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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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
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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.
What Authors Can Expect in 2026
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.
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.