Willkommen

The Frankfurt Book Fair is off to a strong start, closing out its first full day with hard-hitting conversations about IP hunting, reader engagement, and authors’ responsibility to protect the “sanctuary” of literature in a chaotic world. Though the Buchmesse’s rights landscape looks to be dominated by escapist fiction and self-help, many agents expect horror to join in the spotlight this year as well. Meanwhile, we’ve rounded up all the buzziest rights on offer from U.S. agents at the fair. Stateside, ICv2’s latest white paper on the comics business presented at New York Comic Con, charted the roaring comeback of comic store sales—thanks, in part, to a growing contingent of Gen Z customers. In less sunny news, publishing industry sales took a tumble in July. Pop star Laufey will release her debut children’s book in April, per AP. The Guardian talked with Colm Tóibín about the press he cofounded to publish newly minted Nobel laureate László Krasznahorkai, and considered the reality of celebrating literature in a warzone at this year’s Lviv BookForum. The Today show chatted with the founders of Silent Book Club about why quiet reading has become the hottest new group activity. And the Atlantic rounded up its 65 “essential” picture books.