Adventures in Publishing-land

Did AI Kill This Book? Plus: UK Authors Win AI Battle & BookTok Charts Go Official

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:14 GMT

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This week, we lead with the scandal that has the industry in a frenzy, with Hachette pulling the release of Mia Ballard’s horror novel Shy Girl after viral claims that the prose was generated by AI. We discuss the YouTube video with 1.2 million views that started the fire, the author’s defense involving an "acquaintance," and what this means for the future of "human" storytelling.

Staying on AI (when don't we talk about AI?), we discuss the UK government's decision to axe plans for a broad AI copyright exception, and ask if this is a victory for authors. Plus, we chat about the announcement that NielsenIQ and TikTok are launching a monthly Top 20 chart in the UK that combines real sales data with social media engagement.

00:00 Intro

01:24 Victory for Authors - UK Scraps AI Exception

10:36 Not Shy of Shortcuts - Hachette Ditches AI Novel

22:46 Tok of the Pops - Official UK Chart launched

30:06 Off Script: Stranger Than Fiction

36:42 Final Chapter - Pitt-Perfect Drama

Links:

Axed AI Copyright Exemption Welcomed By Book Trade

Hachette Horror Novel Shy Girl Suspended

Official BookTok Chart Set to Launch in the UK

Adventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!

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The "Human Authored" Badge: Can a Logo Save Publishing? Plus - Grammarly Sued

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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This episode of Adventures in Publishing-land dives deep into the battle for the "human soul" of the industry, featuring a frontline interview on the newest weapons in the author’s arsenal. We sit down with Anna Ganley and Sam Blake from the Society of Authors to discuss their new "Human Authored" scheme which launched at the London Book Fair. We explore the strategy behind the new logo and the message behind "Don't Steal This Book," the empty protest volume signed by thousands of authors including Kazuo Ishiguro and Richard Osman.

Speaking of the London Book Fair, we also tackle the "Six-Figure Fever" that grips the industry every spring. If the headlines about massive advances are making you feel disheartened, we discuss why you need to ignore the hype and focus on your own journey. Plus, we look into the class-action lawsuit facing Grammarly and Superhuman, and discuss the latest legal action by publishers against a pirate books site.

00:00 Intro

00:53 The LBF Hype Cycle - Run Your Own Race

07:24 Human Authored - Our interview with the Society of Authors

36:12 Walk the Plank - Suing Anna's Archive

44:20 Grammarly's Gamble - Not So Superhuman

51:57 Off Script: Stranger Than Fiction

Links:

Human Authored - learn more about the scheme and how to sign up

Thirteen US Publishers Bring Suit Against Anna's Archive

Grammarly Superhuman Expert Review Article

And why they are being sued

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Agents Rail Against AI, Influencer Imprints & Genre Snobbery

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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This week on Adventures in Publishing-land, we’re heading to San Francisco to look at Bindery Books. This startup is turning "bookfluencers" into acquiring editors, letting communities choose their own bestsellers. Is this the "Taylor’s Version" of publishing, or a risky bet on "tastemakers"? Plus, we discuss top literary agencies sounding the alarm on "formulaic" and "flattened" AI-generated queries, and also return to the topic of genre snobbery, and why fantasy is making everyone think again about it.

00:00 Intro

01:17 Facile & Formulaic - Agents Ban AI Queries

12:21 The Tastemaker Model - BookTok Becomes The Editor

21.39 Myth-understandings - Fighting Genre Snobbery

34:35 - Off Script: Stranger Than Fiction

39:53 Final Chapter - A Wonderful New Take on Superheroes

Links:

Literary agents urge writers to avoid AI as they see ‘change in nature of submissions’

Bindery Books Influencer-led Publishing Model

Myth, monsters and making sense of a disenchanted world: why everyone is reading fantasy

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How AI 'Wrote' 200 'Books' a Year and The Wuthering Heights Adaptation Debate

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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This week, we’re unpacking the controversy surrounding Emerald Fennell’s "Wuthering Heights" adaptation. From historically inaccurate corsets to Margot Robbie’s "raunchy" take on Cathy, we debate how far a retelling can stray before it loses the source material entirely.

Plus, we look at how one writer used AI to publish 200 novels in a single year, allegedly earning six figures. But is she a writer? And after a century of dominance, are paperbacks shuffling toward extinction?

00:00 Intro

01:25 200 'Books' A Year - The AI Romance Gold Rush?

12:48 Pulp Fiction No More - The Death of Paperbacks?

23.35 Raunchy Brontë - Straying Too Far From the Source?

37:38 - Off Script: Stranger Than Fiction

43:15 Final Chapter - Best RomComs

Links:

Can AI Chatbots Write Romance? NY Times Article

The Death of the Mass Market Paperback?

How Different Is Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” Compared to Emily Brontë’s Book?

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Gen AI’s impact on creatives, Editing old books for modern readers, and Gen Z’s Literacy Crisis

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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In this week's episode of Adventures in Publishing-land, we dive into the heated debate surrounding Val McDermid and the use of sensitivity readers to revise backlist titles. Should books be treated as historical artifacts, or is updating them a necessary step for modern audiences?

