Author Update
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.
Episodes
56 episodes
Draft2Digital Confirms Amazon's Sales Reporting Is Off
Plus the numbers on AI slop in the Amazon market, a whole new set of Author Alerts and a lengthy zeitgeist segment on the nationalism vs. globalism movements across the world.
Audible Forces Every Title into New Royalty Model
Plus, FTC penalizes Publishing.com for deceptive practices, and Jonathan and Thomas argue Star Wars turnings.
Price Fixing at Amazon
Plus ChatGPT updates, Copyright Office increasing its prices, and what the SPLC indictment means for your business.
Amazon Kills Store Access for Two Million Kindles
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!
The Week Romance Died - And Other Dramas
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
And other various and sundry.
Long Live the Writers! Publisher Drops AI Written Book
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
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
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
Trad publishing news, AI causing job losses and the K-lytics romance report!
Indies Win! Harlequin to Close Historical Romance Line
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
Plus the Super Bowl halftime show, Harper Collins quarterly report and how the Roman Empire somehow again influences publishing.
Could OpenAI Own Your Book?
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
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
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
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!
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!
Plus more AI news, Author Arsenal updates and Jonathan and Thomas's thoughts on the romance genre!
The Demonetized Episode
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!
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!
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?
Google's dark pattern, plus new AI tools, upgrades to existing systems and a deep dive into the cozy mystery genre.