Today’s Book News Monday, 22nd December 2025
HarperCollins severed ties with bestselling children’s author David Walliams amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour, though he denies the claims. The U.S. Senate confirmed Mary Anne Carter as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Scholastic posted modest sales growth but higher profits, and a GAO report warned that many U.S. library facilities are in poor condition. Global publishing fairs announced date changes and digital initiatives, a court case challenged India’s competition authority on fairness, advocates called for Narges Mohammadi’s release, and technology reports highlighted AI’s growing role and multilingual voice options for e‑books.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Mary Anne Carter to a second term as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Carter previously led the NEA and championed programs such as Big Read and Poetry Out Loud; she plans to continue initiatives including the Creative Forces arts therapy program and to advocate for stable federal funding. She succeeds Maria Rosario Jackson, who resigned earlier in the year.
Scholastic’s second‑quarter revenue rose 1 % year over year to about $551 million as gains in children’s trade publishing, book fairs and the international group offset declines in its entertainment and education units. Lower costs helped lift operating income 11 % to around $83 million. The company noted strong trade sales driven by its “Dog Man” series and book fair revenue up 5 %, while book club sales fell by double digits and education solutions revenue declined because of tighter school budgets.
A Government Accountability Office survey of roughly 16,400 public and tribal library buildings found that 70 % have deferred maintenance, with 38 % reporting at least one building system in poor condition and only one‑fifth reporting all systems in good or very good condition. More than 60 % of libraries identified at least one health or safety concern. The report urges Congress to consider funding and technical assistance to help libraries address facility deficiencies.
BookBrunch reported that HarperCollins UK will no longer publish new books by David Walliams after an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward young women. The company said the decision was made after careful consideration and it emphasised its commitment to employee wellbeing. Walliams’ spokesperson said he was unaware of any investigation and strongly denied the allegations.
Publishers Marketplace’s Lunch newsletter echoed reports that HarperCollins UK decided not to publish further titles from bestselling children’s author David Walliams after reviewing allegations of harassment of young women. The publisher said it supports employee welfare and would not comment further. Walliams’ representatives have denied wrongdoing and claimed he was not informed about the investigation.
Another Lunch item summarised Scholastic’s quarterly results, noting that growth in trade publishing and school book fairs offset weakness in book clubs and education solutions. Revenue ticked up slightly and operating income rose, reflecting improved margins. The report highlighted the popularity of the “Dog Man” series and international sales growth.
Publishers Marketplace reflected on the financial performance of publishers in 2025, observing that most large houses saw flat or modestly higher sales compared with 2024. Bloomsbury’s revenue fell from its 2023 record, while audiobook revenues grew and again outpaced ebooks. The roundup noted that print sales softened, rights deals remained active and the industry awaited data from Sourcebooks and other partners not yet reporting to the AAP.
The Bookseller reported that HarperCollins has “dropped” David Walliams following allegations of inappropriate behaviour, citing a Telegraph report that he harassed young women. The brief notes that the bestselling author has been removed from the publisher’s list and that HarperCollins prioritised staff wellbeing. Details of the investigation were not disclosed.
The Irish Times reported that HarperCollins stopped publishing David Walliams following claims he harassed women. Walliams’ spokesperson said he was not told of any investigation and “strongly denies” the allegations. The article notes that Walliams has sold over 60 million books worldwide and quotes the publisher’s statement emphasising employee wellbeing.
BBC News reported that David Walliams was removed from the lineup of Waterstones’ children’s book festival after HarperCollins decided not to publish his future books. The article states that Walliams disputes allegations of inappropriate behaviour and that Waterstones said his withdrawal followed the publisher’s decision. BBC added that the author will continue appearing in pre‑arranged events not connected to the festival.
In an NPR Fresh Air interview, novelist Nick Harkaway explained how he continued his father John le Carré’s spy saga with the novel “Karla’s Choice.” Harkaway said he grew up listening to le Carré’s drafts and worked closely with his mother Jane Cornwell to ensure authenticity. The book revives spymaster George Smiley and sets him against Cold War foes while exploring moral ambiguities that defined the original novels.
PEN America issued a statement urging Iranian authorities to immediately release writer and activist Narges Mohammadi, who was violently arrested on 10 December and remains detained without adequate medical care. The organisation condemned her arrest as part of a broader crackdown on free expression and called for her unconditional release alongside other writers and activists. PEN warned that Mohammadi’s health is at risk and that she has been held in solitary confinement and permitted only limited contact with her family.
