Author Update

Amazon Kills Store Access for Two Million Kindles

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:00:00 -0500

Plus Kindle for PC is going away, Spotify rises to take on the giant, and is the new Claude Opus really any good? Find out here on Author Update!

Huge Legal Wins for Authors

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:00:00 -0500

The Week Romance Died - And Other Dramas

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:00:00 -0500

NY Times bestseller list shake-up, AI studies on productivity and the psycho-thriller K-lytics report.

Scientists Prove AI Is Rewriting Your Book When You're Not Looking

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0500

And other various and sundry.

Long Live the Writers! Publisher Drops AI Written Book

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0500

Plus AI news, the secret behind the 4 million books uploaded to Amazon last year, and a deep dive into K-lytics' recent Mystery, Thriller and Suspense report.

17 Days Left to Claim Anthropic Payout

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0500

Plus, Cloudflare news, Amazon book clubs ending and a spicy zeitgeist segment. Welcome to Author Update.

Iran Just Destroyed Your Book Sales This Weekend -- Here's What Happened

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Plus AI news, Medieval English language and how glory is the new market for selling to young men. Welcome to Author Update.

The Indie Whale Reader - 100 Books a Year and How To Reach Them

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Trad publishing news, AI causing job losses and the K-lytics romance report!

Indies Win! Harlequin to Close Historical Romance Line

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Plus, new AI models, a new method for your website to be discovered, new tools to use to promote your book and how the Battle of Agincourt affects your publishing career. All this and more, on Author Update!

Substack Breach! Author Information Compromised

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Plus the Super Bowl halftime show, Harper Collins quarterly report and how the Roman Empire somehow again influences publishing.

Could OpenAI Own Your Book?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:00:00 -0600

Plus, Spotify goes to war with Amazon over book market shares while Thomas and Jonathan compare cozy fantasy to John Wick. Demon pigs, bacon; it's all here.

Ingram Goes To War With AI

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Come listen to the latest episode of Author Update for your latest dish of author news.

Federal Court Just Changed Copyright Law Globally for Authors

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Copyright termination rights, Ai ads, and an extra-long zeitgeist segment on fonts and beauty in literature. Also, a spicy segment on America's churches.

AI Threats, Platform Changes and Cultural Shifts Authors Can't Ignore

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Audible. Iran. Venezuela. What do all of these have to do with your writing? Check out the latest episode of Author Update!

Author Update's Predictions for 2026!

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0600

Come hear Thomas and Jonathan make their predictions for how the book business will change in the coming year.

Reports Say That The Majority of Paranormal Romance Is AI Generated!

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:00:00 -0600

Plus more AI news, Author Arsenal updates and Jonathan and Thomas's thoughts on the romance genre!

The Demonetized Episode

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:00:00 -0600

We hit it all. AI, sexism, hiring practices at publishing industries: we are making no money from THIS episode.

Author Update Has A New Home!

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:00:00 -0600

We show off our new channel's digs, talking about rising costs and the impact of AI on publishing throughout longer trends. It's a good time.

The Amazon Associate Crackdown and Black Friday Deals!

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 17:00:00 -0600

Listen to Author Update for all the news on Amazon's new video advertising capabilities, their reiteration of bans on the Amazon Associate program, and all the Black Friday deals authors need!

Did Google's Gemini Train on Your Manuscript?

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:00:00 -0600

Google's dark pattern, plus new AI tools, upgrades to existing systems and a deep dive into the cozy mystery genre.

The Algorithm War: AI vs. Human Writing

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:00:00 -0600

Updates on how the publishing and music worlds are adapting to AI, as well as exciting developments from the industry.

The Holiday Marketing Guide

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0600

Find out how to plan for this year's holiday season, as well as how changes to the X algorithm change your marketing strategy.

Traditional Publishing in Crisis: Sales Down 9.4%

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0500

This week we're covering Spotify's game-changing Audiobook Selects program for indie authors, the collapse of traditional publishing sales with trade books down 9.4%, and major industry closures including Mango Publishing and Knights Of children's books.

Plus, we analyze groundbreaking research showing readers prefer AI writing to MFA graduate writing, discuss the rise of three-tier audiobook pricing, and explore massive layoffs hitting traditional publishing.

Whether you're an indie author, traditionally published, or just starting your writing journey, get the publishing news that matters for your author career. Don't miss our insights on Novel November replacing NaNoWriMo and the shifting landscape between AI and human creativity in publishing.

Scam Alert! The Nigerian Bot Army Has Arrived!

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:00:00 -0500

Get the latest on scams affecting the author world, a detailed data report on the state of Mysteries, Thrillers and Suspense, and why Americans are reading less than ever.

Massive Amazon Algorithm Changes and the Grid

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the Grid. We're covering the Amazon algorithm, the sales reports, the Yoast SEO Update and the advent of Tron: Ares.

Publisher's Cancellation Backfires, What's Selling Now and Are Libraries Going Under?

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Welcome to a special episode of Author Update! Thomas is sick, so Jonathan takes the reins and does a solo episode on library news, X drama and ZEITGEIST!

