Author Update: Publishing News, Analysis, and Advice

Here’s what you can expect from Author Update:

Publishing News Stay in the loop on what’s happening in the industry.
Advice That Matters – Learn how to make your book irresistible to readers.
Zeitgeist Analysis – Get insights on changing reader preferences.

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Meet Your Hosts

Thomas Umstattd Jr.

Author Media CEO

The founder of Author Media and the host of the Novel Marketing Podcast, the longest running book marketing podcast in the world. Thomas has worked in the publishing industry since 2007.

Jonathan Shuerger

A Marine Corps veteran and author with a passion for telling stories and making people laugh. He lives in Tucson, AZ, with his wife and daughters, who moonlight as domestic terrorists in their free time.

Latest Episodes

Kindle Unlimited Pays Indie Authors Record-Breaking Royalties

Jun 22, 2026 | Author Update

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.

Men Buy Books and Women Borrow Books

Jun 16, 2026 | Author Update

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.

Will “Free” Libby Ebooks Bankrupt Libraries?

Jun 9, 2026 | Author Update

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.

No ISBN Means No Copyright Protection for Indie Authors

May 30, 2026 | Author Update

KDP lowers print costs, AI pirates monetize stolen audiobooks, authors lose Meta lawsuit standing, the Enhanced Games flop, and Pope Leo XIV embraces AI.