The Dayton Literary Peace Prize named novelist Kaveh Akbar winner of its fiction award for his debut novel *Martyr!*. Historian Sunil Amrith took the nonfiction prize for *The Burning Earth*, and Salman Rushdie received the Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award. Each award carries a $10,000 honorarium, and the winners will be honoured at a ceremony in Dayton in November 2025.
Publishers Weekly’s deal roundup highlighted several notable acquisitions. Summit Books pre-empted Ayad Akhtar’s next novel *The Radiance*, Simon & Schuster bought Irish thriller writer Catherine Ryan Howard’s *Buyer Beware*, and Tiny Reparations/Scribner UK acquired Anushka Joshi’s debut *Merle of Mumbai*. Other deals included Leah Redmond Chang’s nonfiction project *The Nuns* at Avid Reader, and a host of young‑adult, memoir and picture‑book projects.
BookPeople CEO Charley Rejsek left the Austin bookstore after eight years to become executive director of Put It in a Book, a nonprofit that promotes literacy among Black and Latino communities. She will expand programming, oversee fundraising and help grow the group’s influence, drawing on her background as a bookseller and her advocacy for the freedom to read.
A Publishers Weekly tip sheet recommended three fiction titles that explore motherhood under extreme circumstances. Brenda Lozano’s *Mothers* follows a woman in 1940s Mexico who kidnaps her son after her husband gives him away, while Ariana Harwicz’s novella *Unfit* depicts a migrant mother who abducts her twin sons to escape an abusive situation. Quiara Alegría Hudes’s epistolary novel *The White Hot* centers on a single mother who writes a letter to her daughter explaining why she left to find herself.
Trinity University Press announced it will close in December 2026 due to rising costs and the university’s evolving priorities. Provost Megan Mustain said the press will stop acquiring new titles and help authors place existing projects elsewhere. Staff will receive support during the wind‑down, and the closure raises questions about the future of its mission‑driven list of social‑justice, regional and environmental books.
After losing a $25,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant, Restless Books secured a $300,000 donation from board member Steven Kellman to sustain its annual prize for debut works by first‑generation immigrants. Renamed the Kellman Prize for Immigrant Literature, the endowment ensures the award’s future and underscores the importance of private philanthropy for independent publishers.
In an interview, bookseller Spencer Ruchti discussed his Books Across Borders fellowship, which enables American booksellers to attend international book fairs and meet publishers abroad. He likened the Frankfurt Book Fair to a “United Nations for literature,” saying it offers a rare opportunity to learn about global book markets and bring international voices back to U.S. readers.
Sonora Jha’s novel *Intemperance* follows a 55‑year‑old feminist scholar who stages a modern swayamvar to choose a husband. In this behind‑the‑scenes piece, Jha explains that she wanted to write a joyful love story after her serious nonfiction work, while her agent and editor describe shaping the narrative to balance humour and romance. Designer Sarah Kellogg selected a Hilma af Klint painting for the cover to reflect the book’s dual timelines.
ReaderLink Distribution Services and library wholesaler Baker & Taylor announced they had mutually agreed to abandon their proposed acquisition. Under the cancelled plan, ReaderLink would have acquired B&T’s assets while leaving liabilities behind; the deal was set to close on 26 September. With due diligence incomplete and concerns about B&T’s unpaid obligations mounting, both companies will continue operating independently.
Bonnier Books UK’s LEAP imprint triumphed in a competitive eight‑way auction to publish a memoir by England goalkeeper Mary Earps. Scheduled for release later this year, the book will chronicle her journey from relative obscurity to becoming a star of the Lionesses football team and will aim to inspire young athletes.
The Financial Times and Schroders unveiled the six‑book shortlist for the 2025 Business Book of the Year Award, which celebrates titles that illuminate the world of commerce. The nominated works examine topics ranging from digital currencies and artificial intelligence to geopolitical risk, and the overall winner will receive a £30,000 prize.
BookBrunch reported on the opening of the Unbound for Gaza auction, a charity event running 26–28 September to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Gaza. More than 350 authors, including R.F. Kuang, Julia Quinn, Alice Oseman and Marian Keyes, donated signed books or bespoke items, and the overwhelming response lifted the fundraising target from $30,000 to $50,000. Organisers said the auction taps the generosity of the book community and shows how people can use their skills to help those in crisis.
Penguin Michael Joseph pre‑empted Kayla Edwards’ romantasy series *House of Devils* in a four‑book deal, fending off strong competition. The urban‑fantasy romance follows a heroine who must bond with a powerful demon to survive, and the publisher plans a major international launch.
Non‑fiction publisher Gaia acquired world rights to *The New Eden* by Kenyan writer and medical anthropologist JC Niala. The book argues that urban environments teem with natural life and calls for a reimagining of our relationship with city nature, positioning Niala as an urgent new voice in nature writing.
HarperCollins imprint HQ bought James Cleary’s debut novel *Sanctuary*, set in a future where a handful of survivors shelter in a mountain stronghold as the outside world becomes uninhabitable. Billed as “blistering,” the novel examines morality and community in extremis and is slated for a high‑profile release.
