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✦ Featured Author of the Month
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Sutton Burke
Author of NOW WE PLAY: Mental Fitness for Everyday Life
New Release
A timely new release, and a reminder that well-being can be practiced daily.
Discover the Book →
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✦ Featured Story
Why '1,237 Ratings' Sells More Books Than '1,200'
The exact number of reviews on your book's page isn't just a tally—it's a psychological trigger that decides whether a browser clicks 'Buy' or scrolls past. This deep-dive unpacks the thresholds that build credibility, why a precise count beats a round one, and how anchoring bias and herd behaviour quietly steer Amazon's buy-box decisions. Learn where the real tipping points lie between 12, 120, and 1,200 ratings—and how to cross them.
Read the Full Article →
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News Roundup
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Publishing & Rights
If Podium Is Worth $400 Million, What's the Top Step Worth?
Audio-focused publisher Podium Entertainment has been acquired from Presidio Investors by private equity firms Flexpoint Ford and Shamrock Capital, with GoldState Music taking a minority stake. Terms were not disclosed, but The Wall Street Journal reportedly valued the deal at more than $400 million, underscoring continued investor appetite for audiobook assets. The move follows other major consolidation in the sector, including RBmedia's roughly $1 billion-plus acquisition from KKR back in 2023. Read more →
Digital & Technology
Publishing industry organizations release 2026 report on AI use
A new 2026 report from publishing industry organizations finds that publishers are increasing their internal use of AI, particularly for marketing, metadata and title optimization, and administrative work. The findings reflect the broader shift across the industry as companies weigh where automation fits into their operations. Read more →
Awards & Releases
2026 Colorado Book Awards Winners
The winners of the 2026 Colorado Book Awards were revealed at a ceremony in Denver on September 26, 2026. Winners of note included Scorched Skies by E.J. Mellow in Science Fiction/Fantasy, This is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller in Mystery, Thriller & Horror, and Away by Megan E. Freeman in Young Adult Literature. Read more →
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✦ Author Spotlight
Our Authors This Month
Bestsellers & New Releases from the Scribando Showcase
This October, our Author Spotlight gathers a remarkable range of voices, each bringing clarity and conviction to the page. Leading the way is Sutton Burke with her timely new release "NOW WE PLAY: Mental Fitness for Everyday Life," a reminder that well-being can be practiced daily. Donald Miller returns with the new release "Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen," a fresh invitation to sharpen how we communicate, while Marvin Minsky's "The Emotion Machine: Commonsense Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Human Mind" ventures boldly into questions of mind and machine. Torunn Agtind builds anticipation with the coming-soon "Bloodstained Diamonds: The Rise."
"Across every genre, these authors share one instinct: to be understood, and to make us think."
The talent continues with Rhonda Davis, whose "Olivia's Passport Plates: One Brave Bite in Japan" has reached #2 New Release in Japanese Cooking, Food & Wine, and Bent Danholm, whose "The Architecture of Demand" claimed #1 New Release in Real Estate Sales & Selling. Rounding out the showcase are Damian Fozard's forthcoming "Disbelief: An Honest Inquiry into Belief, Reason, and the Human Condition," Rosen Dimov's gripping new technothriller "Not Your Script," and Camilla Sherr's "Beyond Organic: Homoeopathic Plant Health from the Ground Up," a Reader's Favorite Silver Medal winner for 2026. Explore every title, meet the authors, and discover your next read by visiting the Scribando Showcase.
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New Release
NOW WE PLAY: Mental Fitness for Everyday Life
Sutton Burke
View Showcase ›
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New Release
Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
Donald Miller
View Showcase ›
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New Release
The Emotion Machine: Commonsense Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Human Mind
Marvin Minsky
View Showcase ›
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Coming Soon
Bloodstained Diamonds: The Rise
Torunn Agtind
View Showcase ›
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#2 New Release in Japanese Cooking, Food & Wine
Olivia’s Passport Plates : One Brave Bite in Japan
Rhonda Davis
View Showcase ›
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#1 New Release in Real Estate Sales & Selling (Sep 26)
The Architecture of Demand: How to Make a Buyer Want Your Home Before They Ever See It
Bent Danholm
View Showcase ›
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Coming Soon
Disbelief: An Honest Inquiry into Belief, Reason, and the Human Condition
Damian Fozard
View Showcase ›
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New Release
Not Your Script: A Technothriller of AI, Surveillance, and the War for Truth (The Loom)
Rosen Dimov
View Showcase ›
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Reader's Favorite | Silver Medal | 2026
Beyond Organic: Homoeopathic Plant Health from the Ground Up
Camilla Sherr
View Showcase ›
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Industry Updates
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DOJ Backs OpenAI's Fair Use Argument in Major AI Copyright Litigation
On September 1, 2026, the Department of Justice filed a statement of interest arguing that AI training on written works constitutes fair use in the consolidated multidistrict litigation against OpenAI, which involves more than a dozen cases brought by news publishers and authors. The filing drew sharp criticism from some advocates who argue it could weaken creators' protections against unauthorized use of their work.
Amazon Raises KDP's 70% Ebook Royalty Ceiling to $12.99
On July 7, 2026, Amazon widened the price band eligible for KDP's 70% ebook royalty option from $2.99–$9.99 up to $2.99–$12.99, its first increase to that ceiling since 2007. The change is opt-in, so books already priced above $9.99 remain at the 35% royalty tier until authors manually adjust their pricing settings.
US Publishing Industry Sales Rose 3.9% in First Half of 2026, Driven by Digital Audio
Total industry sales for the 1,416 publishers reporting to AAP's StatShot program increased 3.9% in the first six months of 2026, boosted by a strong June in which sales were up 11% year over year. Adult trade growth was driven largely by digital audio, where sales jumped 14.7% compared with a year earlier.
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Upcoming Events
Frankfurt Book Fair 2026 (Frankfurter Buchmesse)
📍 Frankfurt, Germany · In Person
The world's largest trade fair for books and publishing rights runs from 7 to 11 October 2026 at Messe Frankfurt, with trade visitors on all five days and public admission over the weekend. Czechia is the Guest of Honour for the 2026 edition.
Sharjah International Book Fair 2026 (SIBF)
📍 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates · In Person
The 45th edition of SIBF takes place from 4 to 15 November 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah, bringing together readers, authors, publishers and translators from around the world. Oman is the Guest of Honour, with a 12-day programme of literary discussions, workshops and children's activities.
Guadalajara International Book Fair 2026 (FIL)
📍 Guadalajara, Mexico · In Person
The 40th edition of FIL, the largest publishing gathering in Latin America and the biggest Spanish-language book event, runs from 28 November to 6 December 2026 at Expo Guadalajara. Italy serves as the Guest of Honour under the theme "The world speaks to us like a great book."
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✦ Supported By
The Partners Who Make This Possible
Book World Update is produced by Scribando and supported by a curated network of trusted publishing services. Every partner listed here is one we personally recommend.
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