Today’s Book News Wednesday, 10th December 2025
A U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear a Texas book‑banning case and the launch of a monolingual Irish dictionary were two notable stories. Other news included the Whiting Foundation’s expanded publicity training for nonfiction grantees, record views for Netflix adaptations and their impact on book sales, a shortlist for the Westminster Book Awards, and continuing debate over deforestation rules and AI‑generated books..
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the case challenging Llano County’s removal of library books, leaving in place a Fifth Circuit ruling that allowed the removals. Plaintiffs and free‑speech groups said the decision undermines First Amendment protections; the American Library Association’s president argued it may embolden officials to remove books from public libraries
Publishers Weekly reports that the Whiting Foundation, known for its $40,000 Creative Nonfiction Grants, has partnered with publicity firm Press Shop PR to provide winners with media‑training sessions, social‑media strategy and long‑term career counseling Foundation executive director Constantia Constantinou said the program aims to fill a gap as publishers reduce author support
A feature on Publishers Weekly’s comics blog highlighted the reissue of Paul Pope’s long‑out‑of‑print sci‑fi series *Total THB*. The book’s first volume follows teen heroine HR Watson as she and a mysterious robot escape villains on Mars; the 704‑page collection will be published by 23rd Street Books
Publishers Weekly’s annual graphic‑novel critics poll resulted in a tie between Mimi Pond’s memoir *Do Admit* and Alison Bechdel’s *Spent*. The poll recognized both titles for their storytelling and formal innovation; several critics noted that women creators dominated the list
In an interview, author Adam Rose described the world‑building behind his graphic novel *Huge Detective*, in which giants called “Huge” live in Australia alongside humans. Rose told Publishers Weekly that the book explores prejudice and community as its detective protagonist tries to solve a crime, and he credited artist Mardou with shaping the story’s tone
Publishers Lunch reported that Netflix’s book‑to‑screen adaptations generated more than 4.5 billion viewing hours in 2025 and boosted sales for the source novels Upcoming 2026 adaptations include *Frankenstein* (based on Jeanette Winterson’s novel), a remake of *The Woman in Cabin 10*, and *The Hunting Wives*, while Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben are developing Emily Giffin’s novel *All We Ever Wanted*
According to Publishers Lunch, Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel is circulating a memoir co‑written with Pulitzer‑winning ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer. The project is said to be attracting large offers, reflecting Moehringer’s reputation for commanding seven‑figure advances
The “People 12/9” column noted that Harlequin promoted Kathleen Scheibling to senior executive editor and elevated Flo Nicoll to executive editor. Catapult/Counterpoint/Soft Skull hired Amina Washington as assistant publicist, and Hachette Book Group added “Raising Readers” pages to over six million children’s books and pledged $200,000 toward a literacy initiative that includes library grants and author events
Publishers Marketplace announced that Simon & Schuster will handle sales, fulfillment and global distribution for Ablaze Publishing’s print formats beginning 1 February 2026
Publishing Perspectives reported that the Westminster Book Awards, celebrating political writing, revealed shortlists in categories including best nonfiction or fiction by a parliamentarian, best biography by a parliamentarian and best political book by a non‑parliamentarian Booksellers Association managing director Meryl Halls and Publishers Association CEO Dan Conway said the awards underscore the importance of freedom to publish and recognise parliamentarians’ writing; lawmakers will vote on the winners ahead of a February 4 ceremony
The Scholarly Kitchen argued that search‑engine optimization remains vital despite changes in how audiences find content. Writer Bryn Conroy outlined concepts such as “Search Everywhere Optimization,” “Academic SEO” and “Generative Engine Optimization,” urging scholarly publishers to create high‑quality, multi‑format content and to optimise metadata so material is discoverable across traditional search, AI chatbots and other channels
The Alliance of Independent Authors’ news roundup noted that the European Commission removed printed products, including books, from new deforestation regulations after publishers argued that tracing timber sources would be onerous Separately, Waterstones boss James Daunt said the chain would consider stocking AI‑generated books if readers wanted them but warned that authors and publishers must not misrepresent machine‑produced content
Books Ireland Magazine reported that Foras na Gaeilge unveiled *An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge*, the first comprehensive Irish‑Irish dictionary President Catherine Connolly said a dictionary written entirely in Irish allows the language to define itself rather than relying on English; Foras na Gaeilge CEO Seán Ó Cionn and editor Pádraig Ó Mianáin explained that the initial version includes 20,000 entries and will expand to 30,000 by 2027 The freely accessible online resource is expected to transform Irish language teaching and serve as a model for minority‑language lexicography
