If your book promotions aren’t working, it might be time to level up. Emma Boyer of Written Word Media returns to reveal what top authors are doing differently—and how you can apply those strategies in 2025. From advanced promo timing to new reader trends, we’re digging into what actually works right now to sell more books.

• Written Word Media - http://writtenwordmedia.com/
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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

Amazon just made a major update that could reshape how your books perform on the platform. In this news segment, we break down what’s happening, how it could affect rankings, and what indie authors should keep in mind moving forward. Plus, important updates from Kobo, MailerLite, AppSumo, and more.

• YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubeBook
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Sources:

• The Amazon Algorithm Change You NEED to Know About - https://youtu.be/vfiArlO2UkQ?si=gPFLjwCs8W7pdr6y
• KDP: Sales Ranking - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201648140
• Kobo and AI: Making Reading and Publishing Even Better, Together - https://kobowritinglife.com/2025/05/29/kobo-and-ai/
• Amazon Ads: AI-powered Video generator - https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/whats-new/create-high-quality-ai-generated-videos-in-minutes
• The Bottom Line by Jane Friedman: 8th Note Press closing? - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/ (subscription required)
• THE AUDIO PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SURVEY SHOWS AUDIOBOOK SALES GROW TO 2.22 BILLION DOLLARS - https://www.audiopub.org/surveys
• NYT: The Times and Amazon Announce an A.I. Licensing Deal - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/business/media/new-york-times-amazon-ai-licensing.html
• Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com
• You may have received a fake email impersonating MailerLite - https://www.mailerlite.com/help/phishing-in-email-marketing
• Publisher Rocket Lifetime Deal (...still available???) - https://DaleLinks.com/RocketDeal (affiliate link)
• AppSumo presents Sumo Day - https://DaleLinks.com/AppSumo (affiliate link)
• AppSumo LTD: DepositPhotos - https://dalelinks.com/depositphotos (affiliate link)
• AppSumo LTD: Video to Blog - https://dalelinks.com/videotoblog (affiliate link)
• AppSumo LTD: PressRanger - https://dalelinks.com/pressranger (affiliate link)
• YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubeBook

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

Struggling to structure your novel? Learn how five key scenes can shape your story’s success. Kristina Stanley, founder of Fictionary and the School for Writers and Editors, joins us to share how these scenes vary across genres like romance, fantasy, and mystery. We’ll also explore free tools available to help you build stronger story structure, no matter your experience level.

• Fictionary - https://DaleLinks.com/Fictionary (affiliate link)
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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

Big changes are coming fast for indie authors. KDP is slashing royalties for print books under $9.99 starting next week. Meanwhile, Publisher Rocket is ending its lifetime license—soon, it’ll be monthly only. Plus, Spotify for Authors is moving features over from Findaway Voices and confirming promo code honors. Here’s what you need to know.

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
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• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Sources:

• How to Get Amazon Book Reviews Without Breaking the Rules - https://bookawardpro.com/blog/how-to-get-amazon-book-reviews-without-breaking-the-rules/
• Publisher Rocket SALE - https://rocket.thrivecart.com/special-publisher-rocket/?affiliate=selfpubwithdale (affiliate link)
• KDP: Print Royalty Rate and Paperback Printing Cost Changes FAQ - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GXFPA52P6ZJD2U3N?ref_=pe_93986420_1235824880
• Spotify for Authors - https://authors.spotify.com/
• Apple Books accepts accessibility metadata tags - https://itunespartner.apple.com/books/support/12-metadata
• Written Word Media presents: The YouTube Author Blueprint: From Zero to Growing Reader Community - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/speaker-series/
• ARC: YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/ARCTeam

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

Think book awards are just about luck or deep pockets? Think again. In this interview, I sit down with Steven Seril, indie author and founder of the Outstanding Creator Awards, to talk about how authors can actually win book awards—without wasting time or money. We cover the biggest do’s and don’ts of submitting to contests, what judges really look for, and how to use awards to build your author brand. If you're thinking of entering a competition, watch this first.

• Outstanding Creator Awards - https://www.outstandingcreator.com/
• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
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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 today’s indie author news update, we’re diving into the latest feature rollouts from IngramSpark, an exciting new marketing tool from Barnes & Noble Press, and a handful of cutting-edge book promotion services you’ll want to check out. We’re also covering updates from Apple Books, a powerful book structure fix from Fictionary, and wrapping up with a huge giveaway opportunity you don’t want to miss. Tune in and find out what’s new and what’s hot in self-publishing!

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
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• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Sources:

• IngramSpark - https://ingramspark.com - IngramSpark May 2025 Newsletter - https://www.ingramspark.com/newsletter-may2025
• Barnes & Noble Press: A Free Book Marketing Tool for Self-Published Authors - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/book-marketing-tool-for-self-published-authors/
• Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com
• Spoken.Press - https://spoken.press
• Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link)
• Gemsy.io - https://DaleLinks.com/Gemsy (affiliate link)
• The Wide Author's Playbook: Unlocking Your Book’s Potential - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bHywZKmPSPmp6NBHe9UbMQ#/registration
• Kindlepreneur: Cracking the Code to Amazon Book Sales - https://my.demio.com/ref/kIMXsb6k4Itz2WNI
• 30 Books in 30 Days Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books
• Grand Prize Day – Win Big in Our Author Giveaway! - https://www.youtube.com/live/QRc1jsvUHx4?si=0VVvEDyM9BhNbASA
• Fix Your Story’s Structure with These 5 Key Scenes | Kristina Stanley of Fictionary - https://www.youtube.com/live/szsfwHKLTpA?si=UK3Ib0e0NUFjOF02

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

What if you had to start from scratch? In this episode, I’ll share the exact roadmap for indie authors, how to build a brand from nothing, and what actually works for long-term success. Whether you’re a new author or a seasoned pro, this is your playbook for more book sales.

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
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• 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

Amazon KDP just announced a major change to print royalties, and the publishing world is buzzing. In this week’s self-publishing news, we cover the updated royalty rates, what it means for paperback authors, and how it may or may not tie into the rise of low-content and AI-generated books. We also look at a major court ruling that could finally open the door for easier mobile eBook sales, plus a new report from the U.S. Copyright Office on artificial intelligence and training data. If you care about book sales, author income, or where publishing is headed next, don’t miss this week's Self-Publishing News.

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
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• 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:

• KDP: Print Royalty Rate and Paperback Printing Cost Changes FAQ - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GXFPA52P6ZJD2U3N?ref_=pe_93986420_1235824880
• KDP Print Calculator - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200735480?ref_=pe_93986420_1235824880#royalty_calculator
• The Bottom Line - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/
• US Copyright Office - Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 3 - https://www.copyright.gov/ai/Copyright-and-Artificial-Intelligence-Part-3-Generative-AI-Training-Report-Pre-Publication-Version.pdf?mc_cid=e9a1b9ab69&mc_eid=433332c881
• Major Court Ruling Opens New Path for Mobile eBook Sales - https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/ruling-opens-path-for-mobile-ebook-sales/
• Coauthoring Nonfiction: Strategies for Successful Collaboration - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7hV_IsqVQE6Ghv1HNl-Szg#/registration
• Outstanding Creator Awards - https://www.outstandingcreator.com/winners--2025-spring-contest.html
• Wide Publishing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/WideBook
• Mastering Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP - https://www.youtube.com/live/_8rNH3SQJK4?si=HP2BB81XZTF9oX24
• How to Win Book Awards Without Wasting Money | Outstanding Creator Awards - https://www.youtube.com/live/X-4w4OWnRgE?si=DkqBCns4G2emtoZq
• 30 Books Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books

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