Indie Author & Publishing News
Local content is fresh.
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-25T16:01:53.000Z
"AI slop" critics take note: parallel structure and antithesis aren't AI tics, they're Aristotle's rhetoric, still shaping language 2,300 years later. The post Zeitgeist: Why AI Writes Better than You: It Reads Aristotle and You Don’t appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-25T16:01:45.000Z
Amazon is destroying rare books to train AI, an AI-writing tool beats detectors, author AI controversies grow, and Anthropic checks are delayed. The post AI Read Aristotle That’s Why It Writes Better Than You appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-25T09:00:00.000Z
If you haven’t heard back from an agent, you might consider sending the agent a nudge. Here’s how.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-19T16:00:00.000Z
Cincotti strives to bring back the magic found in iconic early 2000s romantic comedies: a whimsical feel paired with wholesome, relatable characters.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-19T16:00:00.000Z
Since Edelweiss changed hands recently and increased prices on publishers, there’s been an opening for a competitor to step into the space.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-19T16:00:00.000Z
Activity books are booming as screen-free entertainment, panic over Gen Z’s reading habits is overblown, and more recent news.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-19T16:00:00.000Z
Agent Brent Taylor has launched July First Literary, specializing in commercial fiction. They are not yet open to submissions.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-19T16:00:00.000Z
A former bookstore owner in Chicago has launched an online platform that connects readers with local author events and literary programming.
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-08-19T14:09:25.000Z
Hello!
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-18T12:59:11.000Z
Jonathan: I’m going to provide some context for what happened this week, which is the genesis of this zeitgeist idea. Lindsay Clancy was in the news, and there was a lot of arguing about it on social media. Allie Beth Stuckey jumped on the story, and it created a lot of conversation, feedback, and rage. Lindsay […] The post Zeitgeist: Clinical Pluralism: The Writing Technique That Trains Women to Excuse Evil appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-18T12:53:30.000Z
For Week Ending August 14, 2026 This week, Barnes & Noble dropped a corporate memo that ends the easy front-table book signing. A copyright lawsuit stretched four years and finished with a $3.4 million fee against the plaintiff. Claude is now stamping an invisible watermark on every text you paste in, and it travels with […] The post Barnes & Noble Just Banned the Front-Table Author Signing Nationwide appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-13T09:00:00.000Z
Inexperienced authors may believe generative AI use improves their manuscript, but there’s a cost—extra fees charged by freelance editors.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-12T16:00:00.000Z
Building on Catholic Bible Press, the effort will expand into spiritual classics, theology, devotional works, and memoir.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-12T16:00:00.000Z
Spotify will roll out an AI Persona badge that signals an artist’s identity may be AI generated and does not represent a real person.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-12T16:00:00.000Z
Former president Barack Obama will discuss six books that shaped his life as part of a limited-series Audible podcast launching on Sept. 24.
Source: Jane Friedman
Published: 2026-08-12T16:00:00.000Z
Publishers don’t fact-check memoir, HarperCollins CEO calls for industry-wide solutions on AI, and more industry news.
