The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast

FTC Cracks Down on Misleading Author Income Claims | Self-Publishing News (Apr. 29, 2026)

The FTC just hit Publishing.com and the Mikkelsen Twins with a $1.5 million settlement, and that is only part of this week's self-publishing news. I also cover impersonation scammers targeting authors, Spotify expanding deeper into audiobooks and print discovery with Bookshop.org, a helpful new KDP Select calculator from Kindlepreneur, and more rapid-fire updates authors need to know. If you care about self-publishing news, author scams, audiobook growth, and the latest publishing industry shifts, this one is worth your attention. * Dibbly Create - https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate [https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate] (affiliate link) * Publishing.com to Pay $1.5 Million for Misleading Consumers about How Much Income They Could Earn Using the Company's Products and Services - https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/publishingcom-pay-15-million-misleading-consumers-about-how-much-income-they-could-earn-using [https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/publishingcom-pay-15-million-misleading-consumers-about-how-much-income-they-could-earn-using] * Kindlepreneur: KENP Calculator: Know What a Kindle Unlimited Reader Is Actually Worth - https://kindlepreneur.com/kenp-calculator/?aff=18 [https://kindlepreneur.com/kenp-calculator/?aff=18] * Spotify Expands Audiobook Features, and Printed Book Sales Go Live in the US and UK - https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-15/audiobook-charts-recaps-page-match-bookshop-update/ [https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-15/audiobook-charts-recaps-page-match-bookshop-update/] * Spoken: What Did the "Your Story" Winner Webinar Reveal? - https://www.spoken.press/the-spoken-chronicle/your-story-grand-prize [https://www.spoken.press/the-spoken-chronicle/your-story-grand-prize] Rapid-Fire Newsflash * ProWritingAid: Plot Analysis - https://prowritingaid.com/features/plot-analysis?afid=6615 [https://prowritingaid.com/features/plot-analysis?afid=6615] * Book Brush: Launch Smarter: Build Your Newsletter, Website, and ARC Team Before Your Book Hits - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gr1FVJtBSzOwv4qYost18Q#/registration [https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gr1FVJtBSzOwv4qYost18Q#/registration] * Twin Flames Studios: Great Books Aren't Written—They're Edited - https://twinflamesstudios.com/book-editing-authors/ [https://twinflamesstudios.com/book-editing-authors/] * The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast: Marketing Your Books Using Video, with Dale L. Roberts and Matty Dalrymple - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-marketing-your-books-using-video/ [https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-marketing-your-books-using-video/] * Indie Author Magazine: Email Marketing That Turns Readers Into Fans (and Buyers) - https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/replays/ [https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/replays/] * Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp [https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp] * Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships [https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships] * Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord [https://DaleLinks.com/Discord] * Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts [https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts] * My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks [https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks] * Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee [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

[BREAKING] Draft2Digital Just Added New Fees | Self-Publishing News (Apr. 16, 2026)

