News Today's Book News

[AgentPete]

Self‑Publishers Rise Up at 2025 Ignatz Awards​

Independent creators made an impressive showing at the 28th annual Ignatz Awards at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland. Fantagraphics took two of the evening’s biggest prizes, but the article notes that many self‑published and small‑press comics creators captured honours alongside them.

Arthur Sze Named U.S. Poet Laureate​

The Library of Congress appointed acclaimed poet Arthur Sze as the United States’ 25th poet laureate for the 2025–2026 term. Sze, author of the National Book Award‑winning collection *Sight Lines*, succeeds Ada Limón and will highlight poetry translated into English from other languages during his tenure.

Sarah Posner Joins Bonnier Books UK as Publishing Innovation Manager​

Bonnier Books UK created a new publishing innovation manager role and appointed Sarah Posner to fill it. Posner moves from Oxford University Press and says she is excited to collaborate with colleagues across the business to drive innovation while keeping creativity at the centre of Bonnier’s work.

Walker Announces a Second Michael Rosen Day​

Walker Books announced that it will hold a second Michael Rosen Day later this year. Scheduled for November, the celebratory event will be themed “Funny Food: A Feast of Poems” and aims to highlight Rosen’s poetry through humorous and food‑themed activities.

Penguin Life Signs Alex Edmans on *The Madness of Markets*​

Penguin’s Penguin Life imprint has acquired economist Alex Edmans’s forthcoming book *The Madness of Markets*. The non‑fiction title promises to explore the hidden forces behind stock‑market booms and busts and argues that even sophisticated investors are prone to irrational decisions.

2025 Shortlist for Young Writers’ Award Unveiled​

The shortlist for the 2025 BBC Young Writers’ Award, run in partnership with Cambridge University, has been released. The prize aims to discover and encourage the next generation of writers, spotlighting talented young storytellers whose work impressed the judging panel.

Simon Squibb Helps Children Dream Big at Puffin​

Entrepreneur Simon Squibb is writing his children’s book debut for Puffin, due in March 2026. He said he hopes the story will offer comfort, courage and inspiration to young readers and encourage them to pursue big dreams.

Authors Have Questions — And No One Is Getting $3,000 a Book​

Publishers Lunch analysed the massive Anthropic copyright infringement settlement, noting that while the payout is a landmark victory for creators, individual authors have received little information about what to expect. Some have discovered their publishers never registered their copyrights, making them ineligible for compensation; Macmillan has pledged to cover overlooked copyright registrations to ensure its authors can benefit.

People 9/15: Publishing Industry Moves​

The Publishers Lunch “People 9/15” column reports several personnel changes. Poet Arthur Sze, 74, was named the 25th U.S. poet laureate and plans to spotlight translated poetry. Agent and author Annie DeWitt launched Enliven, a new agency handling literary representation and film rights, with Mary Alice Stewart joining and Jemma McDonagh overseeing foreign rights. Gary Lovely became a sales rep at Abraham Associates, and Maris Tasaka took up a marketing manager role at Grand Central.

Tributes Paid to ‘Rare and Radiant Force’ Sareeta Domingo​

The Bookseller reported that author and Jacaranda Books publishing director Sareeta Domingo died suddenly on 12 September. Colleagues from across the book industry described her as a “rare and radiant force” and paid tribute to her contributions as a publisher and writer.

British Library Staff Balloted for Strike over Pay and Restructure​

British Library employees are being balloted for a month‑long strike amid pay disputes and a senior‑management restructure. The proposed industrial action aims to pressure library leadership to address pay negotiations and staff concerns over organisational changes.

Waterstones to Open Second Bookshop in York​

Bookseller chain Waterstones plans to open a second shop in York next month, adding a new branch alongside its existing store in the city. The expansion will give York readers another dedicated bookshop ahead of the holiday season.

 

[Hannah Faoileán]

Note to self: when luck and effort sweep me into publication, make sure my copyright is registered!

 

[AgentPete]

Note to self: when luck and effort sweep me into publication, make sure my copyright is registered!

It’s something that UK/Euro writers don’t have to bother with… but clearly in this case, US registration is important!