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.
Listen on:
Stay Informed with Every Episode
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
Reports Say 62% of New Paranormal Romance Titles Are AI Junk Books
Why audiobooks now outsell eBooks, how AI is reshaping publishing, Barnes & Noble’s comeback, and the genre trends and tools authors need for 2026.
Amazon Quietly Changed Kindle Forever
In this episode of Author Update: Book bans, AI in your Kindle, audiobooks outselling everything, and Amazon quietly rewriting the rules.
Christmas Book Marketing Guide
Jonathan: Listen up. We’re starting with a situation report. An outfit called Claims Hero is telling authors to opt out of the 1.5...
Traditional Publishing in Crisis: Sales Down 9.4%
Instead of a transcript, here are some rough notes. Let us know if you prefer this format or want to switch back to the longer fuller...
Massive Amazon Algorithm Changes
Thomas: Welcome to Author Update, your weekly dose of publishing news that actually matters to your career. This week we are breaking...
US Copyright Office Closes | Book Piracy Drama | Anthropic Settlement Website Goes Live
Jonathan Shuerger: We've got a packed episode that could impact your writing career in ways you may not have considered. The Anthropic...