Plot Twists & Paychecks

📚 Publishing News Roundup: August 20, 2025

Audible shake-ups, AP reviews going dark, and new opportunities for indie authors

Welcome back to Plot Twists & Paychecks, your weekly dose of publishing news that actually matters—for indie authors, traditionally published authors, and everyone writing between the lines.

Here’s what’s happening in the publishing world this week:

🎧 Audible’s New Royalty Model and What It Means for Authors

Audible’s recent rollout of a usage-based royalty model is causing concern among indie and small press authors.

While the headline rates increased—from 40% to 50% for exclusive titles, and 25% to 30% for non-exclusive—the actual payout is now based on “member value share.” That means your earnings depend on how much of a subscriber's monthly time or credits are spent on your book compared to everything else they consume.

For example:

• Before: Authors could earn around $5.20 per audiobook credit.
• Now: Some authors report making as little as $1.30 per listen under the new system.

This shift may benefit authors whose books are included in Audible Plus (the all-you-can-listen catalog), but it’s creating frustration for those whose titles were primarily earning from individual sales.

💡 Takeaway: If you're an author with a loyal fanbase that buys your audiobooks via credits, this change could eat into your revenue. On the flip side, if you're leveraging discovery through Plus, you may see a boost. Either way, it’s worth watching your ACX dashboard closely.

Sources:
https://www.authormedia.com/audible-reduces-author-royalties-trad-sales-plummet-while-indie-sales-soar/
https://www.audible.com/about/newsroom/audibles-new-royalty-model-more-opportunities-for-authors-and-publishers
https://www.acx.com/mp/blog/audibles-new-royalty-model-early-access-successes
https://www.change.org/p/convince-audible-to-revise-its-new-royalty-model
https://www.midiaresearch.com/blog/what-audibles-new-royalty-model-means-for-its-audiobook-battle-with-spotify

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📰 AP Ends Book Review Syndication on August 31

In another blow to wide-reaching book coverage, the Associated Press is ending its book review syndication service at the end of this month. While the largest outlets will still run their own in-house reviews, hundreds of local newspapers and smaller sites will lose access to trusted AP book content.

That means fewer reviews of midlist, indie, and debut books reaching casual readers via their local paper.

💡 Takeaway: If you’re relying on earned media coverage for book discovery, this is a sign to diversify your strategy. Reviews in niche blogs, Bookstagram, newsletters, and podcast placements may carry even more weight moving forward.

Source:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/08/18/ap-ends-book-review-service/

🏆 Indie Author Awards Open for 2025 Submissions

If you’re a self-published author looking for recognition that doesn’t involve querying an agent, this is your sign: The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is accepting submissions for its 2025 Self-Publishing Awards.

Unlike some contests that blur the line between hybrid and trad, these awards are open only to fully indie authors. Categories include:

• Fiction & nonfiction
• Memoir & poetry
• Cover design
• Publishing innovation

Winners receive visibility boosts, credibility for their platforms, and bragging rights that actually help convert browsers into buyers.

💡 Takeaway: This is a great way to validate your work (and marketing chops) in a field judged by fellow indie publishing professionals.

Source:
https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/2025-awards-launch/

Final Thoughts

This week’s news shows how fast the landscape is shifting—especially for midlist and indie authors. With traditional review channels shrinking and royalty models evolving, your best move might be leaning deeper into the things you can control: your reader list, your marketing strategy, and how your book connects with your audience.

Want help writing a book that actually sells—or revamping your book funnel to get more from every launch? You know where to find me. 😉