US Copyright Office Closes, Piracy Surges Again and the Anthropic Settlement Website Goes Live

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Join Thomas and Jonathan on Author Update as we tackle the government shutdown, the surge in online book piracy sentiments and how the military's pivot toward more lethality and less DEI impacts your writing.

Updates in Anthropic Case, NanoWriMo Replaced and How To Write First Aid

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Payouts approved in the Anthropic case, Novel November comes to authors and Jonathan and Thomas talk about how to write first aid properly in your content.

Amazon KU Allowed in Public Libraries, the TikTok Deal and Cancel Culture

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Join us on Author Update to learn more about using libraries with KU books, the TikTok deal between US and China, and how cancel culture has changed.

Christian Author Assassinated, Mailer Lite Adjusts Its Free Plan and Kit Raises Prices

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:00:00 -0500

A somber reflection upon Charlie Kirk's life and ministry and how authors can emulate his success in their own careers, as well as industry news regarding email services.

Anthropic to Pay Authors $3000 Per Book, Zeitgeist, and Author Arrested for Tweets

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0500

We uncover shocking news about publishers failing to register copyrights, potentially leaving authors vulnerable in the Anthropic class-action lawsuit. We also explore the arrest of Irish author Graham Linehan for tweets posted from America.

Plus, discover exciting developments in AI audiobook publishing with ElevenLabs' new 60% royalty marketplace, learn about AuthorCraft.ai's manuscript analysis tools, and dive deep into the zeitgeist of Mary Poppins.

Patron Toolbox: https://www.PatronToolbox.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/novelmarketing
Conference: https://www.NovelMarketingConference.com/

New International Shipping Rules Hit Authors and Libraries Acquire KU Books?

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Join us on Author Update as we talk the latest news in publishing!

Spotify Upgrades Audiobook Accessibility and George R.R. Martin Told To Step Down

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 18:00:00 -0500

Check out our commentary on the past week's events with news on Spotify, Harper Collins and WorldCon.

The End of Rapid Release and the Advent of Breadgeist

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:00:00 -0500

This one was a doozy. We covered AI's shortcomings, how authors can maximize their output potential and how cowboy romances relate to bread making. Yes, sir, you can only get that kind of content here, on Author Update.

GPT-5 Is Here

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Come listen to Jonathan and Thomas discuss the latest advancements from OpenAI and what they mean for writers, as well as the cultural war between Texas and Australia.

Audible Reduces Author Royalties, Trad Sales Plummet, Indie Sales Rise

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Listen to this week's episode of Author Update as Jonathan and Thomas dive into Audible's royalty shenanigans, the woes of the trad pub world vs. the success of the indie scene.

Substack, GoodReads and MORTAL KOMBAAAAAAT!!!

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Solo episode with Jonathan as Thomas is on vacation. We're going into changes with Substack, GoodReads, Kindlepreneur's look into Amazon keywords, and much more.

Zeitgeist: The Age of Ruthless Heros

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Feast your ears as Jonathan and Thomas discuss the direction fiction is taking, and how societies deal with major turns.

Barnes and Noble, Bots, Bankruptcy and Beyond: The Big Beautiful Episode

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Donate to disaster survivors at ADRN.org.

The Case of Authors Vs. AI

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Several court cases impacting authors, the NYT wonders if men read literary novels, and Jonathan starts a lawsuit against Thomas. All on this week's Author Update.

How The Iran War Will Impact Authors

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0500

The Israel-Iran War, more AI impact on the workforce, zeitgeist discussion and more Patron Tools in the toolbox. All here with Author Update.

Amazon Drops Printing Prices, Lays Off Kindle Staff, and Ends Hourly Rankings

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0500

Watch us on YouTube live!

Is the AI Bubble Popping?

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 23:00:00 -0500

A new version of Vellum, Publisher Rocket ends its lifetime deal, and is the AI bubble going to burst?

The End of Google for Authors?

Sat, 31 May 2025 16:00:00 -0500

🎙️ Author Update – Episode: The End of Google (for Authors?)
Hosts: Jonathan Shuerger & Thomas Umstattd Jr.
🕒 Runtime: \~57 minutes
📚 Topics: AI Search, SEO, Voice Cloning, Book Marketing, Author Tools

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🔍 Episode Summary:
Is this the beginning of the end for Google? In this episode, Jonathan and Thomas explore how AI is disrupting traditional search and discovery—and what that means for authors. From SEO and Pinterest to AI audiobooks and “Not a Literary Agent,” this is your update on everything changing in the publishing world.

