Before you send your manuscript to an editor, there’s work to be done. In this episode, I sit down with Jeannie De Vita—writing instructor at UCLA Extension, second-generation author, and bestselling romance writer under her Callie Chase pen name—to break down what separates a polished draft from an expensive mess. We’re talking best practices for prep, common mistakes authors make, and how to make your editor love you (and your manuscript).

• Book Genie - https://www.book-genie.com/
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• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
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• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• 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

Major updates this week in the publishing world: one major distributor is waiving its print market access fee for the next 12 months, while others are making key changes to how authors get paid or discover new readers. Plus, a brief outage, fresh promotional opportunities, and a couple of interviews you don’t want to miss.

• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
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• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee

News Sources:

• Distribute Print Books to Ingram Without the Market Access Fee for 12 Months - https://publishdrive.com/distribute-print-books-to-ingram-without-the-market-access-fee-for-12-months.html
• Everand: Update on Subscription Payouts for Full Reads - https://help.publishdrive.com/everand-payout-updates
• Bookvault Outage Incident Last Week - https://status.bookvault.app/incident/619700
• Barnes & Noble Press Blog: Bestseller Tips for Indie Authors - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/bestseller-tips-for-indie-authors/
• The Sample Chapter Podcast - Interview with Dale L. Roberts - https://youtu.be/fcQs2cAr-WY?si=MvAKhOP5tPDtZEAl
• Terry Pappy: MSL 212 - Dale L. Roberts on Starting Part 1 - https://youtu.be/KXzchCH3WYk?si=7T7U7PrJsmZswBGI
• BookMARCon - https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/
• Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link)

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

Tired of book marketing advice that doesn’t work in the real world? Angela Yuriko Smith—author, president of the Horror Writers Association, and creator of Authortunities—joins me live to reveal how authors are finding real visibility through the power of strategic promotion. We’ll dig into how to make the most of book fairs, awards, conferences, and more—and why most authors overlook the marketing gold that’s right in front of them. If you’re looking for practical ways to grow your readership without wasting time or money, don’t miss this episode.

• Authortunities - https://authortunities.substack.com/
• Angela Yuriko Smith - https://yurikopublishing.com/
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• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• 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

Radish Fiction is officially shutting down by December 2025. NetGalley just launched a consumer-facing discovery site called Booktrovert. And ACX is testing voice replica AI for audiobook narration. In this week's news update, I cover the latest shifts in the self-publishing world—including a deepfake interview warning, AI narration breakthroughs, and a major indie publishing milestone from Spoken.press.

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• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

News Sources:

• Now in Beta: Narrator Voice Replicas on ACX - https://www.acx.com/mp/blog/now-in-beta-narrator-voice-replicas-on-acx
• Radish Fiction is shutting down in December 2025 - https://goodereader.com/blog/digital-publishing/radish-fiction-is-shutting-down-soon-in-december
• NetGalley Launches New Consumer Marketing Site Called Booktrovert - https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/06/netgalley-launches-booktrovert/
• When an Interview Isn’t Exactly What It Seems: NewYox Media and Its Suite of Magazines - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/07/11/when-an-interview-isnt-exactly-what-it-seems-newyox-media-and-its-suite-of-magazines
• Spoken Beta: V0.9.4 Release Notes: Natural Cadence, Emotional Precision, and Massive MCMV Level Up - https://www.spoken.press/the-spoken-chronicle/spoken-beta-v094-release-notes-natural-cadence-emotional-precision-and-massive-mcmv-level-up
• Miblart - https://DaleLinks.com/Miblart (affiliate link) - use promo code MIBLART15 to get 15% off your order (good through July 18)
• Self-Publishing Made Simple with April Cox - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfPubMadeSimple
• BookLinker presents: Your Book Deserves Readers: 3 Steps to Smarter Book Marketing - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/registration-page
• ALLi Membership - https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi (affiliate link)
• ALLi Member Q&A: Marketing Your Books Using Video with Dale L. Roberts - https://selfpubconnect.mn.co/events/member-qa-marketing-your-books-using-video-with-dale-l-roberts
• The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast: Building Your Author Platform in 2025 - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-author-platform/
• Kobo Writing Life presents: Busting Indie Publishing Myths with Dale Roberts - https://www.youtube.com/live/6oPXIhuzROg?si=YE7mPAAzFYvuYMCq
• Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link)

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

Tired of trying to do everything as an author? Jonny Andrews joins me to break down how to grow your author business without the stress. We’re talking systems, mindset, and strategy—so you can stop spinning your wheels and start building real momentum. If you're ready to scale smart, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

• Scale Your Hustle - https://scaleyourhustle.com/
• Faceless Business Empire - https://facelessbusinessempire.com
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
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• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
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• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• 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

Major news just dropped in the world of AI and copyright, and authors need to pay attention. A federal judge made a surprising ruling about how AI models can use books, and it could change everything. Plus, new opportunities for indie authors with MailerLite, PublishDrive, Bookvault, and more. Catch up on everything happening in publishing this week.

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• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

News Sources:

• AI chatbots need more books to learn from. These libraries are opening their stacks - https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbot-training-data-libraries-idi-e096a81a4fceb2951f232a33ac767f53
• Federal judge rules copyrighted books are fair use for AI training - https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/federal-judge-rules-copyrighted-books-are-fair-use-ai-training-rcna214766
• Amazon Prime Day 2025 - https://www.amazon.com/primeday
• BookLinker - https://BookLinker.com
• KDP Royalty Calculator: Free Tool for Authors - https://kindlepreneur.com/kdp-royalty-calculator/?affiliate=selfpubwithdale (affiliate link)
• Bookvault - https://bookvault.app
• PublishDrive - https://dalelinks.com/publishdrive (affiliate link)
• Spotify for Authors - https://authors.spotify.com
• How Indie Authors Are Doing in 2025: Mid-Year Survey Results - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/we-asked-indie-authors-how-2025-is-going-heres-what-they-said/
• All Call Indie - https://allcallindie.com/
• New! Create and sell your digital products directly in MailerLite - https://dalelinks.com/mailerliteproducts (affiliate link)
• Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com
• Gemsy - https://dalelinks.com/gemsy (affiliate link) - use code DALE4JULY (good through July 8)
• BookMARCon - https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/
• Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link)

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

Struggling to make Amazon Ads work for your books? In this exclusive interview, Dale L. Roberts sits down with Sylvia Hubbard to unpack the biggest challenges and questions authors face when advertising on Amazon. From targeting to budgeting to measuring success, this video offers indie authors a roadmap to smarter, more effective advertising strategies. Whether you're just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, this conversation will shift your mindset and equip you to take action.

• Sylvia Hubbard - https://sylviahubbard.com/
• Advertising for Books - https://DaleLinks.com/AdsBook
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• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
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• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• 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

Think book awards are only for big-budget authors? Think again. In this episode, I’m joined by indie author Ross Brand, who’s won over 50 book awards using Book Award Pro, even on the free plan. He shares how to choose the right awards, save money, and turn wins into long-term visibility. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to submit your book, this is it.

• Ross Brand - http://livestreamuniverse.com
• Ross on YouTube - @livestreamuniverse1966
• Ross on Substack - https://rossbrand.substack.com
• Ross's Books - https://geni.us/100v5
• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• 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