Amazon's latest updates are raising concerns for self-published authors, as hundreds of new KDP categories may actually be hurting book discoverability instead of helping it. In this Self-Publishing News update, we break down the growing issue of ghost categories, along with what authors can do to stay visible. We also cover Amazon's push into AI-powered ads, new metadata guidance from Barnes & Noble Press, and a cover design case study from CraveBooks with surprising results.

• Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link)
• Novel Report - https://DaleLinks.com/NovelReport (affiliate link)
  • Use code GETMYREPORT for $20 off - Amazon Advertising - https://advertising.amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble Press: 7 Steps to Spring Clean Your Book Metadata! - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/spring-clean-your-book-metadata/
• CraveBooks - https://DaleLinks.com/CraveBooks (affiliate link)
• CraveBooks Marketing Hub (on Discord) - https://discord.gg/AYYbKKWGDJ
• The Alliance of Independent Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi (affiliate link)
• ALLi: The Indie Author Bookstore - https://bookstore.allianceindependentauthors.org/
• My ALLi Author Page - https://bookstore.allianceindependentauthors.org/author/dale-l-roberts

Rapid Fire News Flash

• Writer Beware: Deadline Approaching to File a Claim in the Anthropic Settlement - https://writerbeware.blog/2026/03/13/deadline-approaching-to-file-a-claim-in-the-anthropic-settlement/
• Authors Guild: From Manuscript to Marketplace: WE DESERVE TO HEAL - https://authorsguild.org/event/from-manuscript-to-marketplace-we-deserve-to-heal/
• Book Brush - https://BookBrush.com
  • Platinum members: Contact Book Brush about the Level Up Your Author Business webinar with Seth Norris & Mel Jolly
• Reader Views Book Awards - https://readerviews.com/literaryawards/winners/sponsored/
• Outstanding Creator Awards 2025 Clash of Champions - https://www.outstandingcreator.com/winners--2025-clash-of-champions.html
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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

Draft2Digital is finally explaining why dozens of nonfiction categories were blocked last year, and the answer points to a growing issue with AI flooding parts of the nonfiction marketplace. We also look at fresh market insights from PublishDrive, issues surfacing around the BookBounty review exchange platform, and several updates authors should keep on their radar across distribution, tools, and publishing platforms.

• Author Nation After Party (digital replay) - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNationReplay (affiliate link)
• PublishDrive's Market Intelligence Report 2026 - https://publishdrive.com/publishdrives-market-intelligence-report-2026
• PublishDrive - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link)
• Bookshop.org and Draft2Digital Partner - https://www.draft2digital.com/blog/bookshop-org-and-draft2digital-partner-enabling-independent-bookstores-to-profit-from-self-published-ebooks/
• D2D and Bookshop Team Up: Your Ebooks Reach 4 Million New Readers (video) - https://youtu.be/DR5ixdGItWE?si=KqZgeuEoSgolvL5p
• Draft2Digital - https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (affiliate link)
• Indie Author Magazine: Draft2Digital CEO Details How AI Is Actually Affecting the Industry - https://indieauthormagazine.com/draft2digital-ceo-kris-austin-details-how-ai-is-actually-affecting-the-industry/
• Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link)

Rapid Fire News Flash

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• Novel Report - https://DaleLinks.com/NovelReport (affiliate link)
• IngramSpark: Book Marketing for the Self-Published Author - https://ingramspark.learnworlds.com/course/book-marketing
• Barnes & Noble Press: Bank Beneficiary Address - https://help-press.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/45981327203483-Bank-Beneficiary-Address
• ProWritingAid presents: Novel Beginnings - https://prowritingaid.com/novel-beginnings?afid=6615 (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

Draft2Digital and Bookshop just opened a new path for indie authors to reach bookstore-first readers, with Bookshop serving around four million customers. We talk through what this partnership changes, how ebooks show up on Bookshop, how local bookstores benefit, what authors earn through the normal retail split, and how Bookshop affiliates can add extra upside. We also cover expectations, discoverability signals that reward recent sales, and why clean metadata plus DRM-free choices can help readers shop and read on the devices they prefer. (Feb. 4, 2026)

• Draft2Digital x Bookshop Press Release - https://www.draft2digital.com/blog/bookshop-org-and-draft2digital-partner-enabling-independent-bookstores-to-profit-from-self-published-ebooks/
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• 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

This week's self-publishing news covers why some authors get paid while others do not, including how rights reversion can affect payouts tied to AI settlements and future legal actions. We also touch on important updates and conversations involving Writer Beware, the Authors Guild, Apple Books, Spoken, ProWritingAid, Twin Flames Studios, and a new discussion on networking for authors. All that and more in the Self-Publishing News for January 13, 2026.

• Author Nation After Party (digital replay) - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNationReplay (affiliate link) -
• Writer Beware: Reversion Redux - https://writerbeware.blog/2026/01/09/reversion-redux/
• Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com
• Spoken - https://spoken.press
• ProWebWriter - https://prowebwriter.com/
• Miblart: 10 Book Cover Design Trends that Await Us in 2026 - https://miblart.com/blog/book-cover-trends-this-year/
• Author Marketing Experts: 10 Book Marketing Campaigns That Drive Real Results - https://amarketingexpert.com/2025/12/23/10-proven-book-marketing-campaigns-that-actually-work/
• ProWritingAid - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid (affiliate link)
• Twin Flames Studios: The State of Publishing in 2026 - https://twinflamesstudios.com/publishing-2026?partnerid=r1397
• Authors Guild: Money Isn't the Worst! Personal Finance 101 for Creatives - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YjXJv97PSLi2xy7bmADKjA#/registration
• The Novel Marketing Podcast: Networking for Authors - https://youtu.be/BRXpvf1Np_4?si=YJCNrjjWHH3UYN57
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Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the podcast 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

Draft2Digital has confirmed a print cost increase starting February 1, 2026, following similar changes across the print industry. IngramSpark confirms free revisions are coming, while platform risk, Amazon KDP, audio growth, and new author opportunities round out the first Self-Publishing News of the year. Here is what authors need to know.