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🧭 What You'll Learn:

* Why Google is losing market share—and what’s taking its place
* How to optimize for AI-driven search (semantic SEO explained)
* Why Gen Z is using Pinterest instead of Google
* How to structure content for AI overviews
* What voice cloning means for audiobooks
* Tools for analyzing your publishing contracts
* How to stay discoverable as bots change the rules

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🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned:

* Yoast SEO: [https://yoast.com](https://yoast.com)
* Not a Literary Agent: [https://authormedia.com](https://authormedia.com)
* 11 Labs (voice cloning): [https://elevenlabs.io](https://elevenlabs.io)
* Opera’s Neon AI Browser: [https://www.opera.com/neon](https://www.opera.com/neon)
* Pinterest Marketing (for Gen Z outreach)
* ChatGPT, Grok, and AI-powered search tools

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🔥 Hot Takes:

* “Pinterest is now more useful than Instagram or TikTok for authors.”
* “First-person POV dominates because it’s easier—not better.”
* “AI-generated content is training new AI—welcome to the feedback loop.”
* “You can't have a cyborg baby with an AI girlfriend… yet.”

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🧠 Author Action Steps:

1. Add rich, structured content to your blog
2. Focus on being *the answer* for AI bots
3. Experiment with voice cloning for budget audiobooks
4. Explore Pinterest as a discovery tool
5. Stay current—these shifts are accelerating

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**🎁 Bonus for Patrons:**
Thomas hosts a monthly bonus Q\&A episode exclusively for patrons. Get your questions answered live!
👉 Support the show: https://authormedia.com

Do 45% of Authors Already Use AI?!

Fri, 23 May 2025 17:00:00 -0500

KDP Royalty Changes & Invasion of the AI Audiobooks

Fri, 16 May 2025 17:00:00 -0500

Skype Dies, Romantasy Surges, & Mr. Beast Starts Writing the Bestest Best Seller Ever

Fri, 09 May 2025 20:00:00 -0500

Author Update New Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Author-Update

Book Bans, Copyright Trolls Target Authors, and is Social Media Mostly Bots?

Sat, 03 May 2025 20:00:00 -0500

Blog Version: https://www.authormedia.com/book-bans-copyright-trolls/

Does Facebook Think Your Book is Worthless, Author Certification & AI Gets Religion

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 19:00:00 -0500

Amazon's New AI Series Recap Feature: How It Will Impact Your Kindle Books

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Tariffs Up & NaNoWiMo Closing Down

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Invasion of the AI Images

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Here’s what you can expect from Author Update:

Publishing News: Stay in the loop on what’s happening in the industry.
Advice That Matters: Learn how to make your book irresistible to readers.
Live Q&A: Bring your questions and get answers from Thomas Umstattd and Jonathan Shuerger.

Links:

- Novel Marketing Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/novelmarketing
- First Email Challenge: https://training.authormedia.com/courses/2751846
- Patron Toolbox: https://www.authormedia.com/patron-toolbox/
- AI Thomas: https://www.authormedia.com/patron-toolbox/ai-thomas/
- Jon’s Substack Link: https://jonathanshuerger.substack.com/p/for-authors-amazon-ad-words?r=2i152j

Affiliate Link:
M4 MacBook Air: https://amzn.to/3XAF8TN

# YouTube Chapters for Author Update

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:43 Amazon Ads Expansion to New Countries
02:25 Technology News: AI Updates in Publishing
03:58 Traditional Publishing Embracing AI
04:17 ChatGPT's New Image Generator
09:51 AI Ethics: Taking Jobs from Artists?
14:13 The Future of Creativity: Authenticity as Currency
17:16 Google's Gemini 2.5 AI Model
20:41 Overcoming Procrastination for Authors
25:04 The Future of the Internet: Smaller Communities?
32:04 IMLS Cuts to Libraries: Impact on Authors
39:22 Canadian Booksellers Fighting US Tariffs
51:04 Amazon Beta Testing Sponsored Ads on Retailer Websites
53:52 Q&A: Budget-Friendly Advertising for Authors
56:23 Using AI for Developmental Editing
58:22 Targeting Your Ideal Readers
1:00:36 Ethics of Using AI-Generated Content
1:06:40 Sponsor Message and Closing

Did Meta Steal Your Book?

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Publishing news and advice from Novel Marketing host Thomas Umstattd Jr. and indie author Jonathan Shuerger. Join live to get *your* questions answered.

Links:
Novel Marketing Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/novelmarketing
How to Make Your Author Website Amazing: https://training.authormedia.com/p/amazing-author-websites
First Email Challenge: https://training.authormedia.com/p/send-your-first-email-challenge
Patron Toolbox: https://www.authormedia.com/patron-toolbox/
AI Thomas: https://www.authormedia.com/patron-toolbox/ai-thomas/

00:00 – Introduction & Welcome
01:53 – Breaking News: Meta’s AI Trained on a Pirate Database
06:08 – New AI Writing Tool: Sudowrite’s Muse
10:58 – Tech Spotlight: Apple’s New M4 MacBook Air & Laptop Guide Insights
14:55 – Announcing the Reader Magnet Brainstormer
18:36 – Marketing Insights: ChatGPT, SEO & AI in Publishing
35:02 – Culture Corner: Assassin’s Creed and Video Game Controversies
45:37 – Publishing Trends: Book Talk and Industry Shifts
51:22 – Listener Q&A and Final Thoughts