Topic

Big Five

7 articles tagged with “Big Five”

Horror novel with CANCELLED stamp beside AI detection report on laptop screen — Hachette pulls Shy Girl

Hachette Cancels Shy Girl in Landmark AI Enforcement Action

Hachette Book Group has cancelled the planned US publication of horror novel Shy Girl by Mia Ballard and discontinued the UK edition after concluding that large portions of the book were AI-generated. The author denies personally using AI, claiming an associate she hired for editing and formatting may have run the text through an AI tool without her knowledge.

March 23, 2026The Bookseller

Hachette AI Fiction Shy Girl

Horror novel with CANCELLED stamp over AI circuit pattern — Hachette pulls Shy Girl over AI content concerns

AI & Publishing

Hachette Confirms Shy Girl Cancellation as Author Blames Editor and Pursues Legal Action

Hachette Book Group has confirmed it will not publish the US edition of horror novel Shy Girl and has discontinued UK sales, citing AI content concerns. Author Mia Ballard denies writing the book with AI, instead blaming an acquaintance she hired to edit the self-published original. Ballard says she is pursuing legal action and that the controversy has destroyed her mental health and reputation.

March 22, 2026TechCrunch

Hachette AI Fiction Shy Girl

Publisher Strategy

Big Five Publishers Sue Anna's Archive for Large-Scale Copyright Infringement

The five largest trade publishers have filed a coordinated lawsuit against Anna's Archive, the shadow library that indexes and provides access to millions of pirated books and academic papers, in what could become the most significant publishing copyright case since the Google Books litigation.

March 10, 2026Publishers Weekly

Traditional bookstore interior with old books and a modern tablet on the counter

Market Growth

The Book Market's Wake-Up Call: Why Traditional Publishers Must Adapt or Fall Behind

Trade revenues fell 9.4% in August 2025 while self-publishing grew at 16.7%. The US book market grew 4.4% in 2024, but traditional publishers' margins are being squeezed.

February 27, 2026Automateed / LinkedIn

self-publishing Big Five market share

Bustling international book fair with colorful publisher booths and flags from different countries

Publisher Strategy

HarperCollins Goes Global: Balancing International Scale with Local Market Insight

HarperCollins International is pursuing a global strategy balancing scale with local responsiveness, including targeted acquisitions like Crunchyroll for manga.

February 14, 2026LinkedIn (Edward Nawotka)

HarperCollins manga global publishing

Author book signing event in a modern bookstore with enthusiastic readers

Publisher Strategy

Penguin Random House Doubles Down on Author Empowerment and Data Transparency

Penguin Random House's Author Portal provides real-time sales figures, social media tutorials, and marketing resources for its authors.

February 13, 2026Penguin Random House U.S.

Penguin Random House author portal data transparency

Elderly person using a tablet with large adjustable text in a comfortable living room

Publisher Strategy

Simon & Schuster Leads Big Five with 'Born Accessible' E-books Initiative

Simon & Schuster became the first Big Five publisher to make all new e-books 'born accessible' in 2025, using AI with human oversight for alt text generation.

February 12, 2026LinkedIn (Edward Nawotka)

accessibility Simon & Schuster born accessible