thing, I don’t think we can ever 100% prove that something was written using AI. Even when it feels obvious. Maybe I’m wrong, but it raises a bigger question, where do  we draw the line? Will we always be able to tell, like people seem to think they can here? And is Hachette pulling the book enough to confirm those suspicions? Also, and I really want to stress this, bad writing does not automatically mean AI was involved. Bad art is very human. We’ve all read books, seen artwork, watched movies, or been to shows thats just not great. But AI-generated work feels like a different kind of bad. It’s almost instinctive, you sense something is slightly off, just not quite human. And maybe that’s the point. Without getting too deep (but also… maybe getting a little deep), that’s where the human experience comes in. The soul. The thing that makes art feel real, even when it’s messy or imperfect. And what is art, really, without that? II) TheWorks: Up Close and Personal The Works is a retailer that sells books, art and craft materials, gifts, toys, games, stationery, etc. Personally, I mostly go there for their brilliant book prices, often half the cost of what you’d see in Waterstones or other big retailers. Of course, you pay for that bargain with a limited selection. They mostly focus on romance, fantasy, crime, autobiographies, drama, and lots of kids’ books. And if you’re after absolute bargains, they tend to stock sets of popular titles in those genres constantly.  Anyway, I’m getting distracted. The point is, The Works has closed its online shop. You can still browse items online, but if you want to buy anything, you have to head to a physical store. This is obviously because their online sales weren’t bringing in enough money, while their high street shops are doing just fine. Honestly, I’m not too fussed about this. Almost every time I’ve bought a book from The Works, it’s been because I wandered in and browsed. And when I’m shopping online, it’s probably second-hand anyway (95% of the time), and the other 5% would be gifts, my only excuse to splash the cash. III) A Win for UK Creatives! Though we’ve had a lot of bad news about AI recently, I’m pleased to share some good news. The UK government has abandoned its plan to introduce a copyright exception that would have allowed AI companies to train models on copyrighted material without permission, unless creators opted out, effectively putting the burden entirely on them. This change comes thanks to the strong opposition from creative individuals and industries. I also think the big publishers’ stance at the London Book Fair helped a lot. They supported the protest and distributed copies of Don’t Steal This Book , which featured contributions from over 10,000 authors. The book is “empty,” except for a list of the authors’ names, and it was created as a statement against AI firms using their work without permission. What the new plan will look like, however, is still uncertain. They might stick with current copyright law, introduce a licensing-based system, or simply require more transparency about what content is AI-generated. Still, this is a significant victory. That said, it’s not completely resolved, and with AI it often feels like we’re the test guinea pigs, figuring out how to respond to something we don’t fully understand or aren’t yet equipped for. Since the industry is so new and constantly evolving, it’s only natural that navigating it will be an ongoing struggle. IV) Hachette Livre Some news from across the ocean (and no, it’s not about America–or Trump–for once, yay!). Hachette in France ( Hachette Livre ) is looking to expand its acquisitions beyond Europe, aiming for more global growth. It’s great to see the publisher positioning itself as a global powerhouse, supporting acquisitions outside of Europe. There’s so much more diversity, intrigue, knowledge, and excitement to be found on other continents! V) Parton’s Bookish Side Quest: Books for Babies And a piece of small news to brighten spirits: thanks to the much-loved celebrity and country singer Dolly Parton, babies in Chard, Somerset, are set to receive a free book every month until the age of five through a scheme she set up. The initiative has already received £8,000 in donations for its first year. Here’s how it works: Chard Community Hub is responsible for paying for the books, which it plans to do through fundraising and asking local businesses for sponsorships. Then, Parton’s Dollywood Foundation takes care of the behind-the-scenes logistics, covering the scheme’s administration and coordinating large-scale publishing and distribution partnerships to make sure the system runs smoothly.

