Blog
Categories:
Platform
Publishing
Promotion
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.
Christmas Book Marketing Guide
Jonathan: Listen up. We’re starting with a situation report. An outfit...
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.
Traditional Publishing in Crisis: Sales Down 9.4%
Instead of a transcript, here are some rough notes. Let us know if you prefer...
2025 Desktop Printer Guide for Authors
Learn what kind of home printer an author needs and which one will get you the best bang for your buck.
Platform
Platform
Author Website Review: Christian Historical Romance
Explore strengths and weaknesses in website design and functionality for several bestselling historical Christian romance authors.
Read This Before Your Next Podcast Guest Interview
Learn how to sound like a pro during your podcast interview. Get tips on achieving good podcast sound without breaking the bank.
A Storytelling Revolution: Inside the World of Serialized Fiction
Learn how platforms like Royal Road and Ream Stories are revolutionizing serialized fiction and offering a path to building an audience.
Networking for Authors: How to Build Relationships Without Being Awkward
Many authors feel stuck. They're toiling away in obscurity, and none of their promotion efforts seem to go anywhere. Success in publishing is as much about who you know as what you know. And sometimes, the lack of knowing the right people keeps you from finding...
How to Write Emails That Readers Want to Read
Discover the three elements that make readers open your emails, which element is least important, and how to write good emails readers want.
How to Build a Tribe Online And Form a Community of Readers
Find out how authors can build a community or readers, how that tribe differs from a platform, and how to keep them engaged without giving up all your free time.
Why Most Authors Don’t Need Social Media in 2025
Social media changes so quickly. Find out which platforms and strategies work for selling books in 2022.
How to Write for American Readers – An Author’s Guide to America’s Regional Cultures
To write for American readers, you must understand which American readers you’re targeting. Learn how American culture differs by region so you can write what resonates.
Publishing
Publishing
Is Your Traditional Publisher Going Bankrupt? 8 Warning Signs to Look Out For
Understand the signs and implications of a publisher going bankrupt and what authors can do if their traditional publisher closes.
How to Publish a Novel in 2025
Learn how to successfully publish a novel with my six-step roadmap. Avoid common mistakes and start at the right place for strong sales.
An Introduction to Author Ecosystems with Russell Nohelty
Explore the concept of author ecosystems and discover marketing strategies tailored to your unique approach and audience.
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.
Are Pen Names Going Away?
There are several great reasons (and several bad ones) to use an author pen name. Find out which reasons still make sense in the age of AI authors and bots.
Why Your Book is Still Unfinished (Hint: It’s Your Phone’s Fault)
10 tips for using your smartphone to increase your productivity and limiting its ability to keep you from writing your book.
Printing the Future: Print-on-Demand with Offset-Quality by Bookvault
Learn how you can print high-quality hardbacks, outsource fulfillment, and sell directly from your author website, without using Amazon.
The Powerful Nonfiction Pitching Recipe That Works for Both Fiction and Nonfiction
Learning the formula for creating a compelling pitch that resonates with readers is key to selling your book. Learn four formats that can work for your nonfiction pitch.
Promotion
Promotion
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.
Author Update: Is This the END of Google (for Authors)???
Major Shifts in Search and SEO for Authors Google's Market Share Slips Below 90% For the first time since 2015, Google's search market share has fallen below 90%, marking a potentially historic shift in how people find information online. This decline signals what...
AI Optimization for Authors
Transform your approach to book marketing with AI optimization for authors. Find out how AI can help readers discover your book.
101 Book Marketing Ideas That Will Change Your Life
We’ve compiled a list of book marketing ideas that will connect you to...
What to do When Book Sales Start Slipping
If you want to increase book sales after they’ve started to fall, check out this list of mistakes to avoid and strategies to try.
Marketing a Book Series with Kristina Stanley
Writing a series gives you marketing advantages if you do it right. Find out how to structure your series to maximize your marketing efforts.
Announcing the 2025 Novel Marketing Conference
Learn the details of the 2025 Novel Marketing Conference, how it will differ from last year’s conference, and what makes it unique.