Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 10h

Today, on Podcast Episodes We Loved, we’re featuring the The Alliance of Independent Authors episode “Unlocking TikTok—the Slideshow Strategy for Authors” with Dale L. Roberts and Marvin Wey.

Learn more: selfpublishingadvice.org/slideshow-st...

#AuthorMarketing #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthors

Audio Interview: Unlocking TikTok—the Slideshow Strategy for Authors with Dale L. Roberts and Marvin Wey

TikTok for authors, slideshow strategy, book marketing, author engagement, social media promotion, Dale L. Roberts and Marvin Wey

selfpublishingadvice.org

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 2d

The government shutdown is here hitting libraries across the nation. From paused federal programs to potential agency closures, the ripple effects are real.

Read more: americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-sc...

#Libraries #LibraryWorkers #GovernmentShutdown #PublishingNews #BookCommunity

How the 2025 Government Shutdown Will Impact Libraries | American Libraries Magazine

The federal government shutdown, which begins today, will have cascading effects across the nation and our economy.

americanlibrariesmagazine.org

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 5d

BookTok has completely reshaped publishing.

We think it’s done something amazing: reaching non-readers, making books feel easy and fun and giving a voice to minority authors who might otherwise go unheard.

Read more: theweek.com/culture-life...

#Romantasy #ReadersOfInstagram #FutureOfPublishing

BookTok is reviving publishing – but at what cost?

Social media recommendations are boosting book sales but critics give the trend mixed reviews

theweek.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 6d

The publishing world is at a crossroads: AI is changing how books are written, researched, and even negotiated, but where do we draw the line?

Read more: www.ft.com/content/44d5...

#PublishingIndustry #BookNews #AIandBooks #FutureOfPublishing #ReadersOfInstagram #BookCommunity #PublishingLife

Publishing grapples with where to draw the line on AI

FT and Schroders launch Business Book of the Year Award as industry debates new technology

www.ft.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 7d

Don’t assume your publisher registered your copyright. Check for yourself.
Many writers are finding that publishers skipped this crucial step—even when contracts said otherwise. Read more: writerbeware.blog/2025/08/29/i...

#AuthorTips #WriterBeware #AmWriting #IndieAuthor #WritersOfInstagram

If Your Publisher Promised to Register Your Copyright, Check Your Registration Now - Writer Beware

NOTE: This post has been updated to clarify that the five-year post-publication window for copyright registration is a limit on benefits (beyond five years, registration is no longer presumed to provi...

writerbeware.blog

1 1

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 8d

Kansas City libraries are proving books really do feed the soul and the community. Through the “Food for Fines” program, overdue fees can be paid with nonperishable food.

👉 Read more: www.kctv5.com/2025/09/08/o...

#LibrariesOfInstagram #BookCommunity #LibraryLove #KansasCity #CommunityStrong

Overdue library fines help feed families in the Kansas City metro

The ‘Food for Fines’ program gives readers the option of paying off their library fees with donations of nonperishable food items.

www.kctv5.com

1

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 9d

Meet Alexandra Alter, publishing reporter at The New York Times, who’s always on the hunt for the next Harry Potter-level phenomenon.

Read More 👉 www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/i...

#PublishingIndustry #BookNews #BehindTheBooks #BookTok #ReadersOfInstagram #PublishingLife #Bookish

A Reporter Who Looks for the Books That Make You Tick

www.nytimes.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 13d

Make sure readers find your book. You can have the most beautifully crafted, strong story, but if no one knows your book exists, then how can your gifts be seen?

Read more: janefriedman.com/3-publicity-...

#BookPublicity #BookMarketing #PublishingTips #WritersOfInstagram #BookCommunity

3 Publicity Mistakes Debut Authors Make (and How to Avoid Them) | Jane Friedman

It’s hard to execute book publicity perfectly the first time around, but there’s a lot you can do to give your project the best shot at visibility.

janefriedman.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 16d

Cardigans, miracles, and clichés—oh my! 😍📚 McSweeney’s just dropped a delightful list of collective nouns for librarians, and it’s the cozy chaos we didn’t know we needed.