• Author Nation After Party (digital replay) - https://AuthorNation.live/AfterParty
• Authors Guild Raises Concerns About Kindle's New "Ask This Book" AI Feature - https://authorsguild.org/news/statement-on-amazon-kindle-ask-this-book-ai-feature/
• Draft2Digital (D2D) - https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (referral link)
• D2D Print Price Calculator - https://draft2digital.com/podcalc
• IngramSpark - https://IngramSpark.com - use FIXIT to waive revision fees through January 2026 - https://www.ingramspark.com/free-revisions-fixit
• IngramSpark: A Letter from the Director - https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/a-letter-from-the-director-1
• PublishDrive 2025: The Year We Turned AI Promises Into Publishing Reality - https://publishdrive.com/publishdrive-2025-the-year-we-turned-ai-promises-into-publishing-reality.html
• PublishDrive - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link) - 25% off all annual plans until January 7, 2026
• GetCovers: Is Amazon KDP Worth It In 2026? - https://getcovers.com/blog/is-amazon-kdp-worth-it-in-2026
• Spoken: "Your Story" Competition - https://www.spoken.press/yourstory
• Booklinker: The Strategic Author - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/Strategic-Author
• Booklinker: From Book Cover to Brand Story: Building an Author Identity That Sells - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/Build-author-identity
• 2025 Digital Book Today Literary Awards - https://digitalbooktoday.com/?s=Dale
• YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubeBook
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• 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 quietly rolled out a new Kindle feature that places AI directly inside books, raising questions authors should understand. This week's Self-Publishing News also covers major audiobook platform updates, new distribution and monetization options, and review compliance shifts tied to Amazon enforcement. These changes affect how authors publish, promote, and protect their work moving into the new year.

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• IngramSpark Changes Every Author Must See | Self-Publishing News (Dec. 9, 2025) - https://youtu.be/tvyINUd0JIU?si=mMpMLgYl1B0Te6t9
• Now in Beta: Narrator Voice Replicas on ACX - https://www.acx.com/mp/blog/now-in-beta-narrator-voice-replicas-on-acx
• Writer Beware: Kindle's New Gen AI-Powered "Ask This Book" Feature Raises Rights Concerns - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/12/12/kindles-new-gen-ai-powered-ask-this-book-feature-raises-rights-concerns/
• Spotify for Authors - https://authors.spotify.com • Voices by INAudio - https://www.voicesbyinaudio.com/
• Google Play Books Partner Center: Character detection in auto-narrated audiobooks - https://support.google.com/books/partner/answer/14183080
• Spoken – https://spoken.press
• Book Bounty – https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link)
• The Bottom Line (subscription required) - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/
• YouTube for Authors – https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubeBook
• Dibbly Create – https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link) - Use coupon code DIBBLYHOLIDAY25 for 25% off yearly plans, and DIBBLYHOLIDAY30 for 30% off addon tokens. (ends January 1)
• Dibbly – https://DaleLinks.com/Dibbly - Use code TUWHOLIDAY7 for 7% off all services. (ends January 1)
• StoryOrigin – https://DaleLinks.com/StoryOrigin
• Keith Wheeler Books presents: Short Reads Domination Course - https://shortreaddomination.com/
• Matty Dalrymple presents: From Expertise to Authority: Building Your Professional Presence for a Sideline or Second Act - https://www.theindyauthor.com/entrepreneurship
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• 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

IngramSpark announced new pricing and a higher market access fee that affects every author using their platform. Draft2Digital revealed a major shift in Smashwords royalties, especially for lower priced ebooks. Written Word Media released new survey data showing what separates hobbyists from the authors earning real money. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week.

• YouTube Channel Memberships (podcast) – https://DaleLinks.com/Membership
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• IngramSpark - https://IngramSpark.com
• IngramSpark Rate Card 2026 - https://www.ingramspark.com/hubfs/Rate%20Card_IngramSpark_2026.pdf
• IngramSpark December 2025 Newsletter - https://www.ingramspark.com/newsletter-december2025
• Draft2Digital - https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (referral link)
• Draft2Digital Royalty Rates - https://www.draft2digital.com/blog/royalty-rates/
• Smashwords End of Year Sale - https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos
• Written Word Media: 2025 Indie Author Survey Results - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2025-indie-author-survey-results-insights-into-self-publishing-for-authors/
• Authors Guild: What Authors Need to Know About the Baker & Taylor Closure and How It Affects Library Access to Your Book - https://authorsguild.org/news/what-authors-need-to-know-about-the-baker-and-taylor-closure/
• Booklinker - https://Booklinker.com
• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
• Twin Flames Studios: The Ghostwriting of Christmas Past, Present, and Future - https://twinflamesstudios.com/ghostwriting/
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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