"When the rest of traditional media is disappearing, when Jeff Bezos does his best to try and kill the Washington Post, the role of book publishing is never more important," said Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House UK at the London Book Fair Tuesday morning.

Weldon opened this year's fair in conversation with Philip Jones, editor of the Bookseller. Their discussion touched on AI, the impact the U.S.'s war with Iran will have on publishing, politics in publishing, and the continued importance of nonfiction, among other topics. 

Despite there being a general attitude that "it's all over for nonfiction," Weldon remarked, he didn't "subscribe to that theory." To illustrate why, he pointed to three nonfiction titles PRH UK published in the last year: Alexei Navalny's Patriot, Virginia Giuffre's Nobody's Girl, and Gisèle Pelicot's A Hymn to Life. Two of those titles came with "huge legal risk," and together all three are examples of "why what we all do at this fair has never been more important."

After Jones brought up the "oil-led" economic crisis brought on by the U.S.'s war with Iran and how it might affect the business, Weldon said, "Our first thought is for everybody in the Middle East." But from a purely economic point of view, the dramatic rise in the price of oil will "put a lot of pressure on freight costs." While that is an "issue" for a publisher in the U.K., that is "really bad news" for an American publisher, given the size of the country. 

Philip Jones (l.) with Tom Weldon

On the subject of AI, Weldon said PRH follows three main principles: protecting authors' IP, championing human creativity, and innovating responsibly with AI. With regard to the first principle, Weldon displayed a copy of Don't Steal This Book, a volume consisting only of the names of 10,000 authors. Copies were being distributed for free at the fair and the project highlights the "theft of authors' content by big tech to train their AI models."

Weldon noted that in roughly two weeks' time, the U.K. government is "going to tell us all what their policy is going to be around copyright," and Don't Steal This Book is part of the publishing industry's plea for them to "not do something even worse." Publishers want "transparency, consent, and compensation," with Weldon adding: "There's a very robust licensing framework. Let's use it."

He emphasized that PRH is "not anti-AI," and the company is looking to see how it can use AI in "a responsible way." Particularly, there are a fair amount of "repetitive processes" in book publishing, and Weldon said it would be a "good thing" if some of those could be removed with the help of AI. 

Asked about translation and audiobook narration, two areas in which AI has already made inroads, Weldon said PRH is not using AI for either of those at the moment. He allowed, however, there "might be an opportunity" for using AI to create foreign-language audiobooks. While he said it would likely not be used for languages such as German or Spanish, he pointed to Arabic, which has some 300 million speakers yet "at the moment there are only 7,000 books which anyone can download for audio."

Turning to politics, Weldon said he agrees completely with the statement of Penguin founder Allen Lane that "a publisher has no politics." Weldon said it is very important to have a "plurality of viewpoints" at a publishing house. He cited PRH's own imprint Allen Lane, which has published authors ranging from Jordan Peterson and Niall Ferguson "at one end of the spectrum" to Greta Thunberg and Naomi Klein at the other end.

"I say to anyone at the company or anyone who's joining the company, you might work on a book you disagree with," Weldon said. "And if you have a problem with that, this isn't the place you should be."

Asked whether that policy of neutrality has become harder to enforce over the last five or so years, Weldon said the issue has been "wildly exaggerated," and it's "barely any problem at all" at PRH. "People get it," he said.

Jones also brought up representation in the publishing industry and how, after making commitments to furthering diversity and inclusion in 2020, many publishers are now being criticized for apparently de-prioritizing those initiatives. 

Weldon said diversity and inclusion are "even more important now, particularly given the current political climate," and that he understood why people wished change could happen quicker, but "it does take time." He pointed out that progress has been made at PRH especially with "the representation of entry-level staff and new authors," which now reflects national demographics. Work continues to be done in creating a "sustainable talent pipeline," and "across all our lists, the representation has rightly broadened." --Alex Mutter

Whistler's Daughter Books opened late last year at 703 Livernois St. in Ferndale, Mich., with a grand opening celebration in late December. The store is described on its website as a "soulful space for stories and community, where everyone's invited and wonder lives on the shelves. Situated in the heart of Ferndale, we're a bookstore built by a family of artists and readers."