Read more: www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/col...

#LibraryHumor #LibrarianLife #ReadersOfInstagram #BookCommunity #Shelfie

Collective Nouns for Librarians

A group of librarians is called a cardigan. A collection of empty chairs is called an author reading. A collection of Eric Carle books covered in s...

www.mcsweeneys.net

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 19d

A new NAEP report shows that 12th grade reading skills have hit their lowest level since 1992, with experts linking the decline to pandemic disruptions and rising screen time. Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/u...

#PublishingIndustry #BookPublishing #Bookstagram #LiteracyMatters #Publishing

Reading Skills of 12th Graders Hit a New Low

www.nytimes.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 21d

Middle grade may be in a tough spot—but it’s far from finished. Agents are adapting and finding creative ways to reach young readers.

Read more: publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

#MiddleGradeBooks #ChildrensLit #BookPublishing #ReadToGrow #KidLit #DiverseBooks #BookCommunity #PublishingIndustry

Middle Grade Is Down but Never Out

We asked children’s book agents about trends they are seeing in the category, and how they persevere in a tough market.

publishersweekly.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 22d

For the first time, Kindle Unlimited ebooks can now be distributed to libraries, without breaking exclusivity.

Read More: newshelves.com/kindle-unlim...

#KindleUnlimited #SelfPublishing #DigitalPublishing #BookMarketing #AuthorLife #Libraries #WritingCommunity #Bookstagram

Kindle Unlimited Authors Can Now Distribute eBooks to Libraries - New Shelves Books

Amazon has updated KDP Select: Kindle Unlimited authors can now distribute ebooks to libraries without breaking exclusivity.

newshelves.com

1 2

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 23d

Big news! Judge William Alsup has delayed preliminary approval of Anthropic’s proposed $1.5 billion copyright settlement over AI book training.

Read more: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

#Copyright #PublishingNews #AIinPublishing #BookPublishing #WritersLife #IndieAuthors #Bookstagram

Judge Delays Preliminary Approval in Anthropic Copyright Settlement

Expressing various concerns about parts of the $1.5 billion agreement, Judge William Alsup postponed giving preliminary approval to the settlement until September 25.

www.publishersweekly.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 26d

Spotify’s new Follow Along feature blends audio with custom visuals and music, turning listening into a fully immersive experience.

Read more: www.fastcompany.com/91383062/spo...

#Audiobooks #Spotify #FollowAlong #DigitalReading #BookTech #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #FutureOfPublishing

Spotify just redesigned the way you'll 'listen' to audiobooks

With 'Follow Along,' the streaming giant adds image and music to its audiobook oeuvre.

www.fastcompany.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 27d

Tiny Bookshop, a new cozy narrative management game, lets players stock shelves, decorate, and charm customers in the idyllic town of Bookstonbury-by-the-Sea.

Read More: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

#TinyBookshop #Booksellers #BookishLife #IndieGames #Bookstagram #PublishingNews

New Video Game, ‘Tiny Bookshop,’ Has Booksellers Talking (and Playing)

The new “cozy narrative management” video game from independent studio Skystone Games lets gamers become booksellers and score points for performing tasks. Real-life booksellers give it positive revie...

www.publishersweekly.com

1 3

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · 29d

Kristy Cambron, bestselling author and former literary agent, shares five business tips to help writers get closer to bestseller status from the start. Read more: shewrites.com/business-tip...

#WritingTips #WriterLife #BookPublishing #AuthorAdvice #IndieAuthors #WritingCommunity #WriterMotivation

Five Quick-hit Business Tips to Get Writers Closer to Bestseller Status from the Start with Kristy Cambron | She Writes

Kristy Cambron is a bestselling author and former Vice President [...]

shewrites.com

5

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Sep 8

Writers relying on Substack are in a system where “success” is defined by the platform. Substack loyalty is to investors, not writers. Read More: speterdavis.substack.com/p/substack-i...

