Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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 - DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link)
- Draft2Digital Changes the Rules for Authors (Substack) - selfpub.substack.com/p/draft2digital-fees-bn-press-changes-self-publishing-news-apr-16-2026?r=1nx44v
- Publishing.com to Pay $1.5 Million for Misleading Consumers about How Much Income They Could Earn Using the Company’s Products and Services - 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 - kindlepreneur.com/kenp-calculator/?aff=18
- Spotify Expands Audiobook Features, and Printed Book Sales Go Live in the US and UK - 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
Rapid-Fire Newsflash
- ProWritingAid: Plot Analysis - prowritingaid.com/features/plot-analysis?afid=6615
- Book Brush: Launch Smarter: Build Your Newsletter, Website, and ARC Team Before Your Book Hits - us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gr1FVJtBSzOwv4qYost18Q#/registration
- Twin Flames Studios: Great Books Aren’t Written—They’re Edited - twinflamesstudios.com/book-editing-authors
- The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast: Marketing Your Books Using Video, with Dale L. Roberts and Matty Dalrymple - selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-marketing-your-books-using-video
- Indie Author Magazine: Email Marketing That Turns Readers Into Fans (and Buyers) - webinars.indieauthortraining.com/replays
🟡 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
0:29 Dibbly Create
1:37 Literary Scams
4:11 Publishing.com to Pay $1.5 Million for Misleading Consumers
6:21 Kindlepreneur: KENP Calculator: Know What a Kindle Unlimited Reader Is Actually Worth
7:26 Spotify Expands Audiobook Features, and Printed Book Sales Go Live in the US and UK
9:10 Spoken: What Did the “Your Story” Winner Webinar Reveal?
10:07 ProWritingAid: Plot Analysis
10:27 Book Brush: Launch Smarter: Build Your Newsletter, Website, and ARC Team Before Your Book Hits
10:48 Twin Flames Studios: Great Books Aren’t Written—They’re Edited
11:10 The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast: Marketing Your Books Using Video, with Dale L. Roberts and Matty Dalrymple
11:37 Indie Author Magazine: Email Marketing That Turns Readers Into Fans (and Buyers)
12:43 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
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 - DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link)
- Draft2Digital Changes the Rules for Authors (Substack) - selfpub.substack.com/p/draft2digital-fees-bn-press-changes-self-publishing-news-apr-16-2026?r=1nx44v
- Publishing.com to Pay $1.5 Million for Misleading Consumers about How Much Income They Could Earn Using the Company’s Products and Services - 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 - kindlepreneur.com/kenp-calculator/?aff=18
- Spotify Expands Audiobook Features, and Printed Book Sales Go Live in the US and UK - 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
Rapid-Fire Newsflash
- ProWritingAid: Plot Analysis - prowritingaid.com/features/plot-analysis?afid=6615
- Book Brush: Launch Smarter: Build Your Newsletter, Website, and ARC Team Before Your Book Hits - us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gr1FVJtBSzOwv4qYost18Q#/registration
- Twin Flames Studios: Great Books Aren’t Written—They’re Edited - twinflamesstudios.com/book-editing-authors
- The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast: Marketing Your Books Using Video, with Dale L. Roberts and Matty Dalrymple - selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-marketing-your-books-using-video
- Indie Author Magazine: Email Marketing That Turns Readers Into Fans (and Buyers) - webinars.indieauthortraining.com/replays
🟡 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
0:29 Dibbly Create
1:37 Literary Scams
4:11 Publishing.com to Pay $1.5 Million for Misleading Consumers
6:21 Kindlepreneur: KENP Calculator: Know What a Kindle Unlimited Reader Is Actually Worth
7:26 Spotify Expands Audiobook Features, and Printed Book Sales Go Live in the US and UK
9:10 Spoken: What Did the “Your Story” Winner Webinar Reveal?
10:07 ProWritingAid: Plot Analysis
10:27 Book Brush: Launch Smarter: Build Your Newsletter, Website, and ARC Team Before Your Book Hits
10:48 Twin Flames Studios: Great Books Aren’t Written—They’re Edited
11:10 The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast: Marketing Your Books Using Video, with Dale L. Roberts and Matty Dalrymple
11:37 Indie Author Magazine: Email Marketing That Turns Readers Into Fans (and Buyers)
12:43 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