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-10T16:01:28.000Z
Discover what the shift in music preferences signals and how to apply it to your writing and marketing. The post Zeitgeist: Why Gen Z Is Abandoning Hip-Hop Radio for Country Music appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-10T15:45:38.000Z
Libro.fm expands ebooks to 5,000 indie stores, while AI disrupts a $2 million book auction. HarperCollins grows 15%, Fable reaches 5 million users, and AI fiction nears 30% of Amazon’s genre catalog. The post AI Fiction Seizes 27.5% of KDP’s Genre Catalog appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-05T07:02:00.000Z
Discover effective author website SEO, AIO, GEO strategies to secure your name on Google and showcase your books effectively. The post SEO for Author Websites: The Only Guide You Need in 2026 appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-03T16:00:50.000Z
Declining institutional trust in science is fueling a cultural shift toward supernatural fiction—magic, witches, and vampires across every genre. The post Zeitgeist: How Science Skepticism Is Reshaping Popular Fiction appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-08-03T15:57:25.000Z
AALA's new pay-to-play agent rules, Substack's faulty AI detector, publishing's low AI adoption, and the supernatural fiction surge. The post Fauci’s Diary, Joe Rogan, and the Magic Boom in Fiction appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-29T15:02:00.000Z
How to navigate leftist violence and protect your family as an influencer. The post Zeitgeist: How to Navigate Leftist Violence as an Influencer appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-29T07:02:00.000Z
Unlock the potential of BookFunnel for authors. Learn how to grow your newsletter subscribers and engage readers effectively. The post The Comprehensive Guide to BookFunnel appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-28T15:58:14.000Z
Discover how you can incorporate disasters into your story to save lives. The post Zeitgeist: Saving People Through Stories appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-28T15:53:58.000Z
Literary agents can now charge for marketing, indie print revenue jumped 75%, the $1.5B Anthropic settlement was approved, and AI may have crossed the AGI line. The post The Digital vs. Physical War: AI Companies Are Pulping Books by the Pallet appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-22T07:02:00.000Z
Discover how split testing can help you write a book readers will love and help you sell that book to the right readers. The post Why Your Cover, Blurb, and Hook Are All Just Guesses appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-21T19:44:33.000Z
Post-literate America, the Google Gemini lawsuit, AI audiobooks winning, and indie authors out-earning traditional. Plus: is the debate hurting your creativity? The post The Atlantic Just Declared the Age of Reading Is Over appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-21T19:44:29.000Z
Uncover the real conversation as writers compare indie and traditional publishing. What defines success in writing? The post Zeitgeist: Trad Publishers Sell Fewer Books Than Indie Authors appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-15T07:00:00.000Z
Finding out how to make an audiobook can be easier than you think. Learn affordable ways to bring your book to life. The post The 5 Tiers of Audiobooks: Which One Should You Publish? appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-13T19:13:38.000Z
Two U.S. military veterans discuss how attitudes toward service members have changed since the Gulf War, the rise of military “zero-defect culture,” the impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal and COVID-era policies on morale and recruitment, and how these shifts are influencing a new generation of military fiction. The post Zeitgeist: How Shifting Public Attitudes on the U.S. Military Are Reshaping Storytelling appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-13T19:11:37.000Z
A summer 2026 K-lytics report reveals fantasy titles are outselling science fiction by nearly four to one, driven largely by romantasy and the rapidly growing LitRPG subgenre. The post Zeitgeist: Cozy Fantasy and LitRPG SURGE as Hottest Niches in 2026 appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-13T19:07:57.000Z
Amazon expands KDP’s 70% royalty to $12.99, authors battle book piracy, AI audiobooks spark controversy, and new K-lytics data reveals Fantasy’s booming market. Plus: Spotify, Xbox layoffs, EU surveillance, and more publishing news. The post The Week That Changed Indie Publishing: KDP Royalties, Book Pirates, and AI Audio Theft appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-07-12T10:25:23.000Z
No Romantasy, Erotica, or Woke Books Allowed
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-08T16:02:00.000Z
Explore the rise of vigilante fiction as it captivates audiences and challenges traditional storytelling in books and films. The post Zeitgeist: Why Vigilante Stories Are Seeing Chart Topping Popularity appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-08T07:01:00.000Z
Learn how author estate planning can ensure your writings are preserved and managed by the right people after you are gone. The post Estate Planning for Authors: How to Protect Your Books (and Your Family) After You Die appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-07T13:10:50.000Z
According to The Fate of Empires, a 1976 essay by British General Sir John Glubb, empires come with an expiration date. That date is 250 years. America hits that number this weekend, and half the internet has noticed. For some, the intense celebration this weekend is an act of defiance, that we are different, we […] The post Zeitgeist: Happy Birthday, America. History Says You Should Be Dead appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-07T13:10:10.000Z
America turns 250 from a publishing revolution and your KDP dashboard. A founding father craft lesson, plus KDP terminations, Deckle 1.3 update, Fable 5 safety, and empire death clock. The post 250 Years Ago, Indie Publishing Made America appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-07-01T07:12:00.000Z
Find out what to do if your Amazon account is suspended. Learn the steps to recover your account and get back to publishing. The post Why Amazon is Terminating Innocent Authors appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-06-30T10:30:41.000Z
Last Day of the Based Book Romance Sale
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-29T16:36:52.000Z
BookFunnel launches multimedia bundles Amazon can't match, KDP's Global Fund grows while traditional publishing shrinks, a prize goes to a story flagged as 100% AI, Kobo rejects 45% of submissions to fight AI, Apple raises Mac prices, and the Pope has a message for every author. The post New BookFunnel Features CRUSH Amazon appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-06-25T15:25:57.000Z
Now Through June 30
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-06-24T17:49:39.000Z
This morning, when The Based Book Romance Sale went live, the Amazon links for over a dozen books that had been there when we set the sale up were dead.
