kdp
Best magazine printing companies for trade and B2B publishers
Discover the best magazine printing companies to assist indie authors like Claire in amplifying their reach through quality prints and tailored services.
thepublishingtimes.comEditorial
The Publishing Times
All the News That’s Fit to Publish
Blog · Publishing Intelligence
Publishing Intelligence & Guides
In-depth articles, how-to guides, and industry analysis for self-published authors.
book-awards
‘The Heart’ Review: A Bracing New Musical Pulses With Life
'The Heart' illustrates how blending genres can invigorate storytelling, offering indie authors fresh paths to captivate their readers.
book-awards
Attention Seeking Behaviour by Aea Varfis-van Warmelo review – a slippery liar’s tale
Aea Varfis-van Warmelo's debut explores memory and deceit through an unreliable narrator, inspiring indie authors to deepen character complexity.
publishing-news
Algerian Court Postpones Verdict in Houris Case Against Kamel Daoud to November 3
Prosecutors in Oran sought six years in prison for the Goncourt-winning novelist and his former partner in a privacy case brought by Saâda Arbane. Daoud denies the allegations.
publishing-news
More Than 100 Authors Sign Open Letter Pledging to Boycott Indigo Over CEO's HESEG Donations
Signatories including Viet Thanh Nguyen say they will not promote Indigo or join its events until Heather Reisman and Gerald Schwartz dissolve the HESEG Foundation or sell their Indigo shares. Indigo had not commented on the letter.
publishing-news
Poll Finds Most French Adults Want AI Use Labeled on Book Covers
In an Ipsos bva-CESI survey, more than nine in ten respondents backed a mandatory cover mention of AI use, and 69% said a book written with AI is not real literature.
publishing-news
Sébastien Lapaque Wins the Académie Française's 2026 Grand Prix du Roman
Lapaque's Le Rappel des oiseaux (Actes Sud) won on the third ballot by eight votes to seven over Yannick Haenel. The prize carries €10,000.
publishing-news
UK Budget Sets Aside £15 Million for Children's Books and Widens Rates Relief for Small Shops
The Treasury will provide up to £5 million a year for three years from 2027-28 for groups such as BookTrust and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Small shops in England also get wider business rates relief.
publishing-news
New Zealand Indie Bookshops Missed the Release Day for Sarah J. Maas's New Novel
Chain stores had A Court of Splintered Harmony on launch day, but independent shops across the country waited up to two more days. Booksellers have written an open letter to Bloomsbury and Penguin Random House Distribution.
publishing-news
Waterstones Names 20 Books on Its 2026 Book of the Year Shortlist
Booksellers chose a 20-title shortlist that includes Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout, Maggie O'Farrell and Robert Macfarlane. The winner will be named on Nov. 26.
publishing-news
Readwise Opens an Ebook Store Aimed at Kindle and Kobo Readers
Readwise Books, now in beta, sells ebooks, tracks reading sessions and imports Kindle and Goodreads history. The company says it carries more than a million ebooks from all major publishers in the U.S.
industry
Ask the SSP Advocacy Committee: What one change would you most like to see in terms of U.S. federal support for research following the midterms?
Indie authors stand to benefit from federal support for research, with increased funding potentially enhancing their resources and access to knowledge.
industry
Accidental Tribes by C.S. Pascoal
Discover how C.S. Pascoal's 'Accidental Tribes' weaves complex themes into fiction, a valuable lesson for indie authors seeking to engage readers meaningfully.
Book Advertising
How to Set Up Your First Amazon Ads Campaign and Let AI Optimize It in 2026
Amazon Ads are pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns designed to help authors promote their books on Amazon.
book-awards
THE MUEZZIN
Explore how Nicholas L. Hart's The Muezzin highlights the importance of identity and personal struggle, encouraging authors to create nuanced characters.
other
The New Love Languages by Joan Nwosu: Human Design's Ten Love Gates, Explained
Joan Nwosu's The New Love Languages, due from GracePoint Publishing on November 17, 2026, applies the Human Design system to relationships through ten "Love Gates."
other
The Last Revision by Patrick Smith: A 99-Year-Old Looks Back Through a Childhood Journal
Patrick Smith's debut, The Last Revision, published by Self Same Press in May 2026, follows 99-year-old Bill as a rediscovered childhood journal stirs memories of love, identity and a changing world.
other
Legends Unearthed: The Hunt for Yamashita's Gold by Sutton Lewis, a Middle-Grade Treasure Hunt
Sutton Lewis opens the Legends Unearthed series with four friends, a World War II notebook and the legend of a treasure hidden in the Philippines.
other
The Farmer's Code by Mike C. Young: Lessons on Legacy From Four Generations of Farming
Mike C. Young's The Farmer's Code: How Legacies Are Built, published by Forbes Books, draws on four generations of a farming family to explain values, relationships and lasting legacy.
other
Founding Crimes by David H. Tolly: The American Founding, Greatness and Guilt Together
David H. Tolly's Founding Crimes examines how America's founders defied British authority while tolerating slavery, Native dispossession, exclusion and corruption, and brings in contemporaries who called it out.
other
Shadow Work Journal and Workbook 2 in 1 by Scarlett Kent: What It Offers and Who It Helps
Scarlett Kent's Shadow Work Journal and Workbook 2 in 1 pairs Jung-inspired explanations with prompts, exercises and affirmations for self-reflection. Here is what is inside.
other
Such a Witch by Sarah Henning: A Magical-School Murder Mystery With Romance
Sarah Henning's YA fantasy Such a Witch, published July 28, 2026, makes its popular head prefect the prime suspect when a vampire student is murdered at her school for magic.
kdp-strategy
Niche Custom Printing for KDP Creators: When Specialty Print Beats Standard POD
Amazon KDP's print on demand covers most needs, but specialty printing can open markets KDP cannot: special editions, premium bindings, workbooks and local bulk orders. Here is how to decide.
other
Doug Einfeld's In the Shadow of the Most High: Family Genealogy Meets Jewish History
Doug Einfeld's debut, In the Shadow of the Most High, starts with his discovery of Jewish ancestors in 17th-century Germany and widens into a history running from ancient Israel to medieval Europe.
other
Supreme Pressure by Victor Li: The 1930 Fight That Built Today's Confirmation Wars
Victor Li's Supreme Pressure, out from Palgrave Macmillan in January 2026, revisits the Senate's 1930 rejection of Judge John J. Parker and argues it set the template for modern Supreme Court confirmation fights.
kdp-strategy
Self-Help Book Categories: The Main Genres Readers Search For
Self-help is a family of distinct categories with different readers. Here are seven major ones, what buyers in each expect, and how authors can position a book to be found.
publishing-news
Val McDermid and Jo Sharp Write Their First Book Together: This Door of the Seas
Crime novelist Val McDermid and her wife, Jo Sharp, co-wrote This Door of the Seas, a Darkland Tales novella about Scotland's failed Darien colony, published by Polygon in August 2026.
other
The Trapped Operator by Peter S. Bergeron: Building a Business That Runs Without Its Founder
After closing his family's business in 2020, Peter S. Bergeron spent three years researching why owner-dependent companies fail. The Trapped Operator lays out his twelve "fatal issues."
other
The Canvas We Share by Bradley Randolph Carter: Four Art-School Friends, Twenty Years Later
Painter Bradley Randolph Carter's novel The Canvas We Share reunites four friends from art school at an exhibition two decades after graduation. Carter is writing a sequel.
other
For Once in My Life: Rob Cole's Authorized Biography of Dancer Arlinda Willis
Rob Cole's For Once in My Life, published August 27, 2026 by Margot Erickson Publishing, is an authorized biography of his friend Arlinda Willis, a dancer and businesswoman.
other
Helium by Dave Kenney: A Postwar UFO Novel About Grief and Gravity
Dave Kenney's debut novel Helium, published by Atmosphere Press in September 2026, follows a grieving young woman who drifts into a small UFO-watching community below Palomar Mountain.
book-marketing
How to Set Up a Facebook Author Page in 10 Steps
A practical ten-step walkthrough for creating a Facebook Page as an author, from choosing the name and category to linking your books, posting and planning for ads.
writing-craft
How to Write a How-To Book Readers Actually Use
How-to books succeed when readers can follow them to a result. Here is how to define the promise, structure chapters, write clear steps, test with real readers and publish.
writing-craft
How to Write a Science Fiction Novel: A Practical Guide for 2026
A step-by-step guide to writing a science fiction novel, from choosing a subgenre and building a world to plotting, research, length targets and getting it published.
other
The Last Book: How the Team Behind "Noah Kaplan" Won an IndieReader Discovery Award
The Last Book, credited to a fictional caricaturist named Noah Kaplan and produced by a team led by Jonah Howell, won a 2026 IndieReader Discovery Award. Here is what it is and how it was made.
other
A Language of Stitches: Constance Moore's Picture Book on Quilter Rosie Lee Tompkins
Oakland artist and teacher Constance Moore tells the life of Effie Mae Martin, the quilter known as Rosie Lee Tompkins, in a 48-page picture book biography from Abrams Books for Young Readers.
other
Jonathan Kieran's The Wednesday Box: An Illustrated Dark Fable for Adults
Jonathan Kieran's The Wednesday Box, an IndieReader Approved dark fable, follows a neglected young bookworm named May into a supernatural world. Kieran illustrated it himself with 45 full-color pieces.
other
A Spell of Heart & Havoc by Kristen Vale: Now Out From Forever
Kristen Vale's fantasy romance A Spell of Heart & Havoc, once a preorder, was released by Forever on September 15, 2026. Here is the premise and where it fits.
weekly-digest
The Week in Global Publishing, July 27, 2026: Anthropic Payouts, Simon Stream and Attacks on Books
Our recap of the international publishing news for the week of July 27, 2026: Bloomsbury's Anthropic settlement estimate, S&S's new imprint for indie authors, strikes on Ukrainian publishers and more.
other
The UnConventional Strategist by Jay Nakagawa: Strategy as Judgment Under Uncertainty
Jay Nakagawa's The UnConventional Strategist is a conversational guide to strategic thinking built on experience, curiosity, judgment and action. His top habit: become relentlessly curious.
other
The Renoir Girls by Catherine Ostler: The Sisters Behind Renoir's Portraits
Catherine Ostler's The Renoir Girls follows the Cahen d'Anvers sisters, painted by Renoir as children, from Belle Epoque Paris through the Dreyfus affair and Nazi occupation.
author-resources
Printing a Corporate History Book: Formats, Quantities and Budget
Companies mark anniversaries with history books for staff, clients and archives. Here is how to choose format, print method and quantity, and what to budget for beyond printing.
other
Cape Henry House by Jolly Walker Bittick: A Navy Coming-of-Age Novel Based on a True Story
Jolly Walker Bittick's Cape Henry House, published in 2021, follows a 21-year-old Navy helicopter mechanic whose off-base rental becomes the site of a three-week party in 2008.
publishing-data
Brazil's Book Market Grew Strongly in the First Half of 2026, Led by Fiction
Brazilian book retail revenue rose 13.3 percent and units 11.6 percent in the first half of 2026, according to the SNEL retail panel, with fiction, graphic novels and horror leading.
industry
From Small Press or Self-Published to the Big Five: Authors Who Broke Through
Some of the best-known books of the past two decades started at small presses or as self-published titles. Here are documented examples and what they teach about building a path to a major publisher.
industry
Lucy Caldwell on Ulysses: Why Reading Joyce Without Footnotes Changed Everything
Northern Irish novelist Lucy Caldwell told the Guardian's Books of My Life series that rereading Ulysses in an edition without notes was one of the great reading experiences of her life.
other
A.M. Britwell's Sitting by the Windowsill of Life: George Harrison as a Spiritual Guide
A.M. Britwell's Sitting by the Windowsill of Life with a Spiritual Friend, Volume I, offers 166 reflections drawn from her spiritual journey and George Harrison's beliefs.
other
He Who Fights With Monsters: Outworlder Gets a 2026 Reissue From Penguin
Shirtaloon's web-serial hit He Who Fights With Monsters, Book 1: Outworlder, returned in 2026 as a deluxe hardcover in the US and a Michael Joseph edition in the UK and Commonwealth.
other
Ian Croskell's The Word: A Satire Where the Beatles Became a Religion
Ian Croskell's The Word, the second book in his Beatles series, imagines a future where John, Paul, George and Ringo are worshipped as gods and their songs are scripture.
other
Blizzard of Lies by Dave Wedge: What the Karen Read Book Covers
Boston journalist Dave Wedge's Blizzard of Lies, published by BenBella on July 28, 2026, reconstructs the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe and the trials of Karen Read.
other
Grace Notes by John Cheyenne Wilbur: A Spiritual Coming-of-Age Debut
John Cheyenne Wilbur's first novel, Grace Notes, published by Atmosphere Press in July 2026, follows Jerry Cradleman's search for faith, belonging and a place to call home.
other
Delaware's Forgotten Cavalry by Dave Tabler: The First Delaware Cavalry's Story
Dave Tabler's Delaware's Forgotten Cavalry: A Failure of Command uses three sergeants' diaries to tell the story of the First Delaware Cavalry and its troubled commander.
other
Simone Hewitt's Living in Colour Wins a 2026 IndieReader Discovery Award
Simone Hewitt's debut memoir, Living in Colour: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Sisterhood, won the 2026 IndieReader Discovery Award in the self-help and nonfiction category.
other
Kwan's Last Mission by John Daniel: A Hong Kong Spy Thriller Set in August 1945
John Daniel's Kwan's Last Mission, the second Dragon Series book and a prequel to Follow the Dragon, sends Commander M.T. Kwan into occupied Hong Kong in the last days of World War II.
other
Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin by Jordan A. Lopez, a YA Thriller With an Autistic Hero
Jordan A. Lopez's young adult thriller follows Luke Ramirez, an autistic Puerto Rican teenager who learns his supposedly dead father is alive and sets out with two friends to confront him.
other
Jordan A. Lopez on Writing Luke Ramirez, an Autistic Teen Facing a Life-Changing Revelation
In a July 2026 Literary Titan interview, YA author Jordan A. Lopez discussed building an autistic Puerto Rican hero whose world breaks open when he learns where his father is.
book-marketing
Printed Real Estate Newsletters: What to Order and How to Make Them Work
Printed newsletters help real estate agents stay in front of past clients and farm areas. Here is what format to order, what to put in it, how often to mail, and how to measure results.
other
Reel Around the Fountain by Roy Edward Jackson: A Queer Coming-of-Age Novel From Lethe Press
Roy Edward Jackson's Reel Around the Fountain, published by Lethe Press in June 2026, follows a thirteen-year-old in working-class Michigan as he digs into the family stories about his birth.
other
Wolf in Wanderley by Dave J. Andrae: An Aging Filmmaker, a Florida Move and an Old Grudge
Dave J. Andrae's third novel follows Gen X filmmaker Wolf Barnes to southwest Florida, where he tries to preserve his life's work while a former actor from his Chicago days plots revenge.
industry
Publishing Jargon and Plain English: Richard Charkin's Case Against Trade-Speak
Veteran publisher Richard Charkin used a July 2026 column to take aim at the book trade's habits of speech. Here is the argument, and a plain-English checklist for publishing writing.
other
Rumors of Love by James Nathaniel Miller II: Cody Musket Book Six
James Nathaniel Miller II's Rumors of Love, the sixth Cody Musket book, follows two teenagers through rescue missions, politics and young romance in 2042, amid a crisis involving ancient giants.
book-marketing
Why Specificity Sells: Finding and Owning a Niche in Publishing
Books aimed at a clearly defined reader tend to be easier to market than books for everyone. Here is why specificity works and how to find a niche that is big enough to matter.
book-marketing
Editorial Reviews vs. Reader Reviews: What Each Does for a Book
Trade and editorial reviews and everyday reader reviews do different jobs. Here is how each one helps a book, who reads them, and how authors can use both.
book-marketing
Why Book Reviews Still Matter in a Crowded Market
With huge numbers of new books published every year, reviews remain one of the strongest signals readers use to decide. Here is how reviews work for discovery and how authors can earn them ethically.
kdp-strategy
KDP Success Beyond Readability Scores: Strategies Built Around the Author
Readability tools help with clarity, but they do not sell books. Here is what moves the needle on KDP: voice, series planning, metadata, reader relationships and a sustainable pace.
book-marketing
Author Photos: Why They Matter and How to Get a Good One
Your author photo appears on retailer pages, book jackets, event posters and every interview. Here is why it matters and a practical checklist for getting one that works.
author-resources
Printing a Wedding Memory Book: Binding, Paper and Layout Choices
A wedding memory book is meant to last decades. Here is how to choose binding, paper and layout, and how print services for photo books differ from book printers.
other
Tidestep: The Water Anchor by F.A. Calder: An Epic Fantasy About Who Controls Memory
F.A. Calder's Tidestep: The Water Anchor follows a restless blacksmith's apprentice hunting a stolen artifact, in a fantasy about how knowledge is preserved, distorted and weaponized.
industry
Why Print Books Keep Their Hold on Readers
Despite years of predictions, print remains the largest format for book sales in many markets. Here is why readers keep choosing physical books and what it means for authors.
other
This Case and My Life: Ana Braunstein Turns Her Award-Winning Short Film Into a Book Series
Filmmaker and actress Ana Braunstein has expanded her 2021 short film This Case and My Life, about an attorney whose double life collapses in one day, into a four-book series.
other
The Ascension by Lew Rivers: Book Three of The Artificial Conspiracy
Lew Rivers's The Ascension, the third book in The Artificial Conspiracy series, takes the conflict between humanity and the AI called ARIA to a turning point. Two more books are planned.
publishing-news
Renaudot Names Its 2026 Finalists and Drops Thélyson Orélien
The Renaudot jury picked six novels and four essays for its centenary year and cut Thélyson Orélien's novel, which faces AI and plagiarism accusations. Winners are named Nov. 3.
publishing-news
Kobo Plus Opens in Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia
Kobo's read-and-listen subscription is now in 37 regions. Kobo Writing Life titles already opted in for all locations appear in the new stores automatically.
publishing-news
Baker & Taylor's Liquidation Plan Goes to a Creditor Vote
A New Jersey bankruptcy court approved the disclosure statement for the shuttered wholesaler's liquidation plan. Votes are due Dec. 1, and the confirmation hearing is set for Dec. 8.
publishing-news
Paris Court Gives Gibert Bookshops Six More Weeks, Sets December 7 Hearing
The administrators said the cash forecasts they were given were not reliable, so the hearing on the chain's observation period moved to Dec. 7. Staff fear the group is being slowly dismantled.
publishing-news
Copyright Alliance Calls Meta's New Business Terms 'Unconscionable' Ahead of Nov. 20 Start
Meta's updated Commercial Terms, which cover anyone running a Page or ads, let it pull content from linked websites. The Copyright Alliance wants them withdrawn before they take effect Nov. 20.
publishing-news
Miriam Toews, Kim Fu and Kyo Maclear Among the 2026 Governor General's Literary Awards Finalists
The Canada Council named 69 finalist books across seven categories in English and French for the awards' 90th year. The 14 winners, who get $25,000 each, will be named Nov. 12.
industry
From Anecdote to Evidence: How US Government Censorship is Impacting Public Health
Government censorship is stifling vital public health research. Indie authors can find inspiration in themes of transparency and free expression.
kdp
Can you print a book without a minimum order quantity?
Explore how print on demand services let indie authors print without minimum order quantities, giving them greater flexibility and control over their works.
kdp
How much does it cost to print 500 copies of a book in 2026?
Discover the factors affecting the cost of printing 500 copies of your book in 2026 and learn how to maximize your budget effectively.
publishing-news
Anne Godard Wins the 2026 Prix Décembre for Nous aussi
Her third novel, written entirely with the pronoun "on," wins the €15,000 prize on the same day it missed the Goncourt's final four.
publishing-news
Goncourt Names Its Four Finalists as Claudel Asks Publishers to Vouch for Human Authors
Haenel, Jaenada, Mélois and Prudhomme are left for the Nov. 3 vote. Claudel says Pangram cleared the rest of the list, and that publishers, not juries, should certify human authorship.
publishing-news
Tetsuya Chiba, Creator of the Boxing Manga Ashita no Joe, Dies at 87
Kodansha says the manga artist died Oct. 22 in Tokyo. He worked for seventy years, led the Japan Cartoonists Association and was the first manga artist given the Order of Culture.
publishing-news
AuthorTube Writing Conference Returns Nov. 7 as a Free One-Day Event
The free AuthorTube Writing Conference runs on YouTube on Saturday, November 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, with a Friday-night kickoff. What's on the schedule.
publishing-news
Spotify for Authors Lets Indies Give Away 1,000 Free Audiobook Codes per Title
Self-published authors can generate up to 1,000 single-use codes per audiobook in Spotify for Authors. Codes earn no royalties. Here's how they work and the catches.
publishing-news
Kindle+ Switch Leaves Authors Staring at Shrunken KDP Page Counts
Since October 21, authors have watched KENP totals and estimated royalties fall, including for past months. Amazon hasn't explained it. Here's what KDP's pages show.
publishing-news
Judge Approves Deal Freeing 13 Publishers' Stock From the Old Diamond Warehouse
Dark Horse, Titan, Oni and ten other consignment publishers can reclaim their inventory. Sparkle Pop gets $787,380 from escrow, and a second group still waits.
publishing-news
French Book Trade Launches #SauvonsLaLecture Campaign Against Funding Cuts
Nearly 60 groups say state support for books fell 25% from 2025 to 2026, and the CNL lost 22% in two years. They want the 2027 budget changed.
publishing-news
Olivia De Zilva Wins the 2026 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction
Her autofiction debut Plastic Budgie, from Pink Shorts Press, beat a shortlist of six picked by 15 Readings staff. The prize is worth $5,000.
industry
The Meme by Nicholas Rov Kent
Nicholas Rov Kent explores how memes influence beliefs and societal norms. Indie authors can use this power while being cautious of misinformation.
book-awards
WE THOUGHT THEY'D NEVER LEAVE
Tony Shalhoub’s cookbook integrates personal storytelling with recipes, offering indie authors valuable insights on enhancing their narratives.
book-awards
THE SECRET HITCHCOCK
Explore Alfred Hitchcock's casting choices and their psychological implications for storytelling. Enhance your character dynamics today.
publishing-news
René Belletto, French Crime Novelist and Prix Femina Winner for L'Enfer, Dies at 81
The Lyon writer behind Sur la terre comme au ciel and L'Enfer died on Sunday, his publisher P.O.L told AFP. Two of his novels became films.
publishing-news
Bernardine Evaristo, Holly Jackson and Uketsu Named London Book Fair 2027 Authors of the Fair
Picture book duo Rachel Bright and Jim Field are the Children's Creatives, and Japan returns the Market Focus program. The fair runs March 16 to 18, 2027, at Excel London.
publishing-news
Audible Brings Immersion Reading to Seven More Countries and Page Sync Abroad
Canada, India, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil get synced ebook-and-audio reading. Page Sync reaches the UK, Germany and Australia, and charts now show up in the player.
publishing-news
First Anthropic Settlement Payments Expected the Week of November 23
A joint court filing says agreed-allocation notices should go out by November 13, with the first payments to authors and other rightsholders the week of November 23.
publishing-news
Joachim Lottmann, a Founding Voice of German Pop Literature, Dies at 70
The Hamburg-born novelist, best known for his 1987 debut Mai, Juni, Juli, died on Sunday after a long illness he had written about openly online since early 2026.
publishing-news
Springer Nature and Google DeepMind Are Building an AI Assistant for Peer Reviewers
The publisher says a prototype built on Gemini is in testing. It is meant to help reviewers work through papers, not replace their judgment, and runs inside Springer Nature's own systems.
publishing-news
M.R. Carey's Once Was Willem Wins Best Novel at the 2026 World Fantasy Awards
The awards were handed out in Oakland on October 25. Eden Royce, Renan Bernardo and Thomas Ha also won, and Clive Barker and Joyce Carol Oates received life achievement honors.
book-awards
Book Review: ‘Dead Batteries,’ by Kate Maupin
Kate Maupin's 'Dead Batteries' offers a poignant exploration of parenting a neurodivergent child in a post-apocalyptic world, urging indie authors to embrace diverse themes.