Zeitgeist
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Turnings
Book & Movie Reviews
News
Culture & Politics
Genre Analysis
Zeitgeist 101
Zeitgeist: What Do Americans Consider Immoral?
Pew Research Center Survey Exposes Deep Divides in American Views on Morality Thomas: A Pew Research study just came out about what Americans view as moral and immoral. This matters for authors because every novel has a moral system. Actions have consequences in...
Capturing a Shifting Zeitgeist of Paranoia, Betrayal, and Disrupted Domestic Normalcy
The March 2026 K-lytics report on psychological and domestic thrillers paints a picture of a genre in explosive transition. What was once a niche reflects profound changes in consumer demand and the broader zeitgeist.
The Cultural Zeitgeist Shift That’s Making Indie Authors Rich
Discover the cultural shift in zeitgeist that reflects the changing preferences of American readers.
Zeitgeist: Davy Crockett King of the First Turning
I’ve been pondering a lot about the return of King Arthur in the new zeitgeist. I am starting to wonder if Arthur will return, and specifically, if he will return to America. America has had two kings and neither of them were Arthur. Our kings were Davy Crockett, King...
The Sci-Fi Zeitgeist Has Shifted: What Authors Need to Know
Dive into the essentials of writing a sci-fi novel amidst evolving themes like population collapse and AI advancements.
Is Traditional Publishing Dying? Surprising Trends Authors Can’t Ignore
Explore the trends that will shape the industry and how they will impact authors.
Cyber Monday Deals for Authors
Every Cyber Weekend (Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, Black Friday), I...
How to Write Stories Readers Will Love by Knowing the Zeitgeist
If it takes you two years to write a book, you owe it to yourself to ask the...
Turnings
Turnings
How to Write Stories Readers Will Love by Knowing the Zeitgeist
If it takes you two years to write a book, you owe it to yourself to ask the question, "What kinds of books will be popular in two years?" Reader preferences change over time, but sometimes they change rapidly. If you don't keep up, you can get stuck writing a book...
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News
News
The Anti AI Jihad Has Begun: Major Publisher Yanks Novel Over Proven AI Use
Hachette just pulled a bestselling horror novel over AI writing accusations — and it’s sending shockwaves through the publishing world. In this episode of Author Update, we break down the “Shy Girl” controversy and what it means for every indie and traditional author, the explosive 4 million books flooding Amazon in 2025 (a 39% surge in self-publishing), Scholastic’s declining revenue and what it signals about the future of traditional publishing, the Bible reading boom led by millennial men, how to protect yourself from copyright troll shakedowns, and a deep dive into the K-Lytics Mystery/Thriller/Suspense report revealing techno thrillers are up 49% while assassination thrillers are crashing. Whether you’re self-publishing on Amazon, navigating AI tools like Sudowrite and ChatGPT, pricing your ebook for maximum profit, or trying to spot the next hot genre trend, this is the publishing news, book marketing strategy, and cultural zeitgeist analysis authors need to stay ahead in 2026.
Zeitgeist: Davy Crockett King of the First Turning
I’ve been pondering a lot about the return of King Arthur in the new zeitgeist. I am starting to wonder if Arthur will return, and specifically, if he will return to America. America has had two kings and neither of them were Arthur. Our kings were Davy Crockett, King...
The Mary Poppins Zeitgeist: From Grimbright to Nobledark
This conversation unpacks how stories reflect cultural “turnings” in the zeitgeist, using Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Marines in wartime, and superhero tales as case studies. The Thomas Umstattd Jr. and Jonathan Shuerger explore the spectrum from Grimbright to...
17 Days Left: How to Claim Your $3,000+ From Anthropic’s $1.5B AI Copyright Settlement
This week’s highlights: Authors have only 17 days left to claim up to $3,000+ per book in the $1.5B Anthropic AI copyright settlement. YouTube’s revenue now surpasses Disney, confirming the creator economy’s dominance, a trajectory indie authors are mirroring. Amazon ended its Book Club and excluded authors from new AI ad tools.
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.
Ingram Goes to War With AI
This week’s Author Update breaks down Ingram’s AI opt-out, Tor’s new imprint, a £50k Hachette prize, Amazon AI features, and why indie publishing is outpacing trad
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.
Genre Analysis
Genre Analysis
The Sci-Fi Zeitgeist Has Shifted: What Authors Need to Know
Dive into the essentials of writing a sci-fi novel amidst evolving themes like population collapse and AI advancements.
The Psychological Reasons Readers Read Books
You have a major advantage over AI writing tools like GPT-4 and ChatGPT. Learn how to discover and leveraging your edge in your genre.
Everything Authors Need to Know About K-Lytics
Find out how k-lytics can help you discover what readers are currently buying so you can increase your chances of success.
How to Pick Your Genre
If you’re trying to pick a genre or considering writing in several, this episode will help you determine which path is best for you.
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Book & Movie Reviews
Reviews
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Culture & Politics
Culture
Is Traditional Publishing Dying? Surprising Trends Authors Can’t Ignore
Explore the trends that will shape the industry and how they will impact authors.
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Zeitgeist 101
Zeitgeist 101
How to Write Enduring Bestsellers with the Two-Act Chiastic Structure
Struggling to write your three-act story? Discover another story structure from ancient history that will satisfy your readers and help you finish your book.
How to Write Novels Men Want to Read
Explore the reasons why men may not be reading novels published by big publishers. Find out how this product-market mismatch affects male readership.
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.
The Psychological Reasons Readers Read Books
You have a major advantage over AI writing tools like GPT-4 and ChatGPT. Learn how to discover and leveraging your edge in your genre.
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