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world. I) Grammarly Faces Lawsuit Over AI “Expert Review” Feature I think we’re all very familiar with Grammarly. It’s what people used before AI really took off. You could use the normal version (free), which fixed basic grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure, or the premium version, which offered more advanced writing support, things like full-sentence rewrites, tone adjustments, vocabulary enhancements, and plagiarism detection. I’m sure that before the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek (and many more as time goes on), Grammarly was doing very well. It was that extra step students or professionals could take to guarantee, or at least reassure themselves, that their work was up to standard. It also cut back on the time it took to edit your writing, especially if writing didn’t come naturally to you. However, since the rise of AI, I can imagine business is not what it used to be, nor what it ever will be again. The reason we’re talking about it now is because Grammarly is facing a lawsuit over an AI feature called “Expert Review”. The tool generated writing advice while presenting it as coming from well-known authors, journalists, and academics, but without their permission. This is exactly why many creatives are concerned and frustrated about the development of AI in their field. Not only does it involve the use of content and material they worked hard to produce, but that very same material can then be used to train AI systems that might later be positioned as replacements for the people who created it in the first place. The Expert Review feature allowed users to upload their writing and receive editing suggestions supposedly “inspired by” famous experts. The feedback was presented in a way that made it seem as though it came from real writers. But in reality, the comments were generated entirely by AI, not by the people whose names were attached to them. Journalist Julia Angwin filed the lawsuit on behalf of others whose identities were allegedly used in the tool. II) Nibbies Indie Bookshop Finalists Two big things we’re going to touch on this week are, of course, the continuation of the The British Book Awards 2026 (aka the Nibbies) and the London Book Fair, which I’ll mention later. First, the Independent Bookshop of the Year winners have been revealed. Nine independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland have been named regional and country winners. However, it’s not over yet. These shops will now move forward to compete for the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year title, which will be announced at the awards ceremony in May as part of The British Book Awards 2026. The nine regional and country winners are: Backstory – London winner Book Lovers Bookshop – Scotland winner Griffin Books – Wales winner The Secret Bookshop – Island of Ireland winner The Book Hive – East England winner Five Leaves Bookshop – Midlands winner Forum Books – North England winner Hart's Books – South-East England winner FOLDE Dorset – South-West England winner III) Authors Protest AI at the London Book Fair The London Book Fair had a lot going on this year, and I’m sure there’s plenty to report on. As I was also volunteering there, it was even nicer to see everything, and take part in it, in person. One of the most striking things I saw while I was there, which has since been widely reported on, involved a book called Don't Steal This Book. More than 10,000 authors have published an “empty” book, where the only content is a list of their names, as a protest against AI firms using their work without permission. Copies of the book were handed out to attendees at the London Book Fair on Tuesday, just a week before the UK government is expected to release an assessment on the economic impact of proposed changes to copyright law. Unfortunately, even though I was there, I didn’t manage to snag a copy, but oh well, the message is more important. The protest comes in response to a government proposal that would allow AI companies to use copyright-protected work without the owner’s permission, unless the creator specifically opts out. Many British artists and writers have responded strongly to the idea, arguing that it places the burden on creators to protect their work rather than on companies to seek permission in the first place. IV) Greg Greeley Takes the Helm at Simon & Schuster Greg Greeley is the new CEO of Simon & Schuster, replacing Jonathan Karp, who had held the role for about five years. The leadership change marks a new phase for the major publishing house. Interestingly, Greeley comes from a technology and media background rather than traditional publishing, having held senior roles at Amazon, where he worked on global digital businesses and subscription services. I suppose this shift suggests that S&S may now focus more heavily on digital growth and global expansion. Karp hasn’t left the company completely, but he will now take on a more publishing role. There are two sides to this change. On one hand, Greeley’s experience building large digital businesses could strengthen their strategy for e-books and audiobooks, provide better data on reader behaviour, and improve global digital distribution. His influence might modernise operations and help the company adapt more effectively to technology. On the other hand, Amazon has often been criticised for pushing deep discounting that squeezes publishers and bookshops, as well as for promoting high-volume consumption and algorithm-driven sales. Some worry that an Amazon-style mindset might prioritise scale and efficiency over editorial judgement and cultural value. So, while there’s clear potential for innovation, we’ll have to wait and see how this change balances growth with the traditional values of publishing. V) Sarah J. Maas on Call Her Daddy: Two ACOTAR Books Coming Technically, this belongs in last week’s blog, and I can’t believe I missed it, but I can’t ignore it! On the Call Her Daddy podcast, hosted by Alix Cooper, Sarah J. Maas, the author of the massively popular series A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City, was the guest on one of the most recent episodes. The biggest takeaways are that Sarah revealed two back-to-back ACOTAR books are coming: the first in October and the second in January. She also spoke about her stance on the ACOTAR TV series. She has regained the rights to the show and, since getting them back, it’s clear she doesn’t want to lose them again. For now, she’s focusing on the books and wants to remain very much in control of any content that is produced. Honestly, the podcast was a bit underwhelming. When asked questions, which weren’t particularly intense, considering it’s Call Her Daddy, she didn’t make much effort to keep details consistent, often speaking off “vibes.” Her answers felt underdeveloped and almost suggested she doesn’t fully know her own world. And after reading her books, I found her worldbuilding questionable at best. She seemed to suggest that readers pay too much attention to details because she doesn’t have clear answers, and isn’t that kind of the point of reading, to interpret and read into the story? She appeared unprepared to talk about her own series, which surprised me. If I were the author, I would use readers’ confusion and questions to fix plot holes, but she seemed to rely on vibes and tropes rather than careful worldbuilding and character development. Her answers rambled, ended mid-sentence, and often jumped to a new thought before finishing the last, almost mirroring her writing style. This is also a reason why she went on Call Her Daddy: Cooper isn’t known for in-depth or challenging questions. The podcast lets guests say what they want and hypes them up, even if they shouldn’t be praised so freely. It’s entertaining, but not exactly enlightening if you’re hoping for insight into the series itself. You can watch the episode by clicking here!

