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Substack Breach: Author Information Compromised
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.
How to Get a Professional Email Address
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.
How to Format a Book With Vellum
Learn how Vellum can save you money, time, and headache when formatting your next book or reader magnet.
Will OpenAI Claim Ownership of Your Royalties?
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.
Copyright Termination and the Feds: What Just Happened to Authors
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.
AI Threats, Platform Changes & Cultural Shifts Authors Can’t Ignore
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.
Productivity Secrets from Bestselling Author Jerry B. Jenkins
Productivity tips for writers that will help you finish your book and find a sustainable writing pace for your career.
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.
Platform
Platform
A Nonfiction Author’s Guide to Substack
Learn how nonfiction authors are using Substack to reach audiences and convert them into paying subscribers seamlessly.
Thomas’s Office Tour & 4th Wall Breach
Get the much anticipated tour of Thomas’s office, complete with a run-down of the books on his shelves that best absorb sound.
When to Ignore Your Editor
Discover 7 issues authors must beware of when getting editorial suggestions from humans or AI and when to ignore or accept the feedback.
How to Get Started with Author School Visits and Make Your Book Playground Famous
Selling books for kids is a challenge. Discover how you can connect with young readers, positively impact schools, and sell more books.
Your Author Toolbox: Time-Saving Tools for Busy Authors
Discover this suite of innovative writing tools for authors designed to streamline your writing, marketing, email list, and sales efforts.
Genius Link: A Guide for Authors
Explore the benefits of universal book links for authors. Drive sales by linking to your book across multiple platforms worldwide.
2025 Laptop Buying Guide for Authors
Find the ideal laptop for authors and avoid overspending on unnecessary features that do not enhance your writing experience.
How to Grow Your Email List Fast With Giveaways
Need more subscribers? Explore the Kingsumo book giveaway technique that helped one author gain thousands of new emails.
Publishing
Publishing
Author Taxes – A 2026 Guide to Avoiding Jail & Overpaying
Taxes for authors don’t have to trigger panic. Discover rules for bookkeeping and taxes and what common mistakes to avoid.
Productivity Secrets from Bestselling Author Jerry B. Jenkins
Productivity tips for writers that will help you finish your book and find a sustainable writing pace for your career.
The Five-Year Plan to Become a Professional Author
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 Savvy Author’s Guide to Picking an LLM
Discover which LLMs and AI tools are best for your writing and marketing processes, and how the tools compare to one another.
Triple Your Writing Speed with Dictation
For authors, dictation can skyrocket writing speed. Find out which tools and strategies will help you master the skill and write faster.
The Author’s Guide to AI with Joanna Penn
Discover how authors use AI to gain more time for creative writing and how you can get useful output instead of bland AI slop.
When to Ignore Your Editor
Discover 7 issues authors must beware of when getting editorial suggestions from humans or AI and when to ignore or accept the feedback.
Announcing the 2026 Novel Marketing Conference
Find out what makes the 2026 Novel Marketing Conference unique and find out how you can join us.
Promotion
Promotion
The Five-Year Plan to Become a Professional Author
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.
Should You Create a Premium Hardcover Edition of Your Book?
Learn whether a premium book edition is the right choice for your book and how it can set you apart from all the AI-written content.
The Shopify Trap: Why Authors Keep Losing Money
Discover the best ecommerce platform for authors and several surprisingly good options for selling books directly to readers.
How to Build an Email List Before You Publish Your Novel
Discover the many ways to grow your email list before you publish your book.
How to Boost Sales With Permafree Books
Discover how giving a book away might actually boost sales. Learn to use a permafree book to drive sales, grow your list, or book events.
How to Get More Book Reviews With Joe Walters
Find out why more book reviews matter, how ratings differ from reviews, and how to get more of both to increase visibility and sales.
How to Get Started with Author School Visits and Make Your Book Playground Famous
Selling books for kids is a challenge. Discover how you can connect with young readers, positively impact schools, and sell more books.
How to Sell 1,000 Books a Month
Learn how to improve your book sales with proven strategies for selling 1,000 books a month through layered marketing, podcasts, and more.