The Roundup: Five of the Biggest Publishing Stories of April 2024

Welcome to Five On Fridays, my weekly straight-no-chaser newsletter where I help demystify the publishing industry for new writers and early-career authors. Let’s jump right in.

For this month’s roundup, I wanted to spotlight writers who made waves in April by telling stories rooted in resistance, rebellion, and the pursuit of freedom. At a time when it feels like so many voices are falling silent—or being silenced—in the face of mounting threats to democracy and free expression, these storytellers are refusing to stay quiet. From Sunrise on the Reaping to Sinners, creators across publishing, film, and television are making one thing clear: Resistance is never futile.

Hungry for The Hunger Games

The second prequel in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series, Sunrise on the Reaping, continued to rank high on bestseller lists, buoyed by casting talk surrounding the accompanying film’s 2026 release. With this prequel, which centers on Haymitch Abernathy’s harrowing experience during the 50th Hunger Games, Collins sends a message about the need for rebellion and resistance, no matter the price.

Khartoum

The indie documentary Khartoum, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the lives of fives Sudanese residents as they navigate the aftermath of the country’s military coup. Four filmmakers worked together on the project, and when they were forced to leave the Sudan before they could finish filming, they met in Nairobi, Kenya to complete the project. The film captures the acts of defiance of the Sudanese residents and the resilience of both the residents and filmmakers.

The Lilac People

In his historical novel The Lilac People, author Milo Todd follows the life of an openly trans man, Bertie, in 1930s prewar Berlin. As Nazis rise to power, Bertie quickly loses his right to exist. But Bertie and his partner, Sophie, refuse to go down without a fight, even when Allied forces come for them too. Inspired by real events, the story sheds light on trans history most are unaware of.

Happy Land

Also drawing inspiration from true events, Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s Happy Land follows a woman who returns to her North Carolina hometown only to discover a hidden kingdom in the mountains with a link to her family's heritage. The novel explores themes of ancestry, legacy, and resistance against a growing tide of erasure and marginalization.

Sinners

Disclaimer: The sight of blood in movies makes me sick to my stomach. That coupled with the fact that I’m prone to nightmares means I have yet to see Ryan Coogler’s highly acclaimed Sinners, despite wanting to very, very much. I’m including Sinners on this list, not only because it confronts generational trauma and the ongoing struggle for liberation, but because it does all this in a genre-bending movie that’s defied box office expectations and almost single-handedly brought movie-going back in vogue. My sincere hope is that the success of Sinners reminds publishers and Hollywood that there will always be people who want to read and watch stories of resistance and liberation.

That wraps up this week’s Five On Fridays. Thank you for subscribing and reading. If you found this newsletter helpful, please share it on social media and forward it to your writer friends. Happy writing!

-Grace