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-24T16:02:00.000Z
A break down of the UK rape gang inquiry report: its staggering scope, why British citizens are afraid to speak, and what authors can do about it. The post Zeitgeist: The UK Rape Gang Inquiry Report Is Out appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-06-24T08:30:07.000Z
Now Through June 30
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-24T07:02:00.000Z
Discover why being a podcast guest is more effective than hiring a publicist. Learn how to generate publicity and sales on a budget. The post Author’s PR Playbook: How to Get Media Coverage Without a Publicist appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-22T19:52:24.000Z
Amazon smashes the Kindle Unlimited record, Gavin Newsom buys his way onto the NYT bestseller list, the US government kills the most powerful AI model available, MailerLite slashes free accounts, and a suppressed UK report hits 32 million views. The post Kindle Unlimited Pays Indie Authors Record-Breaking Royalties appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-17T16:05:00.000Z
Foreigners are falling in love with America's heartland, barbecue, and massive portions — and it turns out culture makes the best fiction settings. The post Zeitgeist: In a News Scene Dominated By The Heavy, Let’s Take a Look At the Fun Around the World appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-17T07:00:00.000Z
If you feel like an imposter author, discover tips on the editing process, word order rules, and why Grammarly may be quietly ruining your prose. The post How to Level Up Your Writing With Chris Fox appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-16T16:52:33.000Z
Women aren't buying new books, AI is fixing manuscript pacing, and a $10 tool builds your entire book promo schedule. Here's what the data says. The post Men Buy Books and Women Borrow Books appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-06-12T02:04:48.000Z
Sign Up Today! Sale Starts Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-11T07:00:00.000Z
Learn how promo stacking can rescue a dead book and reach new readers. Amazon ad specialist Bryan Canter shares the exact services, order, and budget to make it work. The post How to Revive a Dead Book With Promo Stacking appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-10T18:45:19.000Z
Uncover the challenges faced by Gen Z men feeling alienated from institutions and seeking solutions for the future, and discover how authors can help change it. The post Zeitgeist: Gen Z Men See the System Rigged Against Them appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-09T21:43:30.000Z
Publishing news for indie authors: Payhip adds free sales tax handling, libraries flag ebook checkout fraud, LGBTQ children's book sales collapse, Audible launches a loyalty program, a $107 app challenges Vellum and Scrivener, AI brain fry hits creative workers, and what storytellers must know about Gen Z men. The post Will “Free” Libby Ebooks Bankrupt Libraries? appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-06-03T07:03:00.000Z
Novel Marketing patron gift for June: get free lifetime access to my course when you become a patron this month. The post Why I’m Giving Away a $249 Course This Month appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-31T03:25:52.000Z
Explore the pope's encyclical on AI, a profound critique urging transparency and human oversight in artificial intelligence. The post Zeitgeist: Pope Leo XIV Gives Catholic Novelists Green Light to Use AI appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-31T03:12:55.000Z
KDP lowers print costs, AI pirates monetize stolen audiobooks, authors lose Meta lawsuit standing, the Enhanced Games flop, and Pope Leo XIV embraces AI. The post No ISBN Means No Copyright Protection for Indie Authors appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-30T22:53:11.000Z
Over 5000 Based Books Sold!