Owner Jay Whistler can trace her lineage to artist James McNeill Whistler, making the bookshop's name a nod to family history. "We want to share our love of creativity and connection with you. Inside, you'll find handpicked books, local artwork, and a space in which everyone is welcome," the store notes.

A profile of the bookstore that appeared in the Ferndale Friends holiday season edition reported that, while there are "always a million reasons not to do something... sometimes you just have to quit your corporate job and finally open the family bookshop you've always dreamed about running. Which is exactly what Linnea and Jay Whistler did last year, when Linnea finally said 'Let's just do it!' and Jay agreed. Now the mother-and-daughter duo are the owner and general manager, respectively, of Whistler's Daughter Books in Ferndale. Hannah Whistler, Linnea's sister, is the assistant manager, and Keith Whistler, the patriarch, is in charge of facilities and operations. In other words, the decades-long family dream is now a reality."

Jay Whistler, who is also a children's book author, said, "When we made that decision, we immediately started attending conferences and doing online training. Now we're both certified frontline booksellers--who knew that was a thing? Any time we traveled, we went into bookstores and asked owners, 'What's the one thing I need to know as a brand-new book seller?' Everybody had a different and equally helpful suggestion."

They also created a business plan setting out their vision and core mission, which is to expand intellectual curiosity, educate one another, explore the wider world and experience a connected community

"The store gives us an avenue for being a force for good in our community," Linnea Whistler said.

The bookstore sells both new and used books. "For the four of us, our biggest passions are art and cooking, so we have a really robust selection of well-curated art books and cookbooks," Linnea Whistler said. There is also a children's section. 

The shop's programming plans include book clubs, author events and signings, book release parties, and storytime for the kids. "We want to host different, unexpected activities that bring people in," Linnea Whistler noted. 

"We really want this to evolve into a place that can exist as a third space for the neighborhood," Jay Whistler said. "We want people to have conversations and be cozy. Which is exactly what a bookstore should be."

Lark & Owl Booksellers, which "has been a mainstay in the bustling Austin [Tex.] suburb of Georgetown for nearly seven years," has been saved from closure thanks to a community fundraising effort, MySA reported, adding: "For Georgetown, a city where a love for literature rings true and book clubs have been keeping strong and meeting for decades, Lark & Owl has served as a gathering space, refuge and reprieve for customers. Now, the business is calling upon its patrons to aid its efforts to remain open."
 
On March 3, the bookstore shared an Instagram post outlining a number of financial setbacks during the past two years that had forced the bookseller into "survival mode." Central Texans have responded by donating more than $47,000 to a Givebutter crowdfunder thus far toward the $50,000 goal.

"When you're a business that is fighting to survive, you don't have any wiggle room for one thing to happen," said co-founder and general manager Jane Estes. "We are scrappy and creative, and we're problem solvers, and we've gotten this far and we have things in the works for plans to grow and to do more and to serve the community better. But you can't grow if you're in survival mode all the time."

Estes stressed the vitality of an inclusive community space for the community to gather, mingle and expand their love of reading, as well as to see themselves reflected back, regardless of their age, background, or life experience.

"It's community, it's also grassroots, in every sense of that word. Independent bookstores have a long line of history and politics over the years as well, but mainly, we all serve our communities, and that's a privilege and an honor to be able to do that. People want books," she added

Lark & Owl is also seeking individuals or organizations with potential financial offerings, including longer-term loans, to aid them in navigating the current economic and financial tides, MySA noted. 

Estes added that now is the time to support places that build people up instead of tear them down: "That's all we ask for, is to just--the chance to have community and conversation here in this bookstore and we're so fortunate that we do every day."

The Powell's kiosk at PDX is being replaced by a full store.

Powell's Books, Portland, Ore., will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting tomorrow, March 12, for its new bookstore inside the main terminal at Portland International Airport. KATU reported that the airport previously had a temporary small Powell's kiosk, "but the new store is expected to offer a larger selection of books and products, similar to the Powell's location that operated at the airport before construction began."

