The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast

Dale L. Roberts
  • 4.9 (72)
  • BUSINESS
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The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast is devoted to teaching you relevant and up-to-date information in the world of self-publishing. Subscribe today!

  1. 3D AGO

    [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 Draft2Digital: Understanding D2D's Activation and Maintenance Fees - https://draft2digital.com/blog/understanding-d2ds-activation-and-maintenance-fees/ Draft2Digital: 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  Bookvault - 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/ The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) - https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi (affiliate link) Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com  Rapid-Fire Newsflash Apple Books for Authors: New BISAC subject headings - 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  Writer Beware: Anthropic Copyright Settlement: April Update - https://writerbeware.blog/2026/04/10/anthropic-copyright-settlement-april-update/ 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/ Bradley Charbonneau: How Fiction Authors Make Money on YouTube (Without Selling Books) with Lainey Davis - https://youtu.be/M72H0tZ62Lg?si=vS60HFvkZ_JkCJcv Email Marketing for Authors by Dale L. Roberts - https://DaleLinks.com/EmailBook 2026 American Legacy Book Awards - https://www.americanlegacyawards.com/2026awardannouncement.html Indie Author Training: 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 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. 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

    17 min

  2. APR 8

    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  KDP - 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/  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/ Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link) Rapid-Fire News Flash ProWritingAid - https://DaleLinks.com/PWADeal (affiliate link) - 25% off annual plans; offer good through April 13, 2026 ProWritingAid Story Credits - https://dalelinks.com/storycredits  (affiliate link) - Up to 73% off; offer good through April 13, 2026 Miblart Cover Design - 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   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

    13 min

  3. MAR 27

    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 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/ Vervanté - https://vervante.com/ Laterpress - https://Laterpress.com Laterpress: An Introduction to Laterpress AI | Special 2-hour Launch Stream 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 Draft2Digital - 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 Spoken: Spring Sprint - https://www.spoken.press/sprint Twin Flames Studios: Launch Strategies That Fit You (webinar) - https://twinflamesstudios.com/launchstrategies/?partnerid=r1397  BookLinker: Getting Started with BookBub Ads (webinar) - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/Bookbub-Ads-Authors   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

    15 min

  4. MAR 19

    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 (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  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

    16 min

  5. MAR 10

    Draft2Digital Reveals AI Problem Flooding Nonfiction | Self-Publishing News (Mar. 10, 2026)

    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 Amazon Ads - https://ads.amazon.com Voices by INAudio - https://www.voicesbyinaudio.com/ 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)   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

    17 min

  6. FEB 4

    [BREAKING NEWS] Draft2Digital and Bookshop Reach 4 Million Readers

    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/  Draft2Digital - https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (referral link) 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

    23 min

  7. JAN 13

    You Might Not Get Paid in AI Settlements | Self-Publishing News (Jan. 13, 2026)

    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  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 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

    13 min

  8. JAN 6

    Draft2Digital Raises Print Costs for 2026 | Self-Publishing News (Jan. 6, 2026)

    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 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

    12 min
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The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast is devoted to teaching you relevant and up-to-date information in the world of self-publishing. Subscribe today!

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