‘The potential to undermine democracy’: European publishing trade bodies call for action on generative AI

Three organisations argue that more transparency is needed after research found AI models have been trained using pirated works by authors such as Zadie Smith and Stephen King

Scholastic to separate books on race, gender and sexuality for book fairs

Children’s book publisher will allow US districts to include or exclude separate list, a decision that has led to a backlash

Serena Williams to publish memoir about life ‘on and off the court’

The tennis champion has signed a two-book deal with Penguin Random House, saying it will be the first time she has paused and reflected on her remarkable career

Malaysia pulls out of Frankfurt book fair, blaming organisation’s pro-Israel stance

Representatives of the south-east Asian country stated that the event, the world’s largest, has allied itself with Israel in its war with Hamas, after an award due to be presented to a Palestinian writer was cancelled

Palestinian voices ‘shut down’ at Frankfurt Book Fair, say authors

Open letter rebukes LitProm decision to cancel award ceremony for Adania Shibli due to ‘war started by Hamas’

Spotify’s new audiobook streaming could have ‘devastating effect’, says Society of Authors

The industry body says the music giant’s move to make more than 150,000 titles available has not been discussed with authors and may compete with sales

Salman Rushdie announces memoir, Knife, about being stabbed in 2022

The author describes the book, subtitled Meditations After an Attempted Murder, as ‘a way to take charge of what happened, and to answer violence with art’

Literary magazines can be life-changing – but they need more support

The UK’s literary magazine scene is crumbling due to rising print costs. But I’ll keep printing my own magazine, which gives writers of colour a voice, for as long as I can

Sweden’s ‘queen of Noir’ Camilla Läckberg accused of using a ghostwriter

Crime novelist has been forced to deny claims that she tricked readers into buying books she didn’t write herself

‘I’m not worried about fame or glory’: Lydia Davis, the author who has refused to sell her book on Amazon

The award-winning short story writer talks about her boycott of the world’s biggest marketplace, her love of languages and living with Paul Auster in Paris

4thWrite prize shortlist reveals more rising literary stars

Ranging across continents and genres, the six stories in contention for 2023’s award have been praised for ‘distinctiveness and depth of feeling’

The White Review literary magazine ceases publishing

A statement cited increased costs and removal of UK state funding as the magazine, which featured writers including Paul Murray, Caleb Azumah Nelson and Sally Rooney, is to consider its future

Amazon restricts authors from self-publishing more than three books a day after AI concerns

The company announced the new limitations after an influx of suspected AI-generated material was listed for sale but said that ‘very few’ publishers will be affected

Russell Brand publisher pauses all future books with comedian

Bluebird, who were due to publish Brand’s new self-help book in December, took the decision in light of ‘very serious allegations’

Four large US publishers sue ‘shadow library’ for alleged copyright infringement

The publishers are claiming unspecified damages from the file-sharing Library Genesis, which they say has distributed files illegally