

Author Update
Thomas Umstattd Jr.
Here’s what you can expect from Author Update:Publishing News: Stay in the loop on what’s happening in the industry.Advice That Matters: Learn how to make your book irresistible to readers.Live Q&A: Bring your questions and get answers from Thomas Umstattd and Jonathan Shuerger.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 19, 2025 • 1h 2min
Amazon KU Allowed in Public Libraries, the TikTok Deal and Cancel Culture
Join us on Author Update to learn more about using libraries with KU books, the TikTok deal between US and China, and how cancel culture has changed. https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Sep 12, 2025 • 58min
Christian Author Assassinated, Mailer Lite Adjusts Its Free Plan and Kit Raises Prices
A somber reflection upon Charlie Kirk's life and ministry and how authors can emulate his success in their own careers, as well as industry news regarding email services.https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Sep 8, 2025 • 1h 16min
Anthropic to Pay Authors $3000 Per Book, Zeitgeist, and Author Arrested for Tweets
We uncover shocking news about publishers failing to register copyrights, potentially leaving authors vulnerable in the Anthropic class-action lawsuit. We also explore the arrest of Irish author Graham Linehan for tweets posted from America. Plus, discover exciting developments in AI audiobook publishing with ElevenLabs' new 60% royalty marketplace, learn about AuthorCraft.ai's manuscript analysis tools, and dive deep into the zeitgeist of Mary Poppins. Patron Toolbox: https://www.PatronToolbox.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/novelmarketingConference: https://www.NovelMarketingConference.com/https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 4min
New International Shipping Rules Hit Authors and Libraries Acquire KU Books?
Join us on Author Update as we talk the latest news in publishing!https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 7min
Spotify Upgrades Audiobook Accessibility and George R.R. Martin Told To Step Down
Check out our commentary on the past week's events with news on Spotify, Harper Collins and WorldCon.https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Aug 15, 2025 • 1h 12min
The End of Rapid Release and the Advent of Breadgeist
This one was a doozy. We covered AI's shortcomings, how authors can maximize their output potential and how cowboy romances relate to bread making. Yes, sir, you can only get that kind of content here, on Author Update.https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Aug 9, 2025 • 1h 1min
GPT-5 Is Here
Come listen to Jonathan and Thomas discuss the latest advancements from OpenAI and what they mean for writers, as well as the cultural war between Texas and Australia.https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Aug 2, 2025 • 1h 15min
Audible Reduces Author Royalties, Trad Sales Plummet, Indie Sales Rise
Listen to this week's episode of Author Update as Jonathan and Thomas dive into Audible's royalty shenanigans, the woes of the trad pub world vs. the success of the indie scene.https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Jul 26, 2025 • 27min
Substack, GoodReads and MORTAL KOMBAAAAAAT!!!
Solo episode with Jonathan as Thomas is on vacation. We're going into changes with Substack, GoodReads, Kindlepreneur's look into Amazon keywords, and much more. https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/

Jul 19, 2025 • 1h 6min
Zeitgeist: The Age of Ruthless Heros
Feast your ears as Jonathan and Thomas discuss the direction fiction is taking, and how societies deal with major turns.https://novelmarketingconference.com/ https://novelmarketingconference.com/


