Worried about your KDP Select reads dropping to zero? Some authors are reporting strange behavior inside Kindle Unlimited, while a major AI lawsuit involving $1.5 billion hits a possible roadblock. Plus, new tools for library discoverability, podcast interviews that don’t sell books, and surprising updates from the review and marketing world. It’s a packed week of self-publishing news you don’t want to miss.

• The Final 3 Kickstarter - https://DaleLinks.com/Kickstarter
• KDP Community: KENP Reads Dropped to Zero Since Aug 14 — Anyone Else? - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/question/0D5at00000OJ6NTCA1/kenp-reads-dropped-to-zero-since-aug-14-anyone-else?language=en_US&t=1757978262334
• Anthropic Lawsuit: Judge Is Unhappy about the Details of $1.5 Billion Settlement (source: The Bottom Line) - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/
• Books by Bots - https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/09/02/books-by-bots/
• ALLi Podcast: Libby App Releases Inspire Me AI Tool - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-inspire-me/
• Writer Beware: Protecting Intellectual Property: What Writers Need to Know About Copyright - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/09/12/protecting-intellectual-property-what-writers-need-to-know-about-copyright/
• The Jay Shetty Effect (Or Lack Thereof) - https://michelleglogovac.substack.com/p/the-jay-shetty-effect-or-lack-thereof
• ProWritingAid: Novel November - https://dalelinks.com/novnov (affiliate link)
• Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com
• Why Most Authors Waste Their Back Matter (and How to Fix It) - https://youtu.be/UgQNGZgOiQw?si=-gjXpu1Y98z8q4gr
• SPTT 094 – Mastering Self-Publishing and Starting Over with Fiction - https://youtu.be/ceZdgmTZtcc?si=dZluHaCnEV6L2tmx
• Tertulia for Authors - http://DaleLinks.com/Tertulia (affiliate link)
• Book Marketing that Works: Insights from Dale L. Roberts - https://streamyard.com/watch/ujr67ajAi499
• ALLi’s 2025 Author Income Survey - https://allianceindependentauthors.org/survey
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

KDP has quietly confirmed a huge change to the Select program, and we've got the update. Plus, big audiobook news from ElevenLabs, a lifetime discount on Authorbase, and a special report from Jane Friedman on the past decade of publishing. All that and more in the Self-Publishing News for September 9, 2025.

• The Final 3: Your Publishing Playbook, Rewritten - https://DaleLinks.com/Kickstarter
• Email Marketing for Books - https://DaleLinks.com/EmailBook

Sources:

• KDP: How to enroll in KDP Select - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GD9PMU58BV24QFZ7#enroll
• Kindlepreneur: ghost categories. - https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-choose-the-best-kindle-ebook-kdp-category/
• Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link)
• Amazon Ads - https://advertising.amazon.com
• Writer Beware: If Your Publisher Promised to Register Your Copyright, Check Your Registration Now - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/29/if-your-publisher-promised-to-register-your-copyright-check-your-registration-now
• Jane Friedman: How Publishing Has Changed Since 2015 - https://janefriedman.com/how-publishing-has-changed-since-2015/
• GeniusLink - https://DaleLinks.com/Genius (affiliate link)
• ALLi’s 2025 Author Income Survey - https://allianceindependentauthors.org/survey (deadline September 17, 2025)
• MailerLite: Free plan update: What you need to know - https://www.mailerlite.com/help/free-plan-update-faq
• MailerLite - https://dalelinks.com/mailerlite (affiliate link)
• Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link)
• ElevenReader - https://elevenreader.io/
• AuthorBase - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorBase (affiliate link) Lock in 20% off for life till September 30th.
• September 2025: Creating Multiple Income Streams from Your Book - https://twinflamesstudios.com/monetize?partnerid=r1397 (affiliate link)
• Draft2Digital's Self-Publishing Insider: Catching Up with Dale Roberts - https://www.youtube.com/live/WRG4SfnhDKg?si=JY2_3R4oSxEeCSlv
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

Self-publishing just took a few sharp turns, and indie authors need to keep up. From changes to distribution programs to new tools and publishing features, the landscape continues to shift. In this week's roundup, we break down the biggest developments and what they could mean for your author business. Whether you're just starting out or deep in the game, you won't want to miss these updates.