The nine regional and country winners of the British Book Awards 2026 Independent Bookshop of the Year have been named. Sponsored by Gardners, the award "celebrates those bookshops that continue to draw book lovers to towns and cities across the United Kingdom and Ireland," the Bookseller reported. The overall winner, to be named May 11, receives a £5,000 (about $6,730), and will go on to compete for Book Retailer of the Year. The regional and country winners are:

Backstory, Balham (London)
Book Lovers Bookshop, Edinburgh (Scotland)
FOLDE Dorset, Shaftesbury (South-West England)
Griffin Books, Penarth (Wales)
P&G Wells Booksellers, Winchester (South-East England)
The Book Hive, Norwich (East of England)
The Rabbit Hole, Brigg (Midlands)
The Secret Bookshelf, Carrickfergus (Island of Ireland)
Truman Books, Farsley (North England)

Tom Tivnan, the Bookseller deputy editor, said: "Our record year of submissions speaks to the fine fettle independent bookshops are in, despite the myriad challenges small businesses face. In an incredibly competitive year, these nine winners are the best of best: kings and queens of local high streets, pillars of communities and--crucially in this National Year of Reading--champions of helping others discover the joy of books... the through-line of all of them is energy, innovation, entrepreneurship and having the skills to be both digitally savvy and customer-focused."

The two most popular books in February at Reading Group Choices were The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave (Scribner) and Mind Games by Nora Roberts (St. Martin's Griffin).

"Is that... could it be... the SUN shining on the bookstore?!? Serendipity Books, Chelsea, Mich., asked. "Why, it is!! While it may not be here to stay quite yet, today's blue sky and warm breeze bring the promise of more outdoor reading weather to come, and we can't wait! Happy Sunny Monday everyone!"

Independent Publishers Group has added five publishers for sales and distribution, effective in April:

Brijbasi Art Press (Hello Friend Books), a leading Indian children's publishing and printing house with headquarters in New Delhi that has established a global presence by producing more than 2,000 international editions with partners around the world. They also bring international and new age children's books to India.

Qomix Classics, which focuses on the world's classics, from many literary traditions and in rigorous and stunning graphic editions. They remake works by Shakespeare, Kafka, Hemingway, Woolf, Wilde, Chekhov, Sophocles, Poe, and more in ways that make them attractive to those who do not engage with traditional longform narrative. Qomix brings deep creative expertise to a singular cultural mission: to restore reading, in the age of distraction, to the center of human imagination.

Munyx Editorial, which was founded in 2017 and has a passion for literature. They understand that every step involved in publishing a book is crucial. Munyx wants everyone to discover their publications--novels with a soul.

Textofilia Ediciones, which aims to make reading a joyful and stimulating experience. It is an open imprint for exploring new talent in Mexican arts and literature, while also promoting authors and works that have forged a new path in other parts of the world. Their catalog encompasses the genres of novels, short stories, essays, poetry, and books for children and young adults.

Little Hibba, whose mission is to create books and projects that reflect the diversity of the Muslim community and the wider world, nurturing cultural and religious sensitivity while celebrating shared values of kindness, compassion, and respect. They are passionate about ensuring every child--especially those from Muslim and multicultural backgrounds--can see themselves represented with dignity, accuracy, and pride.

At Union Square & Co., Elke Villa has been promoted to v-p, associate publisher, and continues as director of marketing and publicity.

Was It Something I Said? Everyday Etiquette to Avoid Awkward Moments in Relationships, Work and Life by Alison Cheperdak (Thomas Nelson).

Tomorrow:
CBS Mornings: John Grisham, author of The Widow: A Novel (Doubleday, $32, 9780385548984). 

Today: Valerie Bertinelli, author of Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect (Harper Wave, $29.99, 9780063429086).

Good Morning America: Dr. Amy Shah, author of Hormone Havoc: A Science-Backed Protocol for Perimenopause and Menopause (Harvest, $30, 9780063420854).

