Publishing News

Plot Twists & Paychecks

Plot Twists & Paychecks is a weekly publishing news roundup for authors who want to understand what’s actually happening in the industry—without hype, fear-mongering, or misinformation.

What This Series Covers

Each edition breaks down recent publishing headlines and what they really mean for authors, with context, nuance, and practical takeaways.

Recent Editions

Rebecca Yarros teams up with the NHL, Anthropic claim deadlines approach, TikTok ad targeting evolves, Amazon DRM settings shift, and influencer-led book deals gain traction.

An AI author published 200+ romance novels in a year, Spotify is expanding book sales, a new reader-led prize launches with a £50K deal, and AI marketing scams are rising.

AI book-scanning lawsuits, library advocacy alerts, accessibility mandates, piracy crackdowns, and data-driven acquisitions are reshaping author strategy this week.

Amazon and ElevenLabs have launched new AI features, including “Ask This Book” and the Authors Guild isn't happy.

Spotify iOS App Now Lets Users Buy Audiobooks Directly 

Anthropic Reaches Tentative Copyright Settlement Over AI Training Data

Audible's New Royalty Model and What It Means For Authors

Google Expands Book AI Summaries — With Author Links

Self-Published Authors are Dominating TikTok Charts

Who This Is For

Plot Twists & Paychecks is for authors who want to understand what’s actually happening in publishing—without panic, speculation, or misinformation.

It’s especially helpful if you:

• Want context, not just headlines
• Care about long-term strategy more than trends
• Publish independently, traditionally, or both (hybrid)
• Prefer clarity over clickbait
• Want to make informed decisions about your books and career

Each edition is designed to help you see the bigger picture—and decide what matters for you.

— Your book coach, Lisa Daily.

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