Plus, we’re tackling two massive shifts in the industry: We break down the Society of Authors' "Brave New World" report, which reveals a staggering 86% of creators are already seeing their earnings hit by Gen AI. And the Literacy Crisis: Are we losing a generation of readers? We discuss the alarming reports of Gen Z arriving at college unable to read full sentences and what "scanning" culture means for the future of the book.

00:00 Intro

01:00 Brave New World? AI Already Impacting Creatives

16:23 Editing the Past - Should Old Books Be Revised?

27:52 Can't Read or Won't Read? Is There a Gen Z Literacy Crisis?

39:33 Stranger Than Fiction

44:40 Final Chapter

Links:

All 2.4m of Britain’s creative workers are at risk — and we know why

Brave New World? Justice for Creators in the age of Gen AI

Val McDermid was assigned ‘sensitivity reader’ to cut offensive language from old books

Gen Z are arriving to college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates

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Killer Publicity with The Traitors, Romantasy Takeovers, and Scam AI Marketing Emails

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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We're back! On this week's episode, we discuss the show everyone is talking about - The Traitors! With crime author Harriet Tyce's appearance, we chat about the impact it has had on her book sales, and also wonder which reality show we would choose to go on to boost our publicity (there is also some spoiler discussion about this season of the UK Traitors, so be careful if you are not up-to-date!)

Plus, we talk about big money's interest in Romantasy, and whether that will crowd out the market for other genres, and also discuss the rapid rise of scam marketing emails that are being sent to authors thanks to AI...

00:00 Intro

01:34 Dollars & Dragons - Is Big Money Skewing Fiction?

16:52 The Flattery Trap - Predatory Promo Offers

27:30 Killer Marketing? - The Traitors Effect

44:14 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration

49:33 Off Script - Final Chapter: What we've been watching and reading

Links:

Chernin Group invests in Romantasy publisher Entangled

Authors hit with deluge of scam emails from fake marketers

Why crime writers make good Traitors contestants

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Ireland’s UBI Experiment, Garlic Mayo Marketing & Indie Press Panic

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:30:00 GMT

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On this week's episode, we discuss Ireland's UBI experiment for artists and writers, and why we would love to see other countries follow suit (but aren't holding our breath). Plus, we look at why indie presses are pressing the panic button, and discuss the latest BookTok marketing scheme - theme-scented books (a topic Tariq gets very excited about!)

00:00 Intro

01:10 Luck of the Irish - UBI for writers

13:45 Indie Presses - Time for trade support?

24:34 Smell of Success? TikTok, Trends and Garlic Mayo

39:56 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration

46:18 Off Script - Horror Movie updates and True Crime chat

Links:

Ireland's Basic income for the Arts Scheme made permanent

Indie Presses in existential crisis call for support

Garlic Mayo Book Marketing

Nadine's Stranger than Fiction story

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Is Publishing Playing It Too Safe? The Booker, Fanfic & the Future of Fiction

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:30:00 GMT

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On this week's episode, we are talking about a scarcity of books for the Booker Prize and wondering if that is due to poor books or too narrow a category for prizes. Plus, we join the Alchemised train and wonder if fanfic turned to publishing gold shows publishers are unwilling to gamble on new stories, and more generally discuss how risk-averse the industry can be and why that narrows the chances for new authors.

00:00 Intro

01:04 Anthropic Settlement Update

03:22 Booker Prize in crisis?

17:46 Alchemised success - Turning FanFic into Gold

24.20 Betting on Bestsellers - Do Publishers Play the Odds?

36:56 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration

43:14 Off Script - Our Favourite Horror Movies

Links:

Doyle says Booker Prize struggled to find good novels

Alchemised - Fan fiction turned into a bestseller

Why Romance Readers can't quit Dramione

The Publishing Industry has a Gambling Problem

Nadine's Stranger than Fiction story

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AI Settlement in Trouble, Cosy Crime Debate & Publishing Gimmicks

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT

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On this week's episode we share some exciting awards news involving Tariq and Marco (both winners at the recent Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival!), Nadine reveals a new cover (check her instagram to see it!), plus we discuss the latest in the Anthropic settlement, wonder about whether cosy crime is a reductive term, and in the wake of the Evelyn Clark author reveal, wonder whether marketing gimmicks work for the general public. Plus, Nadine finds another strange story to inspire some fiction, and we pay tribute to Robert Redford with a discussion of our favourite movies featuring him.

00:00 Intro

00:26 Bloody Scotland Prize Winners!

05:26 Is the Anthropic AI settlement in trouble?

17:38 Richard Osman says "cosy crime" is a reductive term - is he right?

28:01 Evelyn Clark reveal - are hidden author reveals marketing genius or gimmicks?

38:22 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration

44:56 Off Script - Robert Redford - Our Favourite Movies

Links:

Judge stalls Anthropic settlement

Richard Osman says cosy crime is reductive

Evelyn Clark reveal

Nadine's Stranger Than Fiction story

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AI Victory for Authors? Plus, US Import Chaos & James Patterson’s Giveaway for Authors

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT

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In this episode of Adventures in Publishing-land, we dive into three big stories shaking up the book world: Anthropic’s historic AI settlement with authors; the new US import rules that could hurt UK publishers and authors; and James Patterson’s latest initiative to help aspiring writers finish their books. Plus, in our Off Script section, we ask: how closely should TV and film adaptations stick to their source material?