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-27T07:00:00.000Z
What makes the Novel Marketing Conference different from other conferences? Get details on topics, dates, and availability for the 2027 Novel Marketing Conference. The post Announcing the 2027 Novel Marketing Conference appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-27T01:32:28.000Z
Explore the trends in baby names in 2025. Discover how names reflect clarity, light, and strength and the changing zeitgeist. The post Zeitgeist: Light, Fire, and Clarity: What the Latest Baby Name Data Tells Us About the Shifting Culture appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-27T01:22:26.000Z
Explore the latest trends affecting authors: declining nonfiction sales and the impact of podcasts on traditional publishing. The post The Publishing Echo Chamber Nobody Will Admit Exists appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-26T11:37:04.000Z
Sale Ends Midnight PDT Tonight!
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-24T19:46:52.000Z
Planetary Scientist Makes Hard SF Meet Deep Time
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-23T13:02:29.000Z
Over 2000 Based Books Sold; Three Days to Go!
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-22T11:24:53.000Z
Author Shares Back Catalog in the Based Book Sale
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-21T11:00:15.000Z
Over 800 Based Books Sold; Six Days to Go!
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-20T20:00:54.000Z
Stories made by people who hate them: why faithful adaptations like Epic: The Musical earn billion-stream success while Hollywood's deconstructed reboots keep failing, and what authors can learn from the pattern. The post Zeitgeist: Stories Made by People Who Hate Them appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-20T19:54:13.000Z
Explore recent publishing news on imprint closures, bestseller challenges, and AI's influence on the future of books. The post Amazon Review Purge: The Author Survival Guide appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-20T10:54:12.000Z
Runs Now Through Tuesday May 26, 2026
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-18T10:12:48.000Z
Last Day to Sign Up & A Few Words About Going DRM-Free
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-14T10:12:53.000Z
The Top Based Books of 2026 as selected by nearly 3000 purchase decision from Based Readers.
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-14T07:00:00.000Z
Discover the four types of love in fiction that make readers fall in love with your book. Learn how storge, philia, eros, and agape drive stories from cozy mysteries to epic fantasy. The post The Four Loves That Drive Fiction appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-13T14:05:27.000Z
Reform UK, Japan's landslide, and the AfD surge reveal a global culture war. Here's what the nationalist realignment means for your books and marketing. The post Zeitgeist: Globalists vs. Nationalists: What the UK and Japanese Elections Tell Us About the Changing Culture appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-13T13:58:53.000Z
KDP dashboard errors, Chrome's secret AI install, a Harvard prompting hack, the AI book flood, and how global nationalism is changing what readers want. The post Draft2Digital Confirms: Amazon Sales Reports Are Off by 50% appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-05-10T10:12:55.000Z
Sign Up Today! Sale Starts Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-06T07:00:00.000Z
Learn 15 book advertising tips to help you save money and increase your profits while attracting more readers. The post 15 Rules for Book Advertising with David Gaughran appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-05T14:59:00.000Z
Thomas and Jonathan map classic films onto the Noble/Grim + Bright/Dark axis, the four-quadrant version of the Strauss-Howe generational turnings. The post Zeitgeist: First Turning Noblebright vs. Second Turning Grimbright appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-05-05T14:27:36.000Z
Audible set a hard deadline for its new royalty model. The FTC fined a self-publishing guru $1.5M for fake promises. AI screeners favor AI-polished proposals over human ones. Independent bookstores are booming with 422 new openings. And science confirmed your TikTok breaks are wrecking your writing focus. The post Audible Forces Every Title Into New Royalty Model appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-30T15:45:39.000Z
a federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama, indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center on April 21, 2026. The 11-count indictment charges the SPLC with six counts of wire fraud, four counts of false statements to a federally insured bank, and one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. The post Zeitgeist: Southern Poverty Law Center Indictment Exposes Alleged Fraud, Accelerates Vibe Shift on Racism Accusations appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-29T07:02:00.000Z