Kelly Clarkson Show: Viola Davis and James Patterson, authors of Judge Stone: A Novel (Little, Brown, $32, 9780316579834).

Drew Barrymore Show: Phil and Lily Rosenthal, authors of Just Try It! Someplace New! (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9781665942652).

Tonight Show: Ruthie Rogers, author of Table 4 at The River Cafe: Conversations about Food and Life (Gallery Books, $36, 9781668055892).

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Bunnie Xo, author of Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic (Dey Street, $29.99, 9780063445192).

Filming has wrapped on In the Valley of Shadows (En el Valle de las Sombras), a Netflix movie based on an H.G. Wells 1904 short story, "The Country of the Blind," Deadline reported. The film, which was shot in Colombia, will have a theatrical release locally before releasing worldwide on the streamer.

Directed by Sebastián Cordero from a screenplay he wrote with María Camila Arias, the movie stars Gael García Bernal, Natalia Reyes, Claudio Cataño, Diego Vásquez, Irina Loaiza, and Margarita Rosa de Francisco. 

Dynamo produced the film for Netflix, "which has built a deep slate of original movies and series out of Latin America," Deadline wrote, adding that the adaptation "follows Álvar Toledano (García Bernal), a mountaineer, who falls into an isolated valley inhabited by a community that has been blind for generations."

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch won the £30,000 (about $40,385) Nero Gold Prize, given to a book by an author living in the U.K. or Ireland and sponsored by Caffè Nero, in partnership with the Booksellers Association, Brunel University of London, and Right to Dream.

Chair of judges Nick Hornby said: "The judges all loved A Family Matter. We admired its wry humor, its deft storytelling, and its love for all its characters, even those who behave in ways we find hard to understand, and who make choices which we would regard as morally questionable. It is both readable and intelligent, and it offers hope and consolation. We believe that this novel will be read and thought about for years to come, and we very much hope that the prize will help Claire Lynch further establish herself in a literary career which will produce more novels as satisfying as this one."

photo: Dana Patrick Photography

Jacquie Walters is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter who has produced more than 100 episodes of television. Her debut novel, Dearest, was a Book of The Month Club pick, a B&N Best of 2024, and an Octavia E. Butler Golden Poppy Award finalist. Walters graduated from the Novel Writing Program at Stanford University and is passionate about layered mysteries, psychological anomalies, and characters with everything to hide. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and beloved golden retriever. Her novel Turn Off the Light (Mulholland Books, March 3, 2026) is a twist on the haunted house story about two women living centuries apart, bound by the same dark secret.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

Turn Off the Light will forever change how you think about hauntings.

On your nightstand now:

I just finished Jordan Harper's A Violent Masterpiece, which comes out in April. WOW. Jordan's voice is so incredibly unique, and he captures the underbelly of Los Angeles in such a visceral way. I'd recommend this book with the caveat that it is very violent and disturbing. I'll be thinking about it for a long time.

Also on my "nightstand" (aka e-reader): The Names by Florence Knapp (I'm behind, I know!) and Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About by Isabel Klee. This memoir is beautiful and insightful and has lots of stories about dogs, so sign me up no question.

Also excited to dig into an ARC I recently received by Rhodi Hawk called This Town Won't Tell.

Favorite book when you were a child:

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. I was totally engrossed by the fantasy world. I also devoured the Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene. Then as a teenager, I was addicted to Jodi Picoult's novels. I always loved mysteries first and foremost, and I was fascinated by Picoult's legal spin that centered the stories around trials. And I can't talk about my childhood reading experience without mentioning Harry Potter. I grew up alongside Harry. I'll never forget walking into a bookstore at age nine with my mom and the bookseller telling us about a brand-new novel fresh from the U.K. I started reading it right then and there in the store while my mom finished up her shopping. I can't deny the huge impact those characters and stories had on me as a reader.  

Your top five authors:

This is a very hard question!!! I'd say: Lisa Jewell, Emily St. John Mandel, Gillian McAllister, Sarah Langan, Sally Rooney.