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world. I) World Book Day Yesterday was World Book Day, an event that’s been celebrated since 1998. It’s run by the charity World Book Day, which highlights that only one in three children read for fun. They point out that reading is “the biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful future,” which is why they pour so much energy into making reading enjoyable. This year, they’ve introduced the 2026 £1/€1.50 “Books With You” initiative. Children who receive these tokens can choose from a fantastic selection of books for free between 12 February and 15 March 2026. All they need to do is claim their token and head to their nearest participating local bookseller. What a brilliant idea! II) A £200,000 Boost for Indie Bookshops in 2026 Wonderful news! The Booksellers Association Group has announced a £200,000 investment to support bookshops across the UK and Ireland as part of the ongoing National Year of Reading 2026 initiative. NYT really is the gift that keeps on giving! Independent bookshops always deserve support, especially in a market where cheaper, mass-produced books can make life tough for them. This funding will allow them to make the most of the moment through local initiatives, promotions, and community engagement that inspire a love of reading. III) Orion’s Fresh New Look The Orion Publishing Group, an imprint of Hachette, has unveiled a new logo to refresh its visual identity and reflect the company’s future direction. The design, created by creative director Nick Shah and brand director Cait Davies, features an interlocking “O” and “G,” symbolising how Orion’s various imprints and teams work together, distinct, yet complementary. Anna Valentine, managing director, said the timing was perfect, coming on the heels of one of Orion’s strongest sales years on record. IV) Simon & Schuster UK’s New Home Simon & Schuster UK is planning to relocate its London offices, from Gray’s Inn Road to new premises at 199 Bishopsgate in the City of London. But that’s not all: the company will also introduce a new corporate brand identity. So they’re not just moving; they’re refreshing how they present themselves to authors, partners, and the wider industry. I suspect we can expect some interesting developments in the months and years ahead. V) Nibbies 2026 Shortlists Announced We mentioned last week that the British Book Awards 2026, aka the Nibbies, revealed their regional and country finalists for Library of the Year. This week, the shortlists for the Book of the Year categories have also been announced. In case you didn’t know, the British Book Awards are high-profile UK publishing awards celebrating commercial success, editorial excellence, and cultural impact across a wide range of categories, from fiction and non-fiction to genre and debut work. Winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in London in May 2026. It’s a long list, but I’ll go ahead and share all the nominees! Fiction Shortlist Boleyn Traitor  – Philippa Gregory Dream Count  – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Heart the Lover  – Lily King My Friends  – Fredrik Backman Strange Pictures  – Uketsu The Rose Field  – Philip Pullman Science Fiction & Fantasy Shortlist Alchemised  – SenLinYu Katabasis  – RF Kuang Onyx Storm  – Rebecca Yarros The Devils  – Joe Abercrombie Romantic Fiction Shortlist (One of the new genre categories introduced this year)  All Together for Christmas  – Sarah Morgan King of Envy  – Ana Huang Our Sweet Violet  – Rosie Goodwin The Strawberry Patch Pancake House  – Laurie Gilmore Graphic Novel Shortlist (Also new for 2026) Bunny vs Monkey: Intergalactic Monkey Business!  – Jamie Smart Children’s Non‑Fiction & Illustrated Shortlist Oh Dear, Look What I Got!  – Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury Audiobook & Other Categories ​​ When Gavin Met Stacey And Everything In Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship  – Ruth Jones & James Corden The Tenant  – Freida McFadden Last Rites  – Ozzy Osbourne Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir Of Surviving Abuse And Fighting For Justice  – Virginia Giuffre & Amy Wallace Sunrise on the Reaping  – Suzanne Collins Eat Yourself Healthy  – Jamie Oliver Protein In 15  – Joe Wicks The Long Shoe  – Bob Mortimer