Discover advice for authors that has stood the test of time (and always will) and what advice you can cast off like a crumpled first draft. The post My Worst Takes & Mistakes Over 500 Episodes appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-27T17:54:29.000Z
Amazon price-fixing emails unsealed by California's AG, a banned-book campaign that backfired into a bestseller, proposed copyright fee hikes, the latest AI model drops from OpenAI and Chinese rivals, new cover design tools from Author Media, and surprising data on where the money and readers actually are. Here's what it all means for your writing career. The post Price Fixing at Amazon appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-24T14:27:57.000Z
Pew Research Center Survey Exposes Deep Divides in American Views on Morality Thomas: A Pew Research study just came out about what Americans view as moral and immoral. This matters for authors because every novel has a moral system. Actions have consequences in your fiction, and what those consequences are is governed by your moral framework […] The post Zeitgeist: What Do Americans Consider Immoral? appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-24T14:16:17.000Z
Draft2Digital levies a tax against the “poors,” Amazon kills millions of old Kindles and the Windows 10 Kindle app, and Barnes and Noble Press drops three policy bombs that could wipe your books from sale. Plus, an AI artist just hit number one on iTunes without a single human voice, Ukraine's robots won their first solo battle with zero casualties, and fresh Pew Research data maps exactly where your readers draw their moral lines. The post Amazon Kills Store Access for 2 Million Kindles appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-04-19T20:14:41.000Z
For the authors who had their pitches approved for the Relics anthology, you have two weeks remaining to complete your short story.
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-04-18T00:25:12.000Z
Get His Holy Terran Empire Trilogy for $0.99 Each This Weekend
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-15T07:00:00.000Z
Discover how to make your book marketing profitable by tracking your online and in-person marketing and advertising in a single dashboard. The post Stop Guessing: How to Know If Your Book Marketing Is Working appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-14T19:16:36.000Z
The Supreme Court confirms you own your AI-assisted writing, a bestselling thriller author loses his entire YouTube channel to a copyright scam but gets it back, Amazon finally ends the practice that let counterfeiters slip fakes into your book sales, and for our zeitgeist segment we’ll analyze the new movie Project Hail Mary. The post Huge Legal Wins for Authors appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-14T15:17:34.000Z
Project Hail Mary has crossed $430 million worldwide at the box office. Find out what its success reveals about what readers and want and how authors can connect. The post Zeitgeist: Project Hail Mary Rockets Past $226 Million at Domestic Box Office appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-08T06:55:00.000Z
Discover the cultural shift in zeitgeist that reflects the changing preferences of American readers. The post The Cultural Zeitgeist Shift That’s Making Indie Authors Rich appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Based Book Sale
Published: 2026-04-08T00:38:53.000Z
And Other Great Based Book Deals
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-04T21:14:15.000Z
Harlequin's AI micro-drama deal ignites author boycotts, a Wharton study warns of "cognitive surrender," and the NYT bestseller list drops mass market for new audiobook charts. The post The Week Romance Died? Harlequin AI Deal + NY Times Bestseller Shake-Up appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-04T13:27:00.000Z
The March 2026 K-lytics report on psychological and domestic thrillers paints a picture of a genre in explosive transition. What was once a niche reflects profound changes in consumer demand and the broader zeitgeist. The post Zeitgeist: Capturing a Shifting Zeitgeist of Paranoia, Betrayal, and Disrupted Domestic Normalcy appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-04-01T07:00:00.000Z
Discover which laptops give authors the best value for the money in 2026. The post Apple’s Cheapest Laptop Ever: Should Authors Buy the MacBook Neo? appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-30T19:15:06.000Z