Draft2Digital just rolled out new fees, Barnes & Noble Press tightened its print book rules, and more self-publishing platforms are making changes that authors need to watch closely. In this Self-Publishing News update, we cover the latest Draft2Digital changes, Barnes & Noble Press policy updates, Bookvault shipping increases, Apple Books updates, and more. If you are a self-published author, this is the kind of industry news that can affect your books, your publishing options, and your business. Stay informed so you can make smarter decisions as the market keeps shifting. * Dibbly Create - https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate [https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate] * Draft2Digital: Understanding D2D's Activation and Maintenance Fees - https://draft2digital.com/blog/understanding-d2ds-activation-and-maintenance-fees/ [https://draft2digital.com/blog/understanding-d2ds-activation-and-maintenance-fees/] * Draft2Digital: Terms of Service - https://draft2digital.com/terms-of-service/ [https://draft2digital.com/terms-of-service/] * Barnes & Noble Press: Print Book Pricing and Printing Costs - https://help-press.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/5358788362907-Print-Book-Pricing-and-Printing-Costs [https://help-press.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/5358788362907-Print-Book-Pricing-and-Printing-Costs] * Bookvault - https://bookvault.app [https://bookvault.app] * ALLi: When Amazon Closes Your Account: Member Q&A with Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-when-amazon-closes-your-account/ [https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-when-amazon-closes-your-account/] * The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) - https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi [https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi] (affiliate link) * Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com [https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com] Rapid-Fire Newsflash * Apple Books for Authors: New BISAC subject headings - https://www.bisg.org/complete-bisac-subject-headings-list [https://www.bisg.org/complete-bisac-subject-headings-list] * Apple Books for Authors: Manage book rights and pricing - https://itunespartner.apple.com/books/support/30-manage-book-rights-pricing [https://itunespartner.apple.com/books/support/30-manage-book-rights-pricing] * Writer Beware: Anthropic Copyright Settlement: April Update - https://writerbeware.blog/2026/04/10/anthropic-copyright-settlement-april-update/ [https://writerbeware.blog/2026/04/10/anthropic-copyright-settlement-april-update/] * GetCovers - https://DaleLinks.com/GetCovers [https://DaleLinks.com/GetCovers] (affiliate link) * GetCovers: 10 Tips for Designing a Business Book Cover That Sells - https://getcovers.com/blog/business-book-cover-design/ [https://getcovers.com/blog/business-book-cover-design/] * Bradley Charbonneau: How Fiction Authors Make Money on YouTube (Without Selling Books) with Lainey Davis - https://youtu.be/M72H0tZ62Lg?si=vS60HFvkZ_JkCJcv [https://youtu.be/M72H0tZ62Lg?si=vS60HFvkZ_JkCJcv] * Email Marketing for Authors by Dale L. Roberts - https://DaleLinks.com/EmailBook [https://DaleLinks.com/EmailBook] * 2026 American Legacy Book Awards - https://www.americanlegacyawards.com/2026awardannouncement.html [https://www.americanlegacyawards.com/2026awardannouncement.html] * Indie Author Training: Replays - https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/replays/ [https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/replays/] * Side note: The hosts shared my replay will be up by next week. * Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp [https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp] * Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships [https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships] * Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord [https://DaleLinks.com/Discord] * Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts [https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts] * My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks [https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks] * Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee [https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee]. T 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 Rolled Out New Features | Self-Publishing News (Apr. 8, 2026)

Amazon KDP quietly rolled out a few new updates, and authors should take notice. I cover the new dashboard changes, the updated Rights and Pricing page, and the new ability to download your latest manuscript or cover file. Plus, I break down The New York Times expanding audio best-seller lists, a scam warning from Writer Beware, cautionary notes from Book Bounty, and a rapid-fire newsflash featuring ProWritingAid, Miblart, and Book Brush. * My Discord Community - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord [https://DaleLinks.com/Discord] * KDP - https://kdp.amazon.com [https://kdp.amazon.com] * New York Times: Announcing Updates to Our Best-Seller Lists - https://www.nytco.com/press/announcing-updates-to-our-best-seller-lists/ [https://www.nytco.com/press/announcing-updates-to-our-best-seller-lists/] * Writer Beware: Watch Out For This Scam Impersonating Editors at Major Publishing Houses - https://writerbeware.blog/2026/03/27/watch-out-for-this-scam-impersonating-editors-at-major-publishing-houses/ [https://writerbeware.blog/2026/03/27/watch-out-for-this-scam-impersonating-editors-at-major-publishing-houses/] * Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty [https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty] (affiliate link) Rapid-Fire News Flash * ProWritingAid - https://DaleLinks.com/PWADeal [https://DaleLinks.com/PWADeal] (affiliate link) - 25% off annual plans; offer good through April 13, 2026 * ProWritingAid Story Credits - https://dalelinks.com/storycredits [https://dalelinks.com/storycredits] (affiliate link) - Up to 73% off; offer good through April 13, 2026 * Miblart Cover Design - https://DaleLinks.com/Miblart [https://DaleLinks.com/Miblart] (affiliate link) - 20% off with EASTER20; offer good through April 9 * Did you miss the deal? Then take 10% off with DALE10. * Book Brush: Automate the Boring: A Beginner's Guide to Author Automations with Chelle Honiker - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ct5GIzSoTmqMcLZ7U6Bh2w#/registration [https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ct5GIzSoTmqMcLZ7U6Bh2w#/registration] * Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp [https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp] * Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships [https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships] * Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord [https://DaleLinks.com/Discord] * Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts [https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts] * My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks [https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks] * Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee [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

MORE Signs Amazon Wants You to Bring the Traffic | Self-Publishing News (March 27, 2026)

