Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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 - DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link)
- Novel Report - DaleLinks.com/NovelReport (affiliate link)
- Use code GETMYREPORT for $20 off
- Amazon Advertising - advertising.amazon.com
- Barnes & Noble Press: 7 Steps to Spring Clean Your Book Metadata! - press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/spring-clean-your-book-metadata
- CraveBooks - DaleLinks.com/CraveBooks (affiliate link)
- CraveBooks Marketing Hub (on Discord) - discord.gg/AYYbKKWGDJ
- The Alliance of Independent Authors - DaleLinks.com/ALLi (affiliate link)
- ALLi: The Indie Author Bookstore - bookstore.allianceindependentauthors.org
- My ALLi Author Page - 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 - authorsguild.org/event/from-manuscript-to-marketplace-we-deserve-to-heal
- Book Brush - BookBrush.com
- Platinum members: Contact Book Brush about the Level Up Your Author Business webinar with Seth Norris & Mel Jolly
- Reader Views Book Awards - readerviews.com/literaryawards/winners/sponsored
- Outstanding Creator Awards 2025 Clash of Champions - outstandingcreator.com/winners--2025-clash-of-champions.html
- Email Marketing for Authors - DaleLinks.com/EmailBook
- Self-Publishing with Dale series - DaleLinks.com/SelfPubWithDale
🟡 Subscribe to my email newsletter - DaleLinks.com/SignUp
🟣 Join Channel Memberships - DaleLinks.com/Memberships
🔵Join Me on Discord - DaleLinks.com/Discord
🔥 Check out my main YouTube channel - youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
📚 My Books - DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
😇 Wanna tip me? Visit dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.
Time Stamps Credit: @AuthorDLTillery
0:00 Intro
0:33 Publisher Rocket
2:03 Novel Report
4:39 Amazon Advertising
5:58 Barnes & Noble Press: 7 Steps to Spring Clean Your Book Metadata!
7:20 CraveBooks
8:46 CraveBooks Marketing Hub (on Discord)
9:05 The Alliance of Independent Authors
9:16 ALLi: The Indie Author Bookstore
10:10 Writer Beware: Deadline Approaching to File a Claim in the Anthropic Settlement
10:36 Authors Guild: From Manuscript to Marketplace: WE DESERVE TO HEAL
10:49 Book Brush: Level Up Your Author Business: How to Make Tax Season Less Stressful with Seth Norris & Mel Jolly
11:18 Reader Views Book Awards
12:12 Outstanding Creator Awards 2025 Clash of Champions
13:45 Book Award Pro
14:06 Closing
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 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 - DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link)
- Novel Report - DaleLinks.com/NovelReport (affiliate link)
- Use code GETMYREPORT for $20 off
- Amazon Advertising - advertising.amazon.com
- Barnes & Noble Press: 7 Steps to Spring Clean Your Book Metadata! - press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/spring-clean-your-book-metadata
- CraveBooks - DaleLinks.com/CraveBooks (affiliate link)
- CraveBooks Marketing Hub (on Discord) - discord.gg/AYYbKKWGDJ
- The Alliance of Independent Authors - DaleLinks.com/ALLi (affiliate link)
- ALLi: The Indie Author Bookstore - bookstore.allianceindependentauthors.org
- My ALLi Author Page - 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 - authorsguild.org/event/from-manuscript-to-marketplace-we-deserve-to-heal
- Book Brush - BookBrush.com
- Platinum members: Contact Book Brush about the Level Up Your Author Business webinar with Seth Norris & Mel Jolly
- Reader Views Book Awards - readerviews.com/literaryawards/winners/sponsored
- Outstanding Creator Awards 2025 Clash of Champions - outstandingcreator.com/winners--2025-clash-of-champions.html
- Email Marketing for Authors - DaleLinks.com/EmailBook
- Self-Publishing with Dale series - DaleLinks.com/SelfPubWithDale
🟡 Subscribe to my email newsletter - DaleLinks.com/SignUp
🟣 Join Channel Memberships - DaleLinks.com/Memberships
🔵Join Me on Discord - DaleLinks.com/Discord
🔥 Check out my main YouTube channel - youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
📚 My Books - DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
😇 Wanna tip me? Visit dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.
Time Stamps Credit: @AuthorDLTillery
0:00 Intro
0:33 Publisher Rocket
2:03 Novel Report
4:39 Amazon Advertising
5:58 Barnes & Noble Press: 7 Steps to Spring Clean Your Book Metadata!
7:20 CraveBooks
8:46 CraveBooks Marketing Hub (on Discord)
9:05 The Alliance of Independent Authors
9:16 ALLi: The Indie Author Bookstore
10:10 Writer Beware: Deadline Approaching to File a Claim in the Anthropic Settlement
10:36 Authors Guild: From Manuscript to Marketplace: WE DESERVE TO HEAL
10:49 Book Brush: Level Up Your Author Business: How to Make Tax Season Less Stressful with Seth Norris & Mel Jolly
11:18 Reader Views Book Awards
12:12 Outstanding Creator Awards 2025 Clash of Champions
13:45 Book Award Pro
14:06 Closing
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