Is your freelance editor secretly using AI? This week on Author Update, we break down Mia Ballard's lawsuit against Hachette Book Group after they canceled her horror novel Shy Girl over AI allegations—she claims her editor introduced AI without permission. We analyze the Supreme Court's 9-0 decision that just made it harder for authors to fight book piracy, examine two groundbreaking studies proving AI tools rewrite your voice even during simple grammar checks, and explain why OpenAI shut down Sora and what Google's TurboQuant breakthrough means for the future of AI. The post Scientists Prove AI Is Rewriting Your Book When You’re Not Looking appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-30T14:56:00.000Z
One Piece has officially hit 600 million copies in circulation worldwide, matching and effectively surpassing Superman's nearly 90-year sales record in under 30 years. The post Zeitgeist: One Piece Passes Superman as Best-Selling Comic with 600 Million Copies appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-25T07:00:00.000Z
Discover how to find a good book cover that attracts the right readers and drives clicks that lead to sales across all platforms. The post Your Friends Lied About Your Book Cover appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-23T16:23:46.000Z
Hachette just pulled a bestselling horror novel over AI writing accusations — and it's sending shockwaves through the publishing world. In this episode of Author Update, we break down the "Shy Girl" controversy and what it means for every indie and traditional author, the explosive 4 million books flooding Amazon in 2025 (a 39% surge in self-publishing), Scholastic's declining revenue and what it signals about the future of traditional publishing, the Bible reading boom led by millennial men, how to protect yourself from copyright troll shakedowns, and a deep dive into the K-Lytics Mystery/Thriller/Suspense report revealing techno thrillers are up 49% while assassination thrillers are crashing. Whether you're self-publishing on Amazon, navigating AI tools like Sudowrite and ChatGPT, pricing your ebook for maximum profit, or trying to spot the next hot genre trend, this is the publishing news, book marketing strategy, and cultural zeitgeist analysis authors need to stay ahead in 2026. The post The Anti AI Jihad Has Begun: Major Publisher Yanks Novel Over Proven AI Use appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-23T14:41:00.000Z
Kindle trends show that techno thrillers are up 49%. Find out what this says about current readers and publishers. The post Zeitgeist: Mystery Thriller Suspense K-Lytics Report appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-14T22:11:57.000Z
This week's highlights: Authors have only 17 days left to claim up to $3,000+ per book in the $1.5B Anthropic AI copyright settlement. YouTube's revenue now surpasses Disney, confirming the creator economy's dominance, a trajectory indie authors are mirroring. Amazon ended its Book Club and excluded authors from new AI ad tools. The post 17 Days Left: How to Claim Your $3,000+ From Anthropic’s $1.5B AI Copyright Settlement appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-14T14:23:00.000Z
Prescription medications are changing women's preferences, from who they find attractive to what kind of heroes they want to read in their fiction. The post Zeitgeist: Hormonal Birth Control May Quietly Change What Romance Readers Crave in Male Heroes appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-14T14:16:40.000Z
This article walks through several real-world encounters with copyright trolls targeting my blogs, how their schemes work, and the practical defenses I used to fight them off without paying. It also shows how DMCA registration, good licensing hygiene, AI tools, and fair use can become powerful shields for authors and bloggers. Key takeaways: The New […] The post How I Fight Off Copyright Trolls Targeting My Blogs appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-11T20:06:00.000Z
AI and tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly are fundamentally transforming the English language. This deep dive explores how AI writing is changing us. The post Zeitgeist: AI Could Trigger an English Language Reset Like the Norman Conquest appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-11T20:06:00.000Z
The Trump administration is selling the war very differently from past conflicts. The post Zeitgeist: White House Uses Video Game Hype to Market War to Young Men appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-11T14:30:03.000Z
Week Ending March 6, 2026 In this week’s Author Update, we unpack how world events are impacting your author business, Audible’s aggressive response to Spotify, why Substack may be quietly hurting your Google rankings, and whether Apple’s new $600 laptop could be a smart buy for writers. We also look at ChatGPT’s growing ability to […] The post Iranian Drones Destroy Amazon Data Centers, Amazon.com Goes Down appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-11T07:00:00.000Z