#Substack #PublishingNews #WritingCommunity #PublishingIndustry #AuthorLife #IndiePublishing #DigitalPublishing

Substack Is Your Boss, and He's Dissatisfied With Your Performance

Enshittification has arrived, inevitably, and on schedule

speterdavis.substack.com

1

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Sep 5

OpenAI is opening up and sharing two of its powerful AI models for free. While these models aren’t quite their top-tier ones, they’re still among the best out there.

Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/t...

#TechNews #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #Innovation #FutureTech

OpenAI to Give Away Some of the Technology That Powers ChatGPT

www.nytimes.com

1 1

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Sep 4

Teens across the U.S. will soon be able to access banned books through Long Beach Public Library’s e-book collection—helping young readers everywhere fight censorship and keep the freedom to read alive.

Learn More: lbpost.com/news/educati...

#BannedBooks #LibraryLove #YoungReaders #BookCommunity

Long Beach will open up its e-book library so teens from other states can read banned books

It's part of a nationwide push to let young people access reading material that may have been thrown out of their local libraries and schools.

lbpost.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Sep 3

Thad McIlroy, publishing technology analyst and author, breaks it down in a clear playbook for companies ready to embrace AI. An interesting playbook for publishers to consider when incorporating AI.

Read more: thefutureofpublishing.com/2025/08/ai-s...

#PublishingIndustry #PublishingNews

AI Strategies for Book Publishing Companies — Thad McIlroy - Future Of Publishing

(First published January 26, 2025. 1st revision, February 3, 2025; 2nd revision, April 14, 2025) Third revision, August 18, 2025 (with corrections and add’l links, August 28, 2025) Also available as a...

thefutureofpublishing.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Sep 2

Attending a genre convention might just be your secret weapon! From sitting on panels to chatting with fans, it’s all about building real connections with readers who love your genre.

Read More: janefriedman.com/find-your-id...

#BookMarketing #IndieAuthors #FindYourReaders #BookCommunity

Find Your Ideal Readers by Attending a Genre Convention | Jane Friedman

After attending a convention in order to connect with readers, one author examines what went well and what she’ll do differently next time.

janefriedman.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Sep 1

🤖💬 ChatGPT isn’t just changing how we write—it’s reshaping how we speak! Words like “delve” and “meticulous” are popping up more in everyday conversations, thanks to AI’s influence.

Read More: www.scientificamerican.com/article/chat...

#ChatGPT #SpokenWord #FutureOfCommunication #BookCommunity

ChatGPT Is Changing the Words We Use in Conversation

Words frequently used by ChatGPT, including “delve” and “meticulous,” are getting more common in spoken language, according to an analysis of more than 700,000 hours of videos and podcasts

www.scientificamerican.com

1

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Aug 29

This inspiring story from a 20-year-strong book club shows that it’s all about good books, great company, and clear but simple rules. From themed meals to honest discussions, it’s about connection.

www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/0...

#ReadersOfInstagram #BookLovers

Guest column | My book club has lasted more than 20 years. Here’s how we made it fun.

No need to get fancy, but do set out some rules from the start. For instance, everyone has to read the book. Also, remember to thank the host.

www.washingtonpost.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Aug 27

Today, on Podcasts Episodes We Loved, we’re featuring the Pro Audio Voices episode "The Copyright Detective". This episode dives deep into how authors and narrators can protect their work.

Listen here: proaudiovoices.com/ac-i-273-the...

#CopyrightMatters #aiandpublishing #AuthorTips

AC-I-273 The Copyright Detective - Music and Lyrics Issues | Pro Audio Voices & AMPlify Audiobooks

Host Becky Parker Geist sits down with Dr. C. Daniel Miller, a copyright specialist and publishing consultant, to tackle the complex world of copyright law, AI-generated content, and audiobook product...

proaudiovoices.com

New Shelves Books @newshelvesbooks.bsky.social · Aug 25

Johns Hopkins University Press is stepping into the AI world by licensing books to train language models—aiming to support its mission amid funding challenges.

Read More: www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

#AcademicPublishing #JohnsHopkinsPress #BookCommunity #PublishingNews

Johns Hopkins Press Plans to License Books to Train AI

The publisher did not disclose which AI company or companies it’s partnering with, but expects any resulting revenue to be “meaningful” in advancing its mission.

www.insidehighered.com