Book you've faked reading:

I'm not sure I've ever faked reading a book (besides school assignments), but one I tried more than once to get into was House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. It just seemed like one of those books that must have some hidden secrets of the universe or something. A book that really cool people love. But I never succeeded in finishing it. And then when I got older, I realized that it's a book that a lot of people have faked reading.

Book you're an evangelist for:

I'm gonna do a hard right turn here and recommend a nonfiction book. I think The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel should be required reading for everyone.

Book you've bought for the cover:

I was so drawn in by the beautiful cover of Julie Myerson's Nonfiction, and then I also fell in love with the story and prose. It's a haunting novel, especially for anyone who has dealt with addiction in their family.

Book you hid from your parents:

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. I don't remember much about it other than it being the first book I read with sex scenes. I was probably 10, and this was utterly thrilling to me.

Book that changed your life:

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones introduced me to horror literature and the power it holds. By the end of that book, I was sobbing, and I said to myself, "I didn't know horror could do that." It led me to writing Dearest and now Turn Off the Light. Before that book, I never would have predicted becoming a horror author!

Favorite line from a book:

This is another nearly impossible question to answer, but I often think of the quote "Leap, and the net will appear," from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.

Five books you'll never part with:

I'm not someone who enjoys rereading or rewatching things--I just feel like I already have so little time to experience new things!--so books that I'd never part with are more likely to be ones that I'd return to for personal growth or work. Books like The Artist's Way, The Gene Keys by Richard Rudd, The Modern Library Writer's Workshop by Stephen Koch, Parenting the Child You Have by Aypril Porter, and Human Design: Discover the Person You Were Born to Be by Chetan Parkyn. Is this the most boring answer ever?!

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. That novel is more than a book. It's an entire experience.

LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 March titles public library staff across the country love:

Top Pick
No Matter What: A Novel by Cara Bastone (Dial Press Trade Paperback, $18.99, 9780593977675). "Roz and Vin have been married 8 years, but a terrible accident ripped their lives apart and left them reeling. This story is their slow journey back to one another. No tropes here--this romance is quiet and ordinary, and in that it's so powerful. It's a beautiful exploration of how even the strongest relationship can fracture, and how we repair and recover from damage. It's also a love letter to drawing and art, to storytelling and friendships, to how we care for and harm each other." --Nyssa Fleig, Salt Lake County Library, Utah

The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by Elizabeth Arnott (Berkley, $30, 9780593952993). "Three wives of convicted killers, fighting the guilt that they didn't know what was happening with their husbands, band together to search for a killer. Continuing the trend of stories of brave women who aren't taken seriously, this tightly woven crime novel has a bang of an ending." --Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin Tex.

Two Kinds of Stranger: A Novel by Steve Cavanagh (Atria, $29, 9781668093399). "Conman-turned-attorney Eddie's reputation precedes him. When Elly, a TikTok star, is convicted of a double murder she didn't commit, she requests his help to prove her innocence. He soon realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for. When the case hits a little too close to home, Eddie relies on his (maybe not so legal) skills to save her life." --Jessica Heatherly, Kingston Public Library, Tenn.

This Story Might Save Your Life: A Novel by Tiffany Crum (Flatiron Books/Pine & Cedar, $29.99, 9781250395238). "Joy and Benny are the perfect podcasting team, best friends who explain to listeners how to survive life-threatening situations. But when Joy and her husband go missing, it's time for long-held secrets to be revealed. This compelling mystery with a likable pair at its heart will keep readers turning the pages to find out if a happy ending awaits." --Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Ill.

Lady Tremaine: A Novel by Rachel Hochhauser (St. Martin's Press, $29, 9781250396341). "This Cinderella retelling is particularly powerful at portraying the challenges of motherhood and surviving in the world as a woman. The dissection of what traumas and choices create a villain are a fascinating character study, and readers will love that Lady Tremaine is given depth beyond the stereotypical evil stepmother trope--after all, everyone could be a villain in someone else's story." --Kara Seal, Arapahoe Libraries, Colo.