Discover strategies to create a good reader magnet that will engage readers and boost your newsletter subscriptions. The post Reader Magnets Are Dead? Why Most Reader Magnets Fail appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-04T08:02:00.000Z
Discover the best tools for writers to streamline your author business, or turn podcasts into optimized blog content with the powerful Novel Marketing Patron Toolbox suite. The post Your Author Toolbox: Part 2 appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-03T20:58:00.000Z
Highlights of the romance genre based on the new k-lytics report. The post Zeitgeist: Romance Dominates Kindle But Shows Signs of Maturing appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-03T17:20:57.000Z
Traditional publishing posts a December surge in the latest AAP StatShot, even as the broader market stays flat. We unpack new 2026 reader data, major AI-driven layoffs at Block, Spotify’s audiobook charts, Julia Quinn’s Kickstarter success, podcast growth, and key AI updates from Google and Cloudflare. The post The Indie Whale Reader: How to Reach Readers Who Devour 100 Books a Year appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-03-03T16:07:00.000Z
For the past 40 years, AI villains in fiction have been metaphors for the soulless managerial state that stripped human agency throughout the 20th century. The post Zeitgeist: AI as Metaphor: Corporations, Pagan Gods & the Managerial State appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-25T08:02:00.000Z
Learn the mindset and approach to create a sustainable professional author business that appeals to readers and builds your career. The post How to Become a Professional Writer With Joanna Penn appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-23T20:35:00.000Z
Why do conservative and Christian authors struggle with creative fiction while Tolkien and C.S. Lewis created timeless classics? This video explores the critical difference between identity-based storytelling and character-driven narratives that resonate with readers. The post Zeitgeist: Conservative Art appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-23T19:56:31.000Z
Supreme Court tariffs ruling, Harlequin exits historical romance, BookFunnel adds digital signings, and major AI shifts from ElevenLabs, Perplexity Pro, and Google’s new Web MCP reshaping audiobook production and SEO. The post Indies Win! Harlequin to Close Historical Romance Line appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-18T08:02:00.000Z
Discover how metadata for books can significantly improve your book sales and visibility in online stores like Amazon. The post Why Your Book Isn’t Selling: Metadata with Dave Chesson appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-17T22:00:11.000Z
TikTok is back, but its algorithm retrain may disrupt BookTok, the author-targeted data breach, Amazon’s new DRM download option, soaring Bible sales, ChatGPT ads, Sanderson’s “we are the art” speech, and what the Super Bowl halftime shows reveal about today’s book buyers. The post Substack Breach: Author Information Compromised appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-17T20:42:00.000Z
The 2026 Super Bowl featured two competing halftime shows—the NFL's official Bad Bunny performance and Turning Point USA's alternative show with Kid Rock—and the streaming data reveals a seismic cultural shift that every author must understand about audience and platform. The post Zeitgeist: Two Halftime Shows, One Nation: What the Super Bowl Split Says About American Readers appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-16T08:08:00.000Z
Your email address might be the first thing an agent or editor sees. Learn how to make a good first impression with your email address. The post How to Get a Professional Email Address appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-13T20:40:00.000Z
Cozy Fantasy is surging with unprecedented demand that far exceeds supply, creating a massive opportunity for authors who understand this genre shift. The post Zeitgeist: K-lytics Cozy Fantasy appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-11T08:06:00.000Z
Learn how Vellum can save you money, time, and headache when formatting your next book or reader magnet. The post How to Format a Book With Vellum appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-02-09T16:02:01.000Z
AI shocks publishing and tech: Claude 4.6 vs GPT-5.3 spark a $285B selloff, layoffs hit a 2009 high, Amazon cuts 30,000 jobs, Spotify expands into ebooks and print with Bookshop.org, indie ebooks arrive, a massive Substack breach, new KDP download options, and OpenAI’s controversial IP revenue-sharing idea. The post Will OpenAI Claim Ownership of Your Royalties? appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-28T02:42:04.000Z
