Zeitgeist: Christmas Romance vs. Paranormal Romance
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
Is the hero’s journey story arc different for male and female readers?
Zeitgeist: Davy Crockett King of the First Turning
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
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
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
Explore the cultural vibe shift reshaping reader preferences and learn what sells now and where fiction is headed next.
Introducing Author Update
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
Dive into the essentials of writing a sci-fi novel amidst evolving themes like population collapse and AI advancements.
Zeitgeist: Karens Have a New Acronym A. W. F. U. L.
Thomas: This is a significant cultural shift, and the acronym is, frankly, awful. It stands for “Affluent White Female Urban Liberal.” It is being used in a way that feels similar to “WASP,” which stood for “White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.” That term became popular in...
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 do my best to find the best deals for authors. Part of that means putting my own courses on sale. This post has a list of the top deals. You can find even more deals at...
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...
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.
Publishing Industry Secrets Revealed at the Penguin Random House Trial
These secrets of the publishing industry offer important points for all authors to consider as they choose a publishing path.