It Girl: A Novel by Allison Pataki (Ballantine, $30, 9780593873410). "A compelling fictionalized story based on the life of Gibson Girl and Gilded Age 'It Girl,' Evelyn Nesbit. The author writes masterful historical fiction that illuminates exceptional women: their lives, their hopes, their triumphs and downfalls. Highly recommended!" --Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador, Ind.

Innamorata by Ava Reid (Del Rey, $32.99, 9780593722596). "Haunting and atmospheric, this gothic tale of necromancy, revenge, and forbidden love will draw readers in. Lush writing, eerie vibes, and a heroine torn between duty and desire. Darkly beautiful." --Emily Snodgrass, Rogers Public Library, Ark.

Lake Effect: A Novel by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (Ecco, $30, 9780063377684). "In 1977, Nina and Finn begin an affair and make difficult choices that will ripple through their families and small community for years to come. Twenty-five years later, Nina's eldest daughter makes a selfish choice that sends shock waves from Manhattan back to Rochester. Keenly and sensitively written, readers will have great compassion for these women despite their choices." --Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, N.J.

You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado (Morrow, $30, 9780063383234). "This slow, luxuriously paced gothic hinges on toxic family relationships. When Papi Ramon dies, the reading of the will mentions a demon among the family. Fans of Knives Out or The House of Usher will want to give this one a try!" --Adam Lopez, Lawrence Public Library, Kan.

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite (Tordotcom, $24.99, 9781250342263). "Our favorite 'old lady' sci-fi detective is back at it, this time solving the mystery of a new baby on board (when that should be impossible on many levels!). A quick read, but Waite does a great job balancing a heck of a lot of world-building with a satisfying mystery and forward emotional movement by the heroine." --Casey Chwiecko, Lincoln Public Library, Mass.

Two teenagers are stuck in a time loop, reliving the last few minutes before a plane crash, in Rachel Reiss's clever and arresting YA locked-door mystery, Seconds to Spare.

Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Werth is trapped on a mostly empty flight from Hawaii to California, repeating the same 28 minutes before the plane plummets in a "one-person endless time loop of epically shitty proportions." Evelyn was in Hawaii to secure her estranged father's ashes and now she's terrified her time is up, too. No matter what dark-eyed, brunette Evelyn does, the same four things happen: 1.) "The pilot announces the internet has gone out and warns of upcoming turbulence." 2.) "The plane begins to shake for five and a half minutes." 3.) A woman "in the last row, collapses." 4.) The plane "begins to nose-dive." Evelyn's vision "flashes white for a split second" and the time loop restarts. Her fellow passengers have no memories of the previous loops and Evelyn is reliving the traumatic series of events alone with no idea "what the hell is happening, why it's happening, or how to stop it."

Orion James, a boy Evelyn had briefly met and formed a connection with at the airport, has "been asleep the entirety of every loop." On loop 395, blue-eyed, dark-haired Orion wakes up. Evelyn, who has already done some snooping in his baggage, knows Orion needs life-saving heart surgery and his waking only worries her further: "I can't think of a single worse thing for a heart condition than a plane in free fall." But Orion waking isn't the only change. The loop is "growing less than a second longer each time," and Evelyn worries that the next crash will be permanent.

Characterization is sometimes thin--for example, little information is shared about Evelyn's relationship with her still-living mother or her plans as a recent high school graduate--but kinetic pacing and unexpected plot twists make Seconds to Spare a gripping narrative. The time loop element, reminiscent of movies like Groundhog Day and YA novels such as Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, adds an intriguing speculative element to the mystery, and the clock ticking toward a permanent plane crash raises the stakes. Reiss (Out of Air) develops visceral action scenes--"everything lurches forward at an entirely unnatural angle. Nothing's where it should be. Side is now down, down and up are now to the side"--and the plane cabin setting creates an atmosphere of claustrophobic suspense. Mystery fans will enjoy deciphering clues alongside the characters as this propulsive mystery reveals its secrets. --Alanna Felton, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Two teens who keep repeating the same 28 minutes in a crashing plane must work together to break the time loop and prevent the crash in this gripping YA mystery.