Hachette Ireland and Wildfire acquired rights to psychologist Katriona O’Sullivan’s memoir *Hungry: A Biography of My Body*, which blends personal narrative with social commentary on poverty, hunger and the body. Described as unflinching and compelling, the book is scheduled for publication in April 2026.
Indie press Fly on the Wall snapped up UK rights to Miha Mazzini’s novel *Erased*, a political thriller based on real events in 1990s Slovenia. The story follows a woman who wakes to find that she and her newborn child have been erased from official records, exposing bureaucratic injustice and the personal cost of state indifference.
Simon & Schuster UK appointed Marie Lecouturier, former head of non-fiction publishing at DK and Usborne, as its new client publishing director. She will oversee partnerships and develop bespoke publishing projects for corporate clients.
Jon and Jo Rippon announced the launch of Titchwell Press, a new independent publisher focusing on illustrated non‑fiction. The couple, who previously ran art gallery The Red Dot, plan to produce high‑quality, visually striking books across topics such as nature, travel and culture.
Publishing veteran Vicki Mellor, formerly with HarperCollins, is set to become publishing director at Head of Zeus. She will shape the imprint’s fiction list and lead its commissioning strategy.
Scottish crime writer Peter May won the prestigious Grand Prix de Littérature Policière for his novel *The Black Loch*. The annual French award honours the best crime fiction published in France and is regarded as one of Europe’s top genre prizes.
The UK Publishers Association praised the preliminary $1.5 billion settlement between AI company Anthropic and authors who sued over the unauthorised use of their work to train language models. The trade body said the deal recognises the value of authors’ rights and provides a framework for fair compensation when creative content is used to develop artificial intelligence systems.
Faber announced a marketing campaign for Emma Carroll’s middle‑grade fantasy *Mermaids of Wookey Hole* that includes events at the real Wookey Hole caves in Somerset. The experiential launch will invite young readers to explore the cave network and participate in themed activities tied to the book.
Simon & Schuster UK acquired Radiya Hafiza’s romantasy novel *The Silver Kingdom*, a reimagining of post‑colonial India featuring a slow‑burn love story and richly imagined world. The book is scheduled for release in 2026 and will be backed by a major marketing campaign.
Publishers Lunch reported that ReaderLink and Baker & Taylor abandoned their planned acquisition on the day it was supposed to close, echoing PW’s coverage. The statement gave no reason, but librarians had already begun shifting business to rival wholesalers due to shipping delays and concerns about unpaid invoices.
Renowned Washington attorney and literary agent Robert Barnett died on 26 September at age 79. Barnett was best known for brokering lucrative book deals for presidents and politicians and advising Democratic presidential campaigns.
Publishers Lunch’s column noted that fall award season was underway, with the Booker Prize shortlist and National Book Awards longlists already announced and the Kirkus Prize to follow in early October. Among new releases, it recommended Anna North’s atmospheric novel *Bog Queen* and highlighted several children’s books generating pre‑publication buzz.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup granted preliminary approval to a $1.5 billion settlement between AI firm Anthropic and a class of authors who claimed the company used their copyrighted books to train its large language models. The settlement covers more than 482,000 titles, and Alsup called the deal “fair and reasonable,” emphasising that skilled lawyers were key to the outcome.
Private‑equity‑backed Civica Media acquired hybrid publishers Greenleaf Book Group and Amplify Publishing Group. CEO Laura Albero said hybrid models are proving effective and that the company plans to scale them, signalling growing investment in alternative publishing arrangements.
The Bookseller reported that Penguin Michael Joseph acquired world English rights to Kayla Edwards’ four‑book romantasy series *House of Devils* via an exclusive submission. The publisher plans a major launch for the first volume, which blends urban fantasy and romance.
The Bookseller announced that its annual FutureBook conference will return on 1 December 2025 and will be accompanied by two new awards celebrating innovation and inclusivity in publishing.
Headline’s managing director Mari Evans acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to two new novels by bestselling author Lucy Diamond. The first is described as a feel‑good family tale, and the deal was negotiated with agent Lizzy Kremer.
In an interview, debut author Grace Walker discussed her speculative novel about a future in which over‑population leads the state to merge two women’s consciousnesses. She said the book explores identity and what makes someone human.
The Bookseller noted that a Californian judge had given preliminary approval to the $1.5 billion settlement between Anthropic and a group of authors, bringing the copyright case closer to resolution.
A French writers’ collective called on authors to leave Hachette Livre, claiming the publisher has shifted to the right since its parent company Vivendi took control. The collective argued that authors should seek publishers aligned with their values.
Reporting from the Booksellers Association conference, The Bookseller highlighted a discussion on how BookTok creators can partner with independent bookshops. Content creators praised shops such as Rare Birds Bookshop in Edinburgh and London’s Word on the Water and BookBar, and urged closer collaboration.
In an editor’s letter, The Bookseller reflected on the Booksellers Association annual conference, attended by more than 450 delegates. Themes of determination, joy and openness emerged as booksellers shared experiences and discussed industry challenges.
Manchester University Press acquired Sacha Coward’s book *Queer as Folklore* after crowdfunding publisher Unbound collapsed. MUP will publish the queer‑folklore title in paperback and e‑book editions in December, ensuring the project reaches readers despite Unbound’s closure.
