Amazon’s New Print Cut: Greed or Survival? | Self-Publishing News (May 19, 2025)
The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast
Release Date: 05/20/2025
The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast
Amazon KDP just rolled out a new look for the dashboard—and that's not all. They've also updated their keyword rules, and Kindlepreneur breaks it all down in plain English. Plus, PublishDrive has released a comprehensive guide to accessibility in digital publishing for 2025. Get all the latest updates and author opportunities in this week’s indie publishing news roundup. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe to my email newsletter - Join Channel Memberships - Join Me on Discord - Check out my main YouTube channel - My Books - Wanna tip me? Visit . Sources: KDP -...
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Before you send your manuscript to an editor, there’s work to be done. In this episode, I sit down with Jeannie De Vita—writing instructor at UCLA Extension, second-generation author, and bestselling romance writer under her Callie Chase pen name—to break down what separates a polished draft from an expensive mess. We’re talking best practices for prep, common mistakes authors make, and how to make your editor love you (and your manuscript). Book Genie - Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe to my email newsletter - Join Channel Memberships - Join Me on Discord - Check...
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Major updates this week in the publishing world: one major distributor is waiving its print market access fee for the next 12 months, while others are making key changes to how authors get paid or discover new readers. Plus, a brief outage, fresh promotional opportunities, and a couple of interviews you don’t want to miss. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe to my email newsletter - Join Channel Memberships - Join Me on Discord - Check out my main YouTube channel - My Books - Wanna tip me? Visit News Sources: Distribute Print Books to Ingram Without the Market Access...
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Tired of book marketing advice that doesn’t work in the real world? Angela Yuriko Smith—author, president of the Horror Writers Association, and creator of Authortunities—joins me live to reveal how authors are finding real visibility through the power of strategic promotion. We’ll dig into how to make the most of book fairs, awards, conferences, and more—and why most authors overlook the marketing gold that’s right in front of them. If you’re looking for practical ways to grow your readership without wasting time or money, don’t miss this episode. Authortunities - ...
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Radish Fiction is officially shutting down by December 2025. NetGalley just launched a consumer-facing discovery site called Booktrovert. And ACX is testing voice replica AI for audiobook narration. In this week's news update, I cover the latest shifts in the self-publishing world—including a deepfake interview warning, AI narration breakthroughs, and a major indie publishing milestone from Spoken.press. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe to my email newsletter - Join Channel Memberships - Join Me on Discord - Check out my main YouTube channel - My Books...
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Tired of trying to do everything as an author? Jonny Andrews joins me to break down how to grow your author business without the stress. We’re talking systems, mindset, and strategy—so you can stop spinning your wheels and start building real momentum. If you're ready to scale smart, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. Scale Your Hustle - Faceless Business Empire - Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe to my email newsletter - Join Channel Memberships - Join Me on Discord - Check out my main YouTube channel - My Books -...
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Major news just dropped in the world of AI and copyright, and authors need to pay attention. A federal judge made a surprising ruling about how AI models can use books, and it could change everything. Plus, new opportunities for indie authors with MailerLite, PublishDrive, Bookvault, and more. Catch up on everything happening in publishing this week. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe to my email newsletter - Join Channel Memberships - Join Me on Discord - Check out my main YouTube channel - My Books - Wanna tip me? Visit . News Sources: AI chatbots need more books...
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Struggling to make Amazon Ads work for your books? In this exclusive interview, Dale L. Roberts sits down with Sylvia Hubbard to unpack the biggest challenges and questions authors face when advertising on Amazon. From targeting to budgeting to measuring success, this video offers indie authors a roadmap to smarter, more effective advertising strategies. Whether you're just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, this conversation will shift your mindset and equip you to take action. Sylvia Hubbard - Advertising for Books - Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe...
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Think book awards are only for big-budget authors? Think again. In this episode, I’m joined by indie author Ross Brand, who’s won over 50 book awards using Book Award Pro, even on the free plan. He shares how to choose the right awards, save money, and turn wins into long-term visibility. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to submit your book, this is it. Ross Brand - Ross on YouTube - Ross on Substack - Ross's Books - Book Award Pro - (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - Subscribe to my email newsletter - Join Channel Memberships - Join Me on...
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A major shift in the book world is brewing as Everand acquires Fable, signaling a new direction for online book clubs and author-reader engagement. Meanwhile, Amazon has quietly cut more jobs—this time in the books division—raising questions about the future of publishing operations. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Authors can tap into a fresh wave of events like the Book Launchers summit, the ALLi podcast, and the upcoming Author Nation conference to stay ahead of the curve. If you’re serious about writing, marketing, or selling books, this week’s news matters. Subscribe to The...
info_outlineAmazon 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.
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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
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- Dale L. Roberts