00:00 Intro

02:40 Anthropic's AI settlement with authors - A victory for authors?

17:21 US Import Changes - not so Tariffic for Authors

25:46 James Patterson Giveaway - A Gift for Aspiring Authors

38:13 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration

44:03 Off Script - Moore's Law - Is Prior Knowledge Vital for Adaptations?

Links:

Anthropic agree settlement

Details of settlement

Search the Libgen library for your book

Publishers worried about US tariffs

James Patterson's $50k giveaway

Nadine's dark inspiration story

Ron Moore on God of War

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Are fans too entitled when it comes to expectations on creators? Plus - is AI writing a real threat?

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:30:00 GMT

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On this episode, we discuss the George RR Martin Worldcon incident, and wonder if fans are growing too entitled when it comes to expectations from authors. Plus, we look at Mark Lawrence's AI vs human authors experiment and discuss the results and what it means for authors, plus as a book with admitted AI content wins a prestigious award, we wonder what it means for the future of writing.

00:00 Intro

01:25 AI v human authors - Mark Lawrence's test has surprising results

11:16 AI-written award winning books - A Slippery Slope?

24:18 Game of Groans - Has Fan Entitlement Gone Too Far?

37:15 Off Script - Nadine finds another grisly real story for inspiration, plus Marco seeks sartorial advice

Links:

Mark Lawrence AI survey

Rei Qudan novel story

GRRM gets rude question from fan at Worldcon

Nadine's Stranger than fiction story

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AI Slop: Will it drown out real writers? Plus: are male novelists really being forced out of publishing?

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

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Will AI slop writing flood the market and drown out real authors? It's a legitimate concern that we discuss on this week's show. Plus, we ask if book awards need celebrity judges, and take a look at a story that has raised its head once again: the death of the male novelist. Is it greatly exaggerated? Then in Off Script, Nadine finds another "stranger than fiction" story for us, while we also have a quick chat about the latest movies we've seen.

00:00 Intro

01:38 The Final Chapter of Unbound?

09:05 The Salt Path Scandal continues

14:38 AI Slop writing drowning out real books?

26:54 And Just Like That... Do Book Awards need celebrity judges?

34:34 Chronicle of a Death Foretold? Are Male Novelists Really Being Forced Out?

41:37 Off Script - Nadine finds another grisly real story for inspiration, plus movie chat

Links:

Unbound goes into administration

New Publisher appears for Unbound authors

AI slop books risk harming consumer confidence

Sarah Jessica Parker and the Booker Awards

Is the Male Novelist dying out?

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Fake Memoir? What's going on with The Salt Path? Plus: Author deals and AI comes for translators

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

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We discuss the scandal surrounding The Salt Path, the bestselling book that was turned into a movie - but was it all too good to be true? Plus, as Sarah J. Maas pens a huge rights deal, we ask whether normal authors can ever dream of things like that, and we also discuss the launch of Globescribe.ai and whether AI translation could ever match humans. Plus, Nadine offers a grisly answer to the question "where do you get your ideas?"

00:00 Intro

01:11 McIlvanney Award Longlist

01:53 New CWA Chair

04:37 Sarah J. Maas Licensing Deal

14:17 The Salt Path Scandal

26:17 Lost in Translation: Can AI really replace translators

35:51 Off Script - Nadine reveals a grisly answer to the question "where do you get your ideas?"

47:17 Margin Notes - Listener Mail

Links:

Sarah J. Maas Deal in the Hollywood Reporter

The Salt Path scandal - The Observer Story

Penguin publishing responds

Globescribe.ai story

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The Unbound Saga; Authors and Social Media; Literary Estates & Copyright - and Superman

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT

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Welcome to the very first episode of Adventures in Publishing-land! Join us as we discuss some of the biggest (and strangest) stories in publishing over the past few weeks.

This week:

00:17 Intro

01:32 The Unbound Saga continues

15:19 Authors hounded off social media - is it worth it?

24: 41 Literary Estates and copyright - how long should it last?

38:05 James Frey - the self-proclaimed literary bad boy is back, but should anyone care?

44:55 Off Script - Nadine and Marco argue over the latest cinematic iteration of Superman

Unbound

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/unbound-authors-will-not-receive-unpaid-royalty-payments-until-new-publisher-boundless-is-cash-stable

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/boundless-position-morally-and-financially-unacceptable-says-unbound-co-founder-john-mitchinson

Social media bullying

https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-buzz/ali-hazelwood-leaves-instagram-after-bullying-over-hunger-games-joke-controversy-explained-article-152076401

Conan Doyle Literary Estate Deal

James Frey

https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/pompidou-plus/magazine/article/james-frey-i-use-artificial-intelligence-because-i-want-to-write-the-best-book-possible

https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/next-to-heaven-james-frey-review-zvg5mnftt

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/james-freys-new-cancelled-guy-sex-novel-is-as-bad-as-it-sounds

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