This week’s Author Update breaks down Ingram’s AI opt-out, Tor’s new imprint, a £50k Hachette prize, Amazon AI features, and why indie publishing is outpacing trad The post Ingram Goes to War With AI appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-27T20:22:00.000Z
NHL Pride Drama VANISHES: The Vibe Shift Authors Need to Understand The post Zeitgeist: Vibe Shift in Hockey appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-21T08:00:00.000Z
Taxes for authors don’t have to trigger panic. Discover rules for bookkeeping and taxes and what common mistakes to avoid. The post Author Taxes – A 2026 Guide to Avoiding Jail & Overpaying appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-20T20:06:00.000Z
U.S. government used Times New Roman. It is a traditional serif font. Under the Biden administration, the State Department switched its documents from Times New Roman to Calibri, a sans serif font. The post Zeitgeist: Fonts Get Political appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-20T18:57:18.000Z
Bible sales have reached record highs in the United States and the United Kingdom. The post Zeitgeist: Record Breaking Bible Sales appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-20T16:55:57.000Z
OpenAI's announcement of ads coming to ChatGPT for free users (and what authors should do about it), a landmark federal court ruling that copyright termination rights now apply globally (potentially returning your foreign rights), record-breaking Bible sales that mask a crisis in Christian publishing, Julia Quinn's new romance subscription box strategy, and the surprising political battle over fonts that affects book design. The post Copyright Termination and the Feds: What Just Happened to Authors appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-16T16:08:37.000Z
The United Arab Emirates just banned Emirates from going to university in the UK out of fears that students are getting radicalized by the Islamic Brotherhood. The post Zeitgeist: Radical Islam Moves to Europe appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-14T16:56:07.000Z
Substack's controversial move into sponsored ads, Audible's new in-app video discovery features, scoring 2025 publishing predictions, the growing anti-AI movement, and major cultural zeitgeist shifts. The post AI Threats, Platform Changes & Cultural Shifts Authors Can’t Ignore appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-14T16:14:21.000Z
A fast-food company poised to do very well in the new zeitgeist. I was the fastest-growing fast-food company in the country last year. The post Zeitgeist: Steak & Shake appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-14T08:02:00.000Z
Productivity tips for writers that will help you finish your book and find a sustainable writing pace for your career. The post Productivity Secrets from Bestselling Author Jerry B. Jenkins appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-12T19:36:45.000Z
Stay ahead of the author news and trends of 2026. Learn how new public-domain characters, AI in publishing, audiobooks, direct sales, and market shifts will impact your writing career. The post What Authors Can Expect in 2026 appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-07T08:02:00.000Z
12 tips for networking with other authors to create mutually beneficial, long-term relationships. The post Networking for Authors with Dale L. Roberts appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2026-01-01T08:00:00.000Z
Social media changes so quickly. Find out which platforms and strategies work for selling books in 2022. The post Why Most Authors Don’t Need Social Media in 2026 appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2025-12-31T08:02:00.000Z
Discover a five year plan for writing a novel and how it helps aspiring authors build their craft, finish the book, and become a professional author. The post The Five-Year Plan to Become a Professional Author appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2025-12-20T22:42:02.000Z
Why audiobooks now outsell eBooks, how AI is reshaping publishing, Barnes & Noble’s comeback, and the genre trends and tools authors need for 2026. The post Reports Say 62% of New Paranormal Romance Titles Are AI Junk Books appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2025-12-20T15:59:00.000Z
Thomas Umstattd, Jr. and Jonathan Shuerger cover highlights from the K-lytics report showing trends in the Christmas and Paranormal romance genres. The post Zeitgeist: Christmas Romance vs. Paranormal Romance appeared first on Author Media .
Source: Author Media
Published: 2025-12-18T19:47:33.000Z
In this episode of Author Update: Book bans, AI in your Kindle, audiobooks outselling everything, and Amazon quietly rewriting the rules. The post Amazon Quietly Changed Kindle Forever appeared first on Author Media .