Amazon quietly rolled out a new Kindle feature that places AI directly inside books, raising questions authors should understand. This week's Self-Publishing News also covers major audiobook platform updates, new distribution and monetization options, and review compliance shifts tied to Amazon enforcement. These changes affect how authors publish, promote, and protect their work moving into the new year.

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• IngramSpark Changes Every Author Must See | Self-Publishing News (Dec. 9, 2025) - https://youtu.be/tvyINUd0JIU?si=mMpMLgYl1B0Te6t9
• Now in Beta: Narrator Voice Replicas on ACX - https://www.acx.com/mp/blog/now-in-beta-narrator-voice-replicas-on-acx
• Writer Beware: Kindle's New Gen AI-Powered "Ask This Book" Feature Raises Rights Concerns - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/12/12/kindles-new-gen-ai-powered-ask-this-book-feature-raises-rights-concerns/
• Spotify for Authors - https://authors.spotify.com • Voices by INAudio - https://www.voicesbyinaudio.com/
• Google Play Books Partner Center: Character detection in auto-narrated audiobooks - https://support.google.com/books/partner/answer/14183080
• Spoken – https://spoken.press
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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

IngramSpark announced new pricing and a higher market access fee that affects every author using their platform. Draft2Digital revealed a major shift in Smashwords royalties, especially for lower priced ebooks. Written Word Media released new survey data showing what separates hobbyists from the authors earning real money. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week.

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• IngramSpark - https://IngramSpark.com
• IngramSpark Rate Card 2026 - https://www.ingramspark.com/hubfs/Rate%20Card_IngramSpark_2026.pdf
• IngramSpark December 2025 Newsletter - https://www.ingramspark.com/newsletter-december2025
• Draft2Digital - https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (referral link)
• Draft2Digital Royalty Rates - https://www.draft2digital.com/blog/royalty-rates/
• Smashwords End of Year Sale - https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos
• Written Word Media: 2025 Indie Author Survey Results - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2025-indie-author-survey-results-insights-into-self-publishing-for-authors/
• Authors Guild: What Authors Need to Know About the Baker & Taylor Closure and How It Affects Library Access to Your Book - https://authorsguild.org/news/what-authors-need-to-know-about-the-baker-and-taylor-closure/
• Booklinker - https://Booklinker.com
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• Twin Flames Studios: The Ghostwriting of Christmas Past, Present, and Future - https://twinflamesstudios.com/ghostwriting/
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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

Holiday cutoffs, platform updates, and a major distribution move are shaping the publishing world this week. One company picked up a key piece of a system that almost shut down, and this change could affect how your books reach readers. A few author services also shared new updates, warnings, and opportunities worth exploring. Catch everything you need to know in today's self-publishing news.

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• Publishers Weekly: Lakeside Book Company Buys B&T Distribution Arm - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/99162-lakeside-book-company-buys-b-t-distribution-arm.html
• Bookvault – https://Bookvault.app (use code BVDALE to waive your first 3 upload fees)
• Draft2Digital – https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (referral link)
• Draft2Digital Now Hiring - https://draft2digital.com/careers/
• Booksprout – https://DaleLinks.com/Booksprout (affiliate link)
• Booksprout Now Hiring, Contact: virginie@booksprout.co
• IngramSpark: Understanding IngramSpark Title Processing - https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/understanding-ingramspark-title-processing
• Google Play Books Partner Center (GPBPC) – https://play.google.com/books/publish/
• GPBPC: Publisher Program Policies - https://support.google.com/books/partner/answer/166501
• CraveBooks – https://DaleLinks.com/CraveBooks (affiliate link)
• Written Word Media: Author Beware: How Scammers Target Indie Authors (and How to Avoid Today's Most Common Publishing Scams) - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/avoid-author-scams/
• Twin Flames Studios: 7 Smart Ways to Sell More Books During the Holidays (Without Losing Your Mind) - https://twinflamesstudios.com/7-smart-ways-to-sell-more-books-during-the-holidays-without-losing-your-mind/
• Dibbly Create - https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link)
• Dibbly Create Handbook - https://dalelinks.com/dibblycreatehandbook
• Spoken: Digitally-Narrated Audiobooks with Spoken – Bring Your Backlist to Life in 2026 - https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hlp1wQBYR-ebipBiVUuc7g#/registration
• Booklinker: Facebook/Meta Ads Insights with Melissa Storm - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/Facebook-Ads
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• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

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