Draft2Digital Leads 2026 Print Changes
Self-Publishing News (Jan. 6, 2026)
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It’s a new year and I’ve got you loaded up with all the first of year details, including new questions around Amazon Kindle’s latest AI feature, confirmed print and revision changes from Draft2Digital and IngramSpark, a wide distribution reality check from PublishDrive, new audio opportunities from Spoken, and author education events from Booklinker.
All that and more in the Self-Publishing News for Jan. 6, 2026.
Author Nation 2025 Revisited
I attended Author Nation Live in November, and I was blown away. I’ve been to conferences before but this one hit different. You know how it normally goes—scribble a few notes, feel inspired for a week or two, then life takes over and nothing changes.
One author drafted nine book outlines using a system she learned in a single session. Another one posted their first YouTube video that same week because a presenter made it feel completely doable. People were walking out saying “Mind blown!” and actually meaning it.
Here’s the thing: if you missed it, you’re not out of luck.
Author Nation is running a Digital After Party starting in January and going through March.
You get full access to all the session recordings, but here’s the real magic: live Zoom calls with the speakers where you can actually ask questions. Get clarity on how to apply what you’re learning to your books and your business.
This isn’t just about consuming more content, it’s about getting the right content and the people to help execute on what you learn.
Whether you’re still working toward your first book or you’re scaling a profitable catalog, this is how you make 2026 the year things actually change.
Check it out at AuthorNation.live/AfterParty.
Authors Guild Questions Kindle’s New AI Feature
According to the Authors Guild, Amazon’s new Ask This Book feature raises questions about author rights and control.
I previously shared on this Substack how Ask This Book is an AI tool built into some Kindle devices and the Kindle iOS app that allows readers to highlight text in a book and ask an AI chatbot questions about that passage. The responses come only from the book itself.
The Authors Guild says the feature launched without permission, without compensation, and without a way for authors or publishers to opt out.
Amazon says Ask This Book works like an expanded search function and does not train AI models on book content. The Guild takes a different view and argues the feature turns ebooks into interactive products similar to annotated or enhanced editions, which usually require separate licensing.
The Guild also points to the broader impact. With Amazon controlling most of the ebook market, built-in AI features like this could affect future licensing opportunities for authors.
Amazon has limited the feature since launch to reduce spoilers, but the Authors Guild says the core concerns remain:
Authors still have no control
Author still receive no additional compensation
The Authors Guild says it will continue discussions with Amazon and share updates as the situation develops and I’ll update you here of any changes.
Draft2Digital Announces Print Cost Increase
Draft2Digital (D2D) announced an upcoming increase to its print on demand costs.
Starting February 1, 2026, D2D Print prices will rise for all account holders. The company says the change comes from pricing updates by its print partner and reflects broader shifts across the print industry.
To help authors prepare, Draft2Digital has updated its Print Price Calculator. The tool shows current print costs, the new rates taking effect in February, and how those changes may affect royalties. This calculator helps authors decide whether to adjust their list prices.
Draft2Digital notes that it will not allow books to sell below cost. If a title risks selling at a loss, D2D will automatically raise the price to prevent authors from owing money per sale. Authors are still encouraged to review and adjust pricing themselves to avoid surprises.
This increase follows a similar announcement from IngramSpark last month. Since both platforms rely on Ingram Book Group for print fulfillment, the change is not unexpected. Authors using any service tied to Ingram may see similar adjustments.
Draft2Digital says it communicates pricing changes early and only makes them when necessary. Authors using or considering D2D Print are encouraged to review the Print Price Calculator before the new rates take effect.
IngramSpark Confirms Free Revisions Are Coming
In a year-end letter, Director of IngramSpark Paige Allen confirmed a change that was discussed in a previous post and is now officially on the record.
IngramSpark plans to offer free revision uploads starting in early 2026. This is significant because while the company removed initial upload fees years ago, it kept revision fees after the first sixty days, which became a dealbreaker for many authors.
This confirmation follows earlier reporting that revision fees would be removed, with a tradeoff. Market access fees increased from 1% to 1.875%, a shift now acknowledged directly by IngramSpark leadership.
However, there appears to be a short transition period. For January only, authors can use the code FIXIT to waive revision fees, with no stated limitations. IngramSpark leadership has indicated the permanent free revision policy should be any day now and they’ll notify all account holders.
Authors planning updates or corrections may want to take advantage of the January waiver while it is available.
PublishDrive Reflects on Platform Risk in 2025
In a year-end post, PublishDrive CEO Kinga Jentetics shared their perspective on how much platform risk reshaped publishing in 2025.
PublishDrive, an aggregate publishing platform often positioned as an alternative to Amazon KDP, said the past year exposed how quickly distribution terms can change when authors rely too heavily on a single company.
The post points to several moments that rattled publishers, including shifting royalty structures, new AI features, changes to print economics, and the sudden shutdown of long-standing distribution partners like Baker & Taylor. Each move served as a reminder that platform stability is never guaranteed.
PublishDrive noted it saw spikes in interest from publishers after each major announcement, especially from authors who had stayed exclusive for years and suddenly wanted wider distribution options.
The company framed 2025 as the year platform dependence stopped being theoretical and became a real business risk. The takeaway was simple: Diverse distribution creates resilience when terms change or partners disappear.
PublishDrive said it plans to continue focusing on wide distribution, infrastructure, and long-term stability as publishing heads deeper into 2026.
And, if you’re thinking about taking PublishDrive for a spin, get 25% off all annual plans till January 7, 2026.
Rapid Fire News Flash
Here is a fast roundup of updates, opportunities, and milestones authors should know as the year gets underway.
A recent listicle by GetCovers takes a look at whether Amazon KDP is still worth using in 2026. Competition continues to climb, reader expectations are higher, and visibility now depends on fundamentals like professional covers, solid metadata, pricing strategy, and series planning. The takeaway is clear: KDP still works, but upload and hope no longer does.
The digital audiobook narration platform Spoken has announced Your Story, a new audiobook storytelling competition created with Author Nation and Reader Nation. The contest focuses on short-form audio projects that highlight both the story and the personal reason behind it. Submissions open January 12. 2026, and close February 20, with ten finalists featured on Spoken’s YouTube channel and Reader Nation voting on the winner.
Booklinker is hosting two free live webinars this month. The Strategic Author is on January 8 at 12pm EST and focuses on refining book vision and positioning. From Book Cover to Brand Story is happening on January 21 at 2pm EST and explores author branding, visuals, and identity. Both sessions are free and space is limited. Shout-out to Kerrie at Booklinker!
My book YouTube for Authors just placed second in Nonfiction at the Digital Book Today Literary Awards. This marks the second award for the title. Of the twelve books in the series, this is the one I am most proud of, and I strongly recommend it for any author looking to expand their platform beyond books alone.
Final Thoughts
Real quick reminder here: I mentioned earlier about how I was at Author Nation live in November where I interviewed many authors and they shared how community genuinely changed how they approached being an author.
If you couldn’t make it to Vegas, they’re doing something called the Digital After Party. January through March, you get all the session recordings plus live Zoom calls with the speakers to ask your specific questions.
This isn’t about more content, it’s about the right content and real people helping you execute.
Learn more at AuthorNation.live/AfterParty.
That’s all I have for the news this week. Did I miss anything? If so, let me know in the comments. Till later, catch my previous news pieces here 👇
"upload and hope no longer does." Well, I can personally attest to this.
Packed with tons of useful information. Thank you for your dedication and effort - it makes all of this so much less intimidating! I bought your YouTube for Authors book last month and am excited to delve into it this year. Keep up the great work, and best wishes for the new year!