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.
Indie Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
Indie or traditional publishing? Hear from one author who experienced both and made a surprising decision.
101 Book Marketing Ideas That Will Change Your Life
We’ve compiled a list of book marketing ideas that will connect you to readers, build your brand, and sell your book. If you feel stuck with your book, this guide has the idea that will get you unstuck. The goal of this guide is to help get your creative juices...
How to Become a Professional Writer With Joanna Penn
Learn the mindset and approach to create a sustainable professional author business that appeals to readers and builds your career.
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.
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.
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.
Zeitgeist: Cozy Fantasy and LitRPG SURGE as Hottest Niches in 2026
A summer 2026 K-lytics report reveals fantasy titles are outselling science fiction by nearly four to one, driven largely by romantasy and the rapidly growing LitRPG subgenre.
Why Most Authors Don’t Need Social Media in 2026
Social media changes so quickly. Find out which platforms and strategies work for selling books in 2022.
Zeitgeist: How Shifting Public Attitudes on the U.S. Military Are Reshaping Storytelling
Two U.S. military veterans discuss how attitudes toward service members have changed since the Gulf War, the rise of military “zero-defect culture,” the impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal and COVID-era policies on morale and recruitment, and how these shifts are influencing a new generation of military fiction.
Men Buy Books and Women Borrow Books
Women aren’t buying new books, AI is fixing manuscript pacing, and a $10 tool builds your entire book promo schedule. Here’s what the data says.
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.
Why Amazon is Terminating Innocent Authors
Find out what to do if your Amazon account is suspended. Learn the steps to recover your account and get back to publishing.
Author Update: Skype Dies, Romantasy Surges, and Mr. Beast Writes a Book
Introduction Thomas: Skype dies, Romantasy surges, and Mr. Beast starts writing the bestest, best-selling book ever. Or does he? Find out in this episode of Author Update. I’m Thomas Umstead, Jr. with Jonathan Sugar, and we have a lot of really surprisingly good...
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.