Sources:

• My Kickstarter Campaign - The Final 3: Your Publishing Playbook, Rewritten - https://DaleLinks.com/Kickstarter
• Email Marketing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/EmailBook
• KDP Select Now Allows Library Distribution - https://youtu.be/EpeDj4b4SHs?si=HwcOGSjLUTlaQRQv
• KDP Accessibility Guidelines - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GF9Z3HLUMTRJ6QPL
• Bookvault announces US Shipping Increases - https://bookvault.app
• Kindlepreneur: AI Trained on Your Books? What the Bartz v. Anthropic Lawsuit Means for Authors - https://kindlepreneur.com/anthropic-ai-lawsuit/
• Top 10 Book Marketing Mistakes Self-Published Authors Make (and How to Avoid Them) - https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/top-10-book-marketing-mistakes-self-published-authors-make-and-how-to-avoid-them
• Authorbase Lifetime Deal - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorbaseLTD (affiliate link)
• Authorbase (by Booksprout) - https://DaleLinks.com/Authorbase (affiliate link)
• ProseWrite - New Feature Roll-outs - https://DaleLinks.com/ProseWrite (affiliate link)
• The Indy Author Podcast: Episode 302 -  AI as Business Consultant and Coach with Dale L. Roberts - https://www.theindyauthor.com/show-notes/302-dale-roberts
• Audio Interview: How Authors Can Earn Income and Visibility Through Libraries - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-sylvia-hubbard/
• Draft2Digital's Self-Publishing Insiders: Catching Up with Dale Roberts - https://www.youtube.com/live/WRG4SfnhDKg?si=Mi31j5nAv8QrxbFj
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

In this interview with Sylvia Hubbard, I dive into why YouTube is one of the most powerful tools for authors today. We explore how indie authors can grow an audience, increase visibility, and sell more books without being a full-time content creator. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your brand, this conversation is full of practical tips to help you get more from your video content. If you’ve ever wondered how YouTube fits into your author business, this one’s for you.

• Sylvia Hubbard - https://sylviahubbard.com
• YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubeBook
• MorningFame - https://DaleLinks.com/MorningFame (referral link)
• TubeBuddy - https://DaleLinks.com/TubeBuddy (affiliate link)
• VidIQ - https://DaleLinks.com/VidIQ
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts​

In this episode, Dale L. Roberts breaks down the complex world of publishing for authors, from distribution systems and accessibility to the differences between hybrid and vanity publishing. Learn how perma-free books can be used as an effective marketing strategy, why returns matter, and what it takes to succeed when going wide. Whether you’re new to publishing or an experienced indie author, this conversation delivers practical insights to help you avoid scams, maximize reach, and make smarter publishing decisions.

• Sylvia Hubbard - https://sylviahubbard.com
• Wide Publishing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/WideBook
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

In this week’s self-publishing news, we cover Audible’s controversial new royalty system that leaves authors earning pennies on the dollar, Amazon’s broken AI book summaries, and a major class action lawsuit against Anthropic over pirated training data. We also spotlight new free author courses from CraveBooks, sales from ProWritingAid and MailerLite, and ALLi’s latest contest for indie writers. Plus, Author Nation 2025 is coming fast with sessions from James Patterson, Andrew Davis, and more. Stay informed on the biggest changes shaping the future of publishing, and make sure you don’t get left behind.

*** TO BE VERY CLEAR, THE AUDIBLE ROYALTY STRUCTURE IS STILL IN BETA AND NOT OFFICIALLY ROLLED OUT TO ALL AUTHORS. ***

• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Sources:

• Daniel Greene - Audible Is Broken - https://youtu.be/xhTmMv_s578?si=kFIw2kvQXcAqtkyS
• Convince Audible to revise it's New Royalty Model - https://www.change.org/p/convince-audible-to-revise-it-s-new-royalty-model
• Amazon displaying AI summaries that are inaccurate (anecdotal)
• Writer Beware: Bartz v Anthropic: Find Out if You May Be Part of This Class Action - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/15/bartz-v-anthropic-find-out-if-you-may-be-part-of-this-class-action/
• ProWritingAid (limited time offer) - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid (affiliate link)
• ProWritingAid Community - https://community.prowritingaid.com/
• MailerLite (limited time offer) - https://DaleLinks.com/MailerLite (affiliate link)
• CraveBooks: Master The Art Of Book Promos - https://cravebooks.com/courses/promotion-readiness-course
• CraveBooks: Master Your Author Newsletter - https://cravebooks.com/courses/author-newsletter
• ALLi presents: Free “Write Your Why” Competition - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/conference-2025/write-your-why/

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

Join Sylvia Hubbard for the fourth installment in her interview series with Dale Roberts, diving into his book How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours. Discover the proven techniques Dale uses to conquer writer’s block, maintain focus with the Pomodoro method, and stay accountable from idea to finished manuscript. Packed with fast writing strategies and practical tips, this episode is perfect for authors who want to write more efficiently without sacrificing quality. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned pro, you’ll learn how to turn your ideas into a completed nonfiction book in record time.

• Sylvia Hubbard - https://sylviahubbard.com
• How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours - https://DaleLinks.com/24HoursBook
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts