Why Indie Authors Should Stop Chasing Social Media Followers in 2026
For years, the conventional wisdom doled out across writer forums and blogging sites suggested that indie authors needed to build massive followings on every av…
thepublishingtimes.comEditorial
The Publishing Times
All the News That’s Fit to Publish
Coverage
Amazon KDP in The Publishing Times
Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon's self-publishing platform for Kindle eBooks, paperbacks and hardcovers. Official site: kdp.amazon.com
Why Most Author Newsletters Fail in the First 90 Days (and How to Fix Yours in 2026)
The first 90 days of an indie author’s newsletter journey are fraught with hidden pitfalls.
Why Your Author Email List Is Not Growing in 2026 (The Real Reason)
The single most common mistake indie authors make is asking readers to join a newsletter for the sake of updates.
9 Ways to Grow Your Author Email List Without Spending on Ads in 2026
Creating a high-value freebie is the cornerstone of any organic email growth strategy.
ARC Reader Reviews Missing? 5 Reasons Your ARC Team Isn't Reviewing Your Book in 2026
When an ARC reader receives a raw EPUB or MOBI file via email, the technical friction alone can kill their motivation to read your book.
The Death of Traditional Gatekeeping in Horror Acquisitions
Legacy publishing is finally losing its grip on genre fiction, and horror acquisitions are leading a bloody, overdue revolution.
The Death of the Grand Inquisitor: Why Legacy Gatekeeping Is Crumbling
Traditional publishing is learning the hard way that dropping authors and dodging accountability no longer works in a decentralized literary market.
The Death of the Gatekeepers and the Rise of Indie Author Sustainability
Legacy publishing is losing its grip as indie author sustainability redefines what it means to make a living from books.
The Great Exodus: Why Legacy Publishing Giants Are Bleeding Talent to Independent Ventures
As veteran editors flee stifling corporate boardrooms to launch agile indie presses, legacy publishing is facing a reckoning it cannot buy its way out of.
How to Create a Reader Magnet That Converts Browsers Into Loyal Subscribers in 2026
To successfully capture email addresses in the modern publishing ecosystem, an indie author must understand consumer behavior on platforms like Amazon KDP, Appl…
Weekend Read — Your Top Publishing Stories This Week (August 16, 2026)
Discover the best indie author insights for August 16, 2026. Explore print-on-demand spam updates, print marketing strategies, and our weekly digest.
The Slime in the Stacks: When Print-on-Demand Sprawls Beyond Books
Amazon's KDP infrastructure is buckling under a deluge of commercial print-on-demand spam, blurring the line between literature and stationery.
The September Crucible: Mastering Submissions and Awards Deadlines
As autumn approaches, the literary calendar demands absolute precision. Here is how independent authors and presses can conquer upcoming submissions and awards deadlines.
The 2026 Hardcover Book Printing Cost Crunch for Indie Publishers
Hardcover book printing costs are squeezing indie publishers in 2026. Here is how to survive the crunch without sacrificing quality.
The Death of the Algorithm: Why Digital Book Discoverability Needs a Revolution
Legacy bookselling platforms are failing authors and readers alike. It is time to fix digital book discoverability before the algorithm buries us all.
How to Choose the Right KDP Categories to Rank as a Bestseller in 2026
Navigating the architecture of Amazon's store requires understanding how the retail giant indexes books. When publishing through [Amazon KDP](https://kdp.
How to Run an ARC Campaign That Gets Reviews on Launch Day in 2026
The modern book marketplace relies heavily on algorithmic momentum. When an indie author publishes a new title on [Amazon KDP](https://kdp.amazon.
How to Scale a Winning Amazon Ads Campaign Without Blowing Your Budget in 2026
When indie authors launch their first KDP campaigns, the primary goal is validation.
The Digital Monopoly: OverDrive's European Move and the Future of Libraries
OverDrive's latest European acquisition cements a digital library monopoly that indie authors and public institutions ignore at their peril.
The Death of the Standard Paperback: Why KDP Print Products Must Evolve
Legacy publishing is clinging to the traditional paperback, but KDP print products are opening up a radical new frontier for independent authors.
The Paper Trail of Progress: Print-First AI Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP
Print-first AI self-publishing on Amazon KDP is transforming the indie landscape, shifting the focus from digital screens to physical bookshelves.
The Blueprint for Profit: The Rise of Niche KDP Book Printing in Specialized Commercial Markets
Legacy houses are sleeping on hyper-targeted sectors. Smart operators are using niche KDP book printing to dominate specialised commercial markets.
Author Compensation: The Shifting Sands of Publishing Income
The debate over author compensation is more urgent than ever. We dissect the financial realities of self-publishing versus traditional deals, arguing for transparency and author empowerment.
The Future of KDP: Niche Markets, Not Just Mass Appeal
Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is evolving beyond a mere self-publishing platform. Its true power lies in unlocking the vast potential of niche market printing, challenging traditional publishing models and empowering authors as never before.
The Nonfiction Revolution: Authors Seize Control
Traditional publishing gatekeepers are losing their grip on nonfiction. The future belongs to authors who embrace direct routes to readers, proving that expertise and insight no longer require a legacy stamp.
10 KDP Keyword Mistakes That Are Costing You Sales in 2026
Many indie authors make the critical error of overlooking long-tail keywords, opting instead for broad, highly competitive terms.
How to Build a 5-Email Welcome Sequence That Turns New Subscribers Into Superfans in 2026
In the crowded landscape of independent publishing, an author's email list remains their most valuable asset.
How to Get Your Book Into Libraries With OverDrive and Hoopla in 2026: The Indie Author's Guide
In 2026, the digital library landscape represents an increasingly vital channel for indie authors to reach new readers and expand their income streams.
The Perennial Problem of the Prize
Literary awards promise to elevate literature, yet too often they descend into predictable controversy, undermining their very purpose and alienating the very readers and authors they claim to serve.
KDP and POD in 2026: The New Professional Standard
The landscape of Kindle Direct Publishing and Print-on-Demand has matured. Success now demands strategic thinking, quality content, and a professional approach, moving far beyond the 'upload and pray' era.
Email me when The Publishing Times covers Amazon KDP
One email when a new article about Amazon KDP is published. Confirm by email; unsubscribe any time.
As featured in The Publishing Times
Add this badge to your site. It links to this coverage page.
