Sorry about yesterday, here is today's summary. I may try to automate the posting procedure here so that it still gets posted even if I'm not physically at my desk to do so... 
p.
- Words Without Borders Receives $100,000 Grant – The Hawthornden Foundation gave Words Without Borders a $100,000 grant to support operations, raise contributor rates and expand educational programs.
- Books‑A‑Million Customers Donate $1.2 Million in Books to Children – Books‑A‑Million’s annual summer book drive collected more than $1.2 million worth of donated books for schools, hospitals and nonprofit organizations across the U.S.
- Proposed IMLS Budget Passes Appropriations Committees – U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees advanced a fiscal‑2026 bill allocating $291.8 million to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, maintaining near level funding with a slight reduction that could affect grants.
- Klaus Flugge winner revealed – Illustrator Emma Farrarons won the 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize for her picture book *My Hair is as Long as a River*, recognised for its vivid and playful depictions.
- Hodder unveils Liza Minnelli memoir – Hodder will publish Liza Minnelli’s memoir *Kids, Wait Til You Hear This!* on her 80th birthday, with the performer promising it tells her own story.
- Katya Balen and Jenny Pearson team up for Hex and Hilda – Authors Katya Balen and Jenny Pearson are collaborating on a middle‑grade series about two young witches who must start Witchling training at different schools.
- BBC short story prize contenders named – Radio 4 announced the shortlist for the 2025 BBC National Short Story Award, featuring five writers vying for the £15,000 prize.
- Hachette celebrates Changing The Story Festival – Hachette’s festival hosted events in London and Manchester to showcase the publisher’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Business Book of the Year winners revealed – Mithu Storoni’s *Hyperefficient*, a science‑based guide to optimising brain performance, won the Business Book of the Year award.
- Creative UK report reveals gaps in leadership diversity – A Creative UK report highlighted persistent gaps in diversity across the cultural and creative industries; CEO Caroline Norbury urged greater equity and inclusivity.
- Leia Ham casts a spell on Puffin – Puffin acquired Leia Ham’s forthcoming middle‑grade fantasy series *The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia*, with the first book slated for release in May 2026.
- Kate Weston makes NA debut at Electric Monkey – Electric Monkey secured Kate Weston’s novel *Coterie of Liars*, pitched as *One of Us Is Lying* meets *The Inheritance Games*.
- Costanza Casati wins 2025 Wilbur Smith Prize for *Babylonia* – Costanza Casati’s historical adventure novel *Babylonia*, set in 9th‑century BC Assyria, won the £10,000 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.
- Kathy Reichs on UK tour – To mark 25 years of her Temperance Brennan series, Kathy Reichs will make UK appearances culminating at the Bloody Scotland crime festival.
- Cornerstone deal for Jim Collins – Cornerstone acquired Jim Collins’ book *What to Make of a Life*, described as a deep exploration of pivotal life moments and decision‑making.
- Doubleday signs Lottie Hazell’s second novel – Doubleday bought Lottie Hazell’s sophomore novel *Mothersick*, an intergenerational drama about two sets of sisters at crossroads.
- Solaris signs sci‑fi romance – Solaris acquired J. Tew’s adult debut *Headspace*, a romantic space‑opera and science‑fiction romance.
- Filming begins on Marian Keyes Netflix adaptation – Netflix has started filming an adaptation of Marian Keyes’s novel *Grown Ups* featuring actors Sarah Greene, Barry Ward and Robert Sheehan.
- Readerlink to Acquire Baker & Taylor – Readerlink Distribution Services plans to acquire the business and most assets of Baker & Taylor, retaining its management team and expecting to close around 26 September.
- Distribution: Stable Distribution’s First Clients – New company Stable Distribution revealed its first client list for January 2026, including Bushel & Peck, Empress Editions, Fayetteville Mafia Press, Galpón Press, Islandport Press, Notable Kids, PUG, Whitefox and Worldwide Buddies.
- PM “Fall” Feature Week #3: Rights Matcher – Publishers Marketplace launched Rights Matcher, an AI‑based tool that allows rights sellers to enter natural‑language descriptions of manuscripts to find potential buyers; a separate “Buy Rights” tab helps international publishers discover opportunities.
- Specialist pop‑up and novelty publisher Paper Engine to launch in 2026 – Paper Engine Publishing plans to launch in 2026, focusing on pop‑up and novelty books for children aged 3–7.
- World Book Day appoints Fiona Hickley as interim executive director – World Book Day named Fiona Hickley as interim executive director following Cassie Chadderton’s departure.
- Audiobooks: how Storytel tuned up for its next step – After retrenchment, audiobook company Storytel aims for market growth; CEO Bodil Eriksson Torp and publishing officer Helena Gustafsson discuss the strategy.
- S&S UK appoints Paul Milner as senior commissioning editor – Simon & Schuster UK appointed Paul Milner as senior commissioning editor, focusing on business and sports titles within adult non‑fiction.