Amazon's latest algorithm changes are giving authors more proof that they need to bring their own traffic, while KDP print quality concerns keep pushing some authors to look at other options. In this self-publishing news update, I cover new insights from Written Word Media, a trust-shaking Grammarly lawsuit, LaterPress AI tools, Voices by INaudio, Draft2Digital features, and more. You'll also hear quick updates on Spoken, Booklinker, Twin Flames Studios, and rising self-publishing stats. All that and more in the Self-Publishing News for March 27, 2026. * PRF Law: Class Action Alleges That Grammarly Misappropriated the Names of Journalists and Authors Through its "Expert Review" That Lets Users Get Feedback on Writing From Experts - https://prf-law.com/current-cases/class-action-alleges-that-grammarly-misappropriated-the-names-of-journalists-and-authors-through-its-expert-review [https://prf-law.com/current-cases/class-action-alleges-that-grammarly-misappropriated-the-names-of-journalists-and-authors-through-its-expert-review] * Written Word Podcast: The Amazon A10 Update: 3 Things Every Indie Author Needs to Know - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/the-amazon-a10-update-3-things-every-indie-author-needs-to-know/ [https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/the-amazon-a10-update-3-things-every-indie-author-needs-to-know/] * Vervanté - https://vervante.com/ [https://vervante.com/] * Laterpress - https://Laterpress.com [https://Laterpress.com] * Laterpress: An Introduction to Laterpress AI | Special 2-hour Launch Stream https://www.youtube.com/live/E-h-WZR4mx8?si=4DUeL18jZiokE92t [https://www.youtube.com/live/E-h-WZR4mx8?si=4DUeL18jZiokE92t] * Voices by INAudio: Welcome to the Voices Newsletter - https://voicesbyinaudio-newsletter.beehiiv.com/p/welcome-to-the-voices-newsletter-8bc7af69628f447c [https://voicesbyinaudio-newsletter.beehiiv.com/p/welcome-to-the-voices-newsletter-8bc7af69628f447c] * Draft2Digital - https://DaleLinks.com/D2D [https://DaleLinks.com/D2D] (referral link) Rapid-Fire News Flash * Spoken x Author Nation: Choose the Winner in "Your Story" Audiobook Contest - https://www.spoken.press/yourstory [https://www.spoken.press/yourstory] * Spoken: Spring Sprint - https://www.spoken.press/sprint [https://www.spoken.press/sprint] * Twin Flames Studios: Launch Strategies That Fit You (webinar) - https://twinflamesstudios.com/launchstrategies/?partnerid=r1397 [https://twinflamesstudios.com/launchstrategies/?partnerid=r1397] * BookLinker: Getting Started with BookBub Ads (webinar) - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/Bookbub-Ads-Authors [https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/Bookbub-Ads-Authors] * Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp [https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp] * Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships [https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships] * Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord [https://DaleLinks.com/Discord] * Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts [https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts] * My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks [https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks] * Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee [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's Category Problem Is GETTING WORSE | Self-Publishing News (March 19, 2026)

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 [https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket] (affiliate link) * Novel Report - https://DaleLinks.com/NovelReport [https://DaleLinks.com/NovelReport] (affiliate link) * Use code GETMYREPORT for $20 off - Amazon Advertising - https://advertising.amazon.com [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/ [https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/spring-clean-your-book-metadata/] * CraveBooks - https://DaleLinks.com/CraveBooks [https://DaleLinks.com/CraveBooks] (affiliate link) * CraveBooks Marketing Hub (on Discord) - https://discord.gg/AYYbKKWGDJ [https://discord.gg/AYYbKKWGDJ] * The Alliance of Independent Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi [https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi] (affiliate link) * ALLi: The Indie Author Bookstore - https://bookstore.allianceindependentauthors.org/ [https://bookstore.allianceindependentauthors.org/] * My ALLi Author Page - https://bookstore.allianceindependentauthors.org/author/dale-l-roberts [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/ [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/ [https://authorsguild.org/event/from-manuscript-to-marketplace-we-deserve-to-heal/] * Book Brush - https://BookBrush.com [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/ [https://readerviews.com/literaryawards/winners/sponsored/] * Outstanding Creator Awards 2025 Clash of Champions - https://www.outstandingcreator.com/winners--2025-clash-of-champions.html [https://www.outstandingcreator.com/winners--2025-clash-of-champions.html] * Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp [https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp] * Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships [https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships] * Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord [https://DaleLinks.com/Discord] * Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts [https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts] * My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks [https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks] * Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee [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