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Zeitgeist: Two Halftime Shows, One Nation: What the Super Bowl Split Says About American Readers

Zeitgeist: Two Halftime Shows, One Nation: What the Super Bowl Split Says About American Readers

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Feb 17, 2026 | Culture & Politics, Zeitgeist

The 2026 Super Bowl featured two competing halftime shows—the NFL’s official Bad Bunny performance and Turning Point USA’s alternative show with Kid Rock—and the streaming data reveals a seismic cultural shift that every author must understand about audience and platform.

Zeitgeist: K-lytics Cozy Fantasy

Zeitgeist: K-lytics Cozy Fantasy

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Feb 13, 2026 | Genre Analysis, Zeitgeist

Cozy Fantasy is surging with unprecedented demand that far exceeds supply, creating a massive opportunity for authors who understand this genre shift.

Zeitgeist: Vibe Shift in Hockey

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Jan 27, 2026 | Culture & Politics, Zeitgeist

NHL Pride Drama VANISHES: The Vibe Shift Authors Need to Understand

Zeitgeist: Fonts Get Political

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Jan 20, 2026 | Culture & Politics, Zeitgeist

U.S. government used Times New Roman. It is a traditional serif font. Under the Biden administration, the State Department switched its documents from Times New Roman to Calibri, a sans serif font.

Zeitgeist: Record Breaking Bible Sales

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Jan 20, 2026 | Culture & Politics, Zeitgeist

Bible sales have reached record highs in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Zeitgeist: Radical Islam Moves to Europe

Zeitgeist: Radical Islam Moves to Europe

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Jan 16, 2026 | Culture & Politics, Zeitgeist

The United Arab Emirates just banned Emirates from going to university in the UK out of fears that students are getting radicalized by the Islamic Brotherhood. 

Zeitgeist: Steak & Shake

Zeitgeist: Steak & Shake

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Jan 14, 2026 | Culture & Politics, Turnings, Zeitgeist

A fast-food company poised to do very well in the new zeitgeist. I was the fastest-growing fast-food company in the country last year.

Zeitgeist: Christmas Romance vs. Paranormal Romance

Zeitgeist: Christmas Romance vs. Paranormal Romance

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Dec 20, 2025 | Genre Analysis, Zeitgeist

Thomas Umstattd, Jr. and Jonathan Shuerger cover highlights from the K-lytics report showing trends in the Christmas and Paranormal romance genres.

Zeitgeist: Female Readers & The Hero’s Journey

Zeitgeist: Female Readers & The Hero’s Journey

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Dec 18, 2025 | Genre Analysis, Zeitgeist

Is the hero’s journey story arc different for male and female readers?

Zeitgeist: Davy Crockett King of the First Turning 

Zeitgeist: Davy Crockett King of the First Turning 

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Oct 24, 2025 | Author Update, Book & Movie Reviews, Turnings, Zeitgeist

America has had two kings and neither of them were Arthur. Our kings were Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier and Elvis Presley the king of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Christian Author Assassinated, MailerLite Limits Free Plan, & Kit Raise Prices

Christian Author Assassinated, MailerLite Limits Free Plan, & Kit Raise Prices

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Sep 12, 2025 | Author Update, Zeitgeist

Thomas: Welcome back to Author Update, everybody. Today we’re going to talk about Charlie Kirk, a Christian author who was shot while giving a speech to his audience. We also have publishing news. MailerLite is reducing its free plan, Kit is raising prices, and...
Zeitgeist: Mary Poppins: From Grimbright to Nobledark

Zeitgeist: Mary Poppins: From Grimbright to Nobledark

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Sep 5, 2025 | Turnings, Zeitgeist

his 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.

Zeitgeist, Dystopian Fatigue, and the Rise of Ruthless & Noble Heroes  

Zeitgeist, Dystopian Fatigue, and the Rise of Ruthless & Noble Heroes  

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Jul 30, 2025 | Author Update, Genre Analysis, Turnings, Zeitgeist, Zeitgeist 101

Explore the cultural vibe shift reshaping reader preferences and learn what sells now and where fiction is headed next.

Introducing Author Update

Introducing Author Update

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Apr 16, 2025 | Author Update, News

Learn about our new podcast and YouTube show called Author Update, where you can stay up-to-date on all the latest publishing headlines.

The Sci-Fi Zeitgeist Has Shifted: What Authors Need to Know

The Sci-Fi Zeitgeist Has Shifted: What Authors Need to Know

by Thomas Umstattd Jr. | Feb 26, 2025 | Genre Analysis, Publishing, Writing Craft, Zeitgeist, Zeitgeist 101

Dive into the essentials of writing a sci-fi novel amidst evolving themes like population collapse and AI advancements.

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