Jamie, Melissa and Naomi are back. Naomi's shares her first FantasyCon experience before they get into the publishing news, which this week features curious revenue increases, political red tape and AI controversies.
In this episode:
Book Sales vs. Revenue: Fresh data shows UK book market revenue increased by 1.5% in the first half of 2026, but the actual volume of books sold fell by 1.1%. The hosts discuss how expensive special editions are driving profits and debate whether buying books and reading books have become two completely separate hobbies.
Playing It Safe in Publishing: With Hachette UK attributing a 4% revenue growth largely to mega-authors like Rebecca Yarros and Freida McFadden, the hosts explore how publishers are abandoning the "shiny debut" in favour of risk-averse, established IP. They also look at how this trend is bleeding into retail, with Waterstones increasingly opting for older, proven hits for their Book of the Month.
Defining "New Adult": Following Grace Walker's win of the inaugural New Adult Book Prize for The Merge, the hosts try to pin down exactly what the "New Adult" genre actually is. They explore how it differs from YA and whether it serves as a "second coming of age" for characters navigating independent life.
AI Accusations & The Caine Prize: A prestigious African short story prize has instituted human-centered vetting after its recent winner faced high-profile AI accusations. Melissa highlights the near impossibility of proving AI usage and the danger of these accusations being weaponised for racial profiling.
The Sally Rooney & Faber Controversy: The hosts untangle the complicated bureaucratic mess surrounding Faber ceasing the UK distribution of Sally Rooney's books. They discuss the anti-terrorist charter that sparked the mutual decision after Rooney pledged financial support to Palestine Action, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the UK government.
Author Q&A - Are Writing Courses Worth It?: A listener asks for the hosts' collective opinion on paid writing courses like Curtis Brown Creative. Naomi and Melissa share their experiences, concluding that while courses are wonderful for building community and finding structure, they are absolutely not a mandatory expense for securing a traditional publishing deal.
Naomi Gibson, author of Every Line of You, Game Over Girl, Man Muse Monster
Melissa Welliver, author of The Undying Tower, My Love Life and the Apocalypse, Soulmates and Other Ways to Die, To the Death
Jamie Greenwood, creator & host of The Write and Wrong Podcast