- Government recognition of business rates ‘cliff‑edge’ in new report ‘welcome’ news for booksellers – The Booksellers Association welcomed an interim government report recognizing the need to reform steep business‑rates “cliff‑edges”.
p.- Words Without Borders Receives $100,000 Grant – The Hawthornden Foundation gave Words Without Borders a $100,000 grant to support operations, raise contributor rates and expand educational programs.
- Books‑A‑Million Customers Donate $1.2 Million in Books to Children – Books‑A‑Million’s annual summer book drive collected more than $1.2 million worth of donated books for schools, hospitals and nonprofit organizations across the U.S.
- Proposed IMLS Budget Passes Appropriations Committees – U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees advanced a fiscal‑2026 bill allocating $291.8 million to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, maintaining near level funding with a slight reduction that could affect grants.
- Klaus Flugge winner revealed – Illustrator Emma Farrarons won the 2025 Klaus Flugge Prize for her picture book *My Hair is as Long as a River*, recognised for its vivid and playful depictions.
- Hodder unveils Liza Minnelli memoir – Hodder will publish Liza Minnelli’s memoir *Kids, Wait Til You Hear This!* on her 80th birthday, with the performer promising it tells her own story.
- Katya Balen and Jenny Pearson team up for Hex and Hilda – Authors Katya Balen and Jenny Pearson are collaborating on a middle‑grade series about two young witches who must start Witchling training at different schools.
- BBC short story prize contenders named – Radio 4 announced the shortlist for the 2025 BBC National Short Story Award, featuring five writers vying for the £15,000 prize.
- Hachette celebrates Changing The Story Festival – Hachette’s festival hosted events in London and Manchester to showcase the publisher’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Business Book of the Year winners revealed – Mithu Storoni’s *Hyperefficient*, a science‑based guide to optimising brain performance, won the Business Book of the Year award.
- Creative UK report reveals gaps in leadership diversity – A Creative UK report highlighted persistent gaps in diversity across the cultural and creative industries; CEO Caroline Norbury urged greater equity and inclusivity.
- Leia Ham casts a spell on Puffin – Puffin acquired Leia Ham’s forthcoming middle‑grade fantasy series *The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia*, with the first book slated for release in May 2026.
- Kate Weston makes NA debut at Electric Monkey – Electric Monkey secured Kate Weston’s novel *Coterie of Liars*, pitched as *One of Us Is Lying* meets *The Inheritance Games*.
- Costanza Casati wins 2025 Wilbur Smith Prize for *Babylonia* – Costanza Casati’s historical adventure novel *Babylonia*, set in 9th‑century BC Assyria, won the £10,000 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.
- Kathy Reichs on UK tour – To mark 25 years of her Temperance Brennan series, Kathy Reichs will make UK appearances culminating at the Bloody Scotland crime festival.
- Cornerstone deal for Jim Collins – Cornerstone acquired Jim Collins’ book *What to Make of a Life*, described as a deep exploration of pivotal life moments and decision‑making.
- Doubleday signs Lottie Hazell’s second novel – Doubleday bought Lottie Hazell’s sophomore novel *Mothersick*, an intergenerational drama about two sets of sisters at crossroads.
- Solaris signs sci‑fi romance – Solaris acquired J. Tew’s adult debut *Headspace*, a romantic space‑opera and science‑fiction romance.
- Filming begins on Marian Keyes Netflix adaptation – Netflix has started filming an adaptation of Marian Keyes’s novel *Grown Ups* featuring actors Sarah Greene, Barry Ward and Robert Sheehan.
- Readerlink to Acquire Baker & Taylor – Readerlink Distribution Services plans to acquire the business and most assets of Baker & Taylor, retaining its management team and expecting to close around 26 September.
- Distribution: Stable Distribution’s First Clients – New company Stable Distribution revealed its first client list for January 2026, including Bushel & Peck, Empress Editions, Fayetteville Mafia Press, Galpón Press, Islandport Press, Notable Kids, PUG, Whitefox and Worldwide Buddies.
- PM “Fall” Feature Week #3: Rights Matcher – Publishers Marketplace launched Rights Matcher, an AI‑based tool that allows rights sellers to enter natural‑language descriptions of manuscripts to find potential buyers; a separate “Buy Rights” tab helps international publishers discover opportunities.
- Specialist pop‑up and novelty publisher Paper Engine to launch in 2026 – Paper Engine Publishing plans to launch in 2026, focusing on pop‑up and novelty books for children aged 3–7.
- World Book Day appoints Fiona Hickley as interim executive director – World Book Day named Fiona Hickley as interim executive director following Cassie Chadderton’s departure.
- Audiobooks: how Storytel tuned up for its next step – After retrenchment, audiobook company Storytel aims for market growth; CEO Bodil Eriksson Torp and publishing officer Helena Gustafsson discuss the strategy.
- S&S UK appoints Paul Milner as senior commissioning editor – Simon & Schuster UK appointed Paul Milner as senior commissioning editor, focusing on business and sports titles within adult non‑fiction.
- Government recognition of business rates ‘cliff‑edge’ in new report ‘welcome’ news for booksellers – The Booksellers Association welcomed an interim government report recognizing the need to reform steep business‑rates “cliff‑edges”.
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