Suzanne Arnold editor

LBF 2026: Pan Macmillan CEO Says Books Need to Be ‘as Urgent as Notifications’ In her Wednesday keynote address at the London Book Fair, Joanna Prior tackled the growing literacy crisis, arguing that “the decline of reading is a greater challenge to our industry than AI could ev...

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Reading crisis bigger threat to book trade than AI, Joanna Prior warns Pan Macmillan CEO Joanna Prior, speaking at the London Book Fair, warned industry figures of the existential threat posed by the reading crisis.

“The reality is this: we can no longer expect today’s reader to meet us on our terms; we have to meet them on theirs. Our challenge, therefore, isn’t to retreat from technology – it is to use it to radicalise our delivery.”

@thebookseller.com

www.thebookseller.com/news/reading...

SoA launches Human Authored logo in response to ‘flood of AI-generated books’

The Society of Authors has launched a 'Human Authored' scheme to 'help identify works written by humans in a market increasingly flooded by AI-generated books' 👇#BookSky

Generative engine optimisation (GEO) is complex because we have so little understanding of how LLMs work. 'GEO requires the LLM to have a “complex understanding of the book”, added Searsha Sadek.'

Publishers urged to take steps to improve chances of books being recommended by AI, LBF hears

Publishers are being urged to invest in generative engine optimisation to reshape metadata and make books more culturally embedded online 👇 #BookSky

'26.5% of non-fiction reviews in national newspapers are books by women, and women are far less likely to be shortlisted for, or win, major non-fiction prizes.'

Interesting piece, but I did laugh at 'Apparently, the nut jobs simultaneously pose an intolerable risk to the good functioning of the state and are so indispensable to the state’s good functioning that they must be forced to work with it, if necessary.'

I love this – so powerful.

Obviously I wish it weren't needed. But given that it is, great idea.

Thirteen US publishers bring lawsuit against pirate site Anna’s Archive

The Association of American Publishers and 13 publishers have filed a lawsuit against Anna’s Archives, a website that copies and distributes pirated books, used by some tech companies to train their AI models 👇 #BookSky

DuckDuckGo search results. I have searched for 'Madame Roger des Genettes' and the first search result is to do with letters from the author Flaubert to Mdm des Genettes. But above that are a lot of 'shopping' suggestions for French-language Mr Men books: Madame Vedette, Madame Prudente, Madame Proprette etc.

One of my more amusing search results – the first actual result is correct, but the shopping suggestions made me laugh 😆

#AmProofreading

Selfie working in UCL’s Institute of Archaeology library.

A fragment of ancient papyrus with writing on it.

Selfie with the VR Machu Picchu poster.

Photo in a classroom at the start of a lecture: Henry Salt and his first collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities, Marie Vandenbeusch and John Taylor

I’ve been at University College London today: working in the library, then handling ancient Egyptian objects in the Petrie Museum, then a quick trip to Shepherd’s Bush and virtual Machu Picchu, then more work and more Egyptology. Great day!

Selfie with Judith

The paperback book against a backdrop of blossom

From eco worrier to eco warrior – how Judith Leary-Joyce embraced a new career as an eco-influencer and number-one author.

With thanks to Judith for making the time to meet.

www.suzannearnold.com/blog/becomin...

Selfie sitting at a laptop outside.

This #WorldBookDay, I reflect on how lucky I am to have grown up with books and to have somehow become a grown-up who pays the bills by reading.

And as if that weren’t blessing enough, the sun’s out and I can work outside today – bliss. 🌞📚

#AmEditing #FreelanceLife @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social

PA urges government to scrap copyright exemption and let book trade help UK become 'AI superpower'

The Publishers Association has urged the government in a new AI report to rule out a copyright exception for AI to allow publishing to help the UK become an 'AI content superpower' 👇 #BookSky

Opinion: Writing with the Elephant in the Room An author reflects on the power of creativity during times of social and political tumult.

Interesting piece on writing while the world feels so scary.

@booklife.bsky.social

booklife.com/authors/03/0...

I'm doing a writing class, to help me with developmental/structural editing. A couple of days ago, this assignment I'm working on was 'in good shape' (I thought/hoped). Now, I seem to be sneezing suspect similes all over the page while simultaneously not actually knowing any words. Oh dear.

Highlights February 2026 • Copy-edited economic thought leadership • Proofread a photo book on South America • Copy-edited articles for the 2026 Journal of Egyptian Archaeology • Started copy-editing an Egyptology book

Had a great mix of work in February, and some time off with my parents.

March is busy but just as varied: Egyptology, thought leadership, annual reports, even a cookbook. Bring it on!

#AmEditing #FreelanceLife

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

ICYMI: A number of literary agencies are adding amendments to their submission guidelines urging authors not to use AI in their submissions, as signs of its use become more prevalent 👇 #BookSky

I know this isn't funny, but 😂

There's been quite a bit of this lately, and I really don't know how they don't see it.

But not as hurtful as having to use software that's less efficient now than it was a year ago because we keep having to click to tell it we don't want AI to do anything. When you have actual useful tools, great, I'm here for them. But in the meantime, stop making my work take longer!

I know it's not funny but 😂

Screengrab from HMRC website for finding software for Making Tax Digital: For security, we deleted your answers.

Great, thanks, HMRC. That'll help me work my way through the list.

So glad I clicked on the option not to delete my answers...

#FreelanceLife

Selfie sitting at a laptop on a sunny balcony. Next to me are a pot of tea and a plant box.

Editing outside for the first time in 2026 🌞🎉

#AmEditing

Difficult but important read.

Title slide: Preliminary results from the 2024 University of Manchester excavation season at Tell Nabasha.

Excellent start to the weekend with @drnickynielsen.bsky.social and the Friends of the Petrie Museum.

Fantastic lecture. Sorry not to be there in person but very glad we logged in online.

I missed this last week. Another good excuse to carry on reading.

(Yes, I know it’s a serious topic. But it’s also good news.)

It’s harder to judge clearly and assess information when your mental health is suffering, and tiredness or overwhelm don’t help. Good to see this being discussed.

A pin badge for World Book Day in the shape of an AA battery, with the text ‘powered by reading’.

Today’s post – so true 🎉

@worldbookdayuk.bsky.social

Non-fiction: a reckoning Sales may be shaky, but non-fiction's value is not.

'When it comes to reckoning with "the things that most need to be reckoned with", it is non-fiction books which, above all other media, are helping us do so.'

(Warning: the article refers to high-profile crimes against women)

@thebookseller.com

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I went to this event a couple of years ago and can strongly recommend it for anyone interested in indexes.