The Alliance of Independent Authors’ news podcast on 19 December reported that Amazon will allow customers to download DRM‑free Kindle ebooks again, raising questions about piracy and pricing. Hosts also discussed Audible’s partnership with TikTok to feature BookTok titles on the app’s music tab, and speculated on how Australia’s plan to ban social media for under‑16s could affect book discovery. The podcast encouraged authors to monitor evolving digital policies.
A guest post on The Scholarly Kitchen argued that artificial intelligence is reshaping platform strategy beyond current hype cycles. The author noted that generative AI tools are improving at an exponential rate, with coding assistants doubling their capabilities every few months and enabling multi‑agent systems. The piece urged publishers to invest in AI models, tools and scaffolding to stay competitive as the technology becomes integral to content creation and distribution.
Good e‑Reader highlighted advances in AI‑powered text‑to‑speech technology, arguing that ebooks should offer instant multilingual voice options. The article said modern voice engines can produce natural, expressive narration and seamlessly switch languages, making books more accessible to visually impaired readers, dyslexic readers and multilingual audiences. It suggested that integrated voice options could reduce the need for separate audiobooks and open new revenue models for publishers.
A second Good e‑Reader post noted that major e‑reader brands—including Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Remarkable and Viwoods—continued offering holiday discounts after Black Friday. The article urged gift shoppers to take advantage of reduced prices and summarised the features of various devices, from color screens to note‑taking capabilities. The promotions reflect strong seasonal demand for dedicated reading devices.
The New Publishing Standard reported that Bangladesh’s Bangla Academy postponed the Amar Ekushey Book Fair to 20 February–15 March 2026 due to scheduling conflicts with national elections and Ramadan. Publishers criticised the decision, warning that it would disrupt traditional February celebrations and cut expected book releases to a fraction of normal levels. They called on the government to provide financial support to publishers whose sales have already suffered from previous disruptions.
Another TNPS article chronicled how Abu Dhabi’s Arabic Language Centre is reinventing Arabic publishing through digital initiatives. It launched a Digital Arabic Library in partnership with Amazon to give regional publishers international reach and hosted the Arabian Days festival, which combined literature with film, digital storytelling and AI. The report highlighted opportunities in the MENA book market and noted a translation project that aims to build a rights catalogue for global licensing.
TNPS wrote that the Guwahati Book Fair, running 24 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, will conclude Assam’s “Year of Books” initiative. The state government provided ₹ 40 crore in vouchers for employees and grants for emerging writers, while previous stops on the eight‑city tour generated sales of about ₹ 7 crore and attracted half a million visitors. Organisers said the fair offers publishers a first‑mover opportunity in a market strengthened by public investment in reading.
At Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Book Fair, a World Arabic Language Day panel explored strategies to expand Arabic literature’s global reach. TNPS reported that the Saudi book market is worth about $2.28 billion and is projected to grow to $3.21 billion by 2033. The fair hosted more than 1,000 publishers from two dozen countries and featured translation initiatives such as Tarjim and a new Saudi Publishing House, alongside impending regulations to encourage foreign investment.
A mobile book fair launched as part of the Jamaica Book Festival delivered bibliotherapy to communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. The TNPS report said the outreach programme stopped at schools and hospitals, engaging more than 200 children with storytelling and reading sessions. Organisers emphasised partnerships with corporate and government sponsors and noted that the mobile fair serves as a model for literary support in disaster recovery.
At the Istanbul International Book Fair, an Azerbaijani panel titled “The Common Turkic Literary Language in Azerbaijani Literature” promoted efforts to develop a shared Turkic literary language. The discussion highlighted Azerbaijani authors’ contributions and preparations for the centenary of the First Turkology Congress. Delegates said the initiative aims to foster greater cultural exchange across Turkic‑speaking nations.
TNPS covered the inaugural Addis Literature Festival, which took place at multiple venues in Addis Ababa. Organised by Culture Club Ethiopia and partners including the British Council and Hilton Addis Ababa, the festival offered networking sessions such as “Inspiring Future Writers” and “Women in Literature,” along with panels on cultural heritage. Organisers said the event complements the city’s book fair and aims to position Ethiopia as a regional hub for publishing and rights trading.
New Zealand’s NZ Herald reported that Waterstones dropped David Walliams from its children’s book festival after his publisher, HarperCollins, ended their relationship. The article said organisers did not provide details but that Walliams would still appear at separate pre‑booked events. The decision followed media reports on allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Frontlist reported that the Delhi High Court, hearing a writ petition filed by the Federation of Indian Publishers, raised concerns about the fairness of Competition Commission of India proceedings in an investigation involving major logistics firms. The division bench questioned ex‑parte orders, restrictions on cross‑examination and denial of access to records, and asked whether the CCI had observed principles of natural justice. The petition argues that procedural improprieties could harm publishers’ legal rights.
