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Mike Shatzkin

Amazon Ends Kindle Vella, Tech Leaders Push AI as a Creative Tool, and Remembering Mike Shatzkin: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reflects on the passing of publishing influencer Mike Shatzkin and his impact on the industry. He also discusses Amazon’s decision to close its Kindle Vella serial fiction program and what it means for authors, and examines the tech industry’s stance on AI and creativity as shared at TechCrunch's Disrupt Conference. With tech startups promoting AI as a democratizing force, Dan explores the tension between creative freedom and the potential impact on traditional creative livelihoods.
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Bookshops Are Cool

Survey Finds Young People Think Bookshops Are Cool: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway dives into why "bookshops are cool" according to a recent survey, exploring the unique appeal of browsing shelves and finding new reads in person. He also discusses South Korean author Han Kang's Nobel Prize win and asks whether AI might soon compete with humans in literature and science. Dan rounds out the show with insights on AI rights and metadata protections for authors.
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Bookshops Are Cool

Bookshops Are Cool Again, But No One Reads Books: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway

It is perhaps not a surprise that a survey by the Booksellers Association has found that people think bookshops are cool. It is, however, cool that people seem to think so, albeit a little surprising that this latest finding is considered a new development. I just checked an article I wrote for The Guardian about the coolest bookshop of all, the Albion Beatnik, and was flashed a warning informing me that my article was more than eleven years old.
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Audible Launches AI Tools

Audible Launches AI Tools, WordPress Battles WP Engine: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses Audible’s latest AI-powered recommendation tools designed to improve audiobook discovery. He also covers WordPress’s ongoing feud with WP Engine and how it affects authors who rely on the platform. Finally, he dives into Canva’s controversial new pricing structure and its impact on small businesses and creative collectives.
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AI Survey

Authors Don’t Trust AI Companies, Says Draft2Digital AI Survey: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reviews the results of Draft2Digital’s AI rights survey, showing that many authors are hesitant to sell their work for AI training, with 45 percent opposing the idea. Dan also explores concerns over competitive vs. non-competitive AI models, payment expectations, and the general mistrust authors have toward AI companies.
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Written Word

Written Word Wants to Hear from Indies and Patreon Launches New Tools: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway

Written Word has launched a new survey and I hope you’ll participate. Data is really cool, many of us would agree. Who doesn’t love the indie perk of being able to refresh their own dashboard? (Well, maybe not when sales are slow, but that’s beside the point.) Because of the nature of our industry, though, a lot of data relies on surveys. I’m aware there’s a danger of survey fatigue, but the recent Draft2Digital survey was so interesting that I hope it has re-enthused people about the value of participating.
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Apple Books

Apple Books Cuts Jobs While Grammy Awards Prepare to Accept Entries That Use AI: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway

Apple has always felt like a strange player in the digital book market. They turned the music industry upside down with the iTunes Store, and when they introduced Apple Books, they might have thought they would do the same to the publishing industry. Kindle books had already made the major disruption, but the introduction of the iPad held out the promise of being the market-winning book replacement. But it wasn’t to be.
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NO FAKES ACT

Amazon’s KDP Identity Verification and NO FAKES Act Protect Creators: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway

You may remember that a few weeks ago, I commented on US legislators' enthusiasm for acronyms when I reported on the COPIED Act. Now they have outdone themselves with a piece of legislation with a similar intent. The NO FAKES Act aims to balance freedom of expression with protecting an individual's right to control how their distinguishing features, such as their voice and image, are used. As the title suggests, the primary purpose is to clamp down on deepfakes. That title stands, in typically verbally torturous fashion, for Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act.
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