Self Publishing Weekly News, November 5, 2025
Self Publishing Weekly News, November 5, 2025
“A Light Made to Shine” by Daniel K. Mancini
Christian author Daniel K. Mancinihas released his new book,A Light Made to Shine, a faith-centered guide designed to help readers rediscover their spiritual purpose and rekindle their connection with God. Inspired byMatthew 5:15, Mancini invites believers to remove the “baskets” of fear, doubt, and distraction that conceal their inner light. Across twenty chapters filled with reflections, prayers, and practical insights, the book encourages readers to embrace spiritual renewal and live boldly in alignment with their divine calling.
More than a devotional, A Light Made to Shine combines biblical truths with everyday wisdom, offering readers a personal roadmap toward joy, courage, and intimacy with Christ. Mancini’s writing blends heartfelt storytelling with scriptural grounding, making the book both inspiring and actionable. As a self-published author, he continues to use his platform to motivate others to live authentically and shine their faith in daily life. The book is available on Amazon and other major retailers, marking another meaningful contribution to Christian inspirational literature.
AI Writing Summit 3.0
The AI Writing Summit 3.0, happening online from November 3–7, 2025, is a five-day global event uniting over 40 industry leaders, authors, and AI innovators to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on modern writing and publishing. Hosted by Cary Richards, co-founder of Infostack, the summit aims to empower both emerging and professional writers to embrace AI tools as creative partners rather than replacements. Through workshops, live Q&A panels, and practical demonstrations, participants will learn how to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and maintain authenticity while integrating AI into storytelling, marketing, and content creation.
Positioned as the world’s leading AI-focused writing event, the summit underscores that AI can revolutionize creativity much like the printing press or the internet once did. Attendees will explore topics such as ethical AI use, branding, automated marketing, and audience growth, while receiving free tools including The AI-Powered Book Hook Generators, The Fiction Fanbase Flywheel, and The Offer Optimizer Toolkit. With the participation of thought leaders like Leigh Shulman, Lise Cartwright, and Michael Stewart, the event promises a future-oriented experience where technology and imagination merge to redefine what it means to be a writer in the digital age.
Dr. Makore Calls for a National Book Policy in Zimbabwe
At the closing of the 2025 Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) in Harare Gardens, Dr. Samuel Makore, the event’s curator, called for the creation of a national Book Policy to strengthen the country’s literary sector. He emphasized that many self-published authors produce work lacking professional editing, resulting in errors that undermine the quality of Zimbabwean literature. Citing successful models from countries like South Africa, Makore argued that such a policy could ensure higher publishing standards by providing authors access to expert editors before their work reaches readers. The theme of this year’s fair, “Page by Page: The Book Returns,” highlighted the revival of Zimbabwe’s literary culture after years of financial difficulties and a hiatus since 2017.
Dr. Makore also spoke about the need to balance technology and creativity in the era of Artificial Intelligence, encouraging authors to embrace digital tools without losing originality. He noted that the 2025 fair attracted a large number of students, signaling renewed interest in reading and writing among young people. ZIBF Chairperson Memory Chirere praised the event’s success and school participation, stressing that developing a strong reading culture is key to national growth. Both leaders advocated for greater funding and recognition for the literary arts—sectors often overshadowed by music and dance—to ensure that Zimbabwean stories continue to be told authentically by local voices.
New 2025 Analysis Reveals Top KDP Keyword Research Tools Driving Amazon Book Sales for Self-Publishers
A 2025 analysis by ExposedTech.net has identified the most effective keyword research tools for self-published authors on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform, where discoverability has become essential to success. The report names Publisher Rocket as the top-performing tool for its affordability, user-friendly interface, and lifetime access model. With Amazon’s A9 algorithm heavily reliant on keyword optimization, the study emphasizes that strong metadata and search term strategies now determine whether a book thrives or remains unseen. Publisher Rocket’s standout features include competition tracking, category analysis, and revenue projection estimates that help authors make data-driven marketing decisions.
The review also highlights alternatives for specific author needs: Helium 10 Magnet for large-scale publishers requiring advanced analytics, Keyword Tool Dominator for beginners seeking a low-cost entry point, and DataDive for data-oriented professionals managing multiple titles. Across all tools, the study defines essential functions like accurate search volume data, competition scoring, ASIN tracking, and export capabilities as key to success. It concludes that consistent keyword optimization—not a one-time setup—is vital as reader trends and algorithms evolve. Investing in such tools, the analysis asserts, provides measurable returns through higher rankings, better visibility, and stronger book sales for authors navigating Amazon’s increasingly competitive marketplace.
Best Self publishing Platforms
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Amazon’s KDP is one of the most accessible self-publishing platforms, enabling authors to upload both e-books and print books (paperback and hardcover) with no upfront cost. Through KDP, you can publish worldwide, adjust pricing, format your book, and manage royalties — all while retaining rights to your work. Kindle Direct Publishing+1 Because Amazon controls the largest global book marketplace, KDP gives you a direct route to millions of potential readers. That said, given the broad accessibility, competition is high, so authors using KDP often need to invest in strong editing, cover design, and marketing to stand out.
IngramSpark: IngramSpark specializes in print-on-demand (POD) and global distribution of both print and e-books to a broad network of online retailers, bookstores, and libraries. IngramSpark+1 Its major strength lies in reaching physical stores and libraries — a distribution channel many self-publishers overlook. However, it can involve setup fees (for example a fee for print book setup) and perhaps requires more familiarity with the publishing process. Joseph (Joey) D’Urso If your goal is to have your book appear in brick-and-mortar stores, or you want professional print quality and global reach beyond Amazon, IngramSpark is a strong choice.
Draft2Digital: Draft2Digital is a self-publishing aggregator built to simplify e-book distribution — you upload once, and it distributes your book to multiple retailers (Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and more). draft2digital.com+1 It also offers intuitive formatting tools, ease of use, and strong user support. Because it focuses heavily on e-books and wide digital distribution, it’s ideal for authors who want to publish across many platforms without managing each individually. On the flip side, if you need heavy print presence or are focused on bookstores, you might need to use it alongside a print-oriented service.
PublishDrive: PublishDrive is a newer but robust platform that supports e-books, print, and audiobooks, and targets global markets with multilingual and multi-format support. publishdrive.com+1 It offers tools for metadata optimization, regional pricing, analytics, and is built for authors who want wide international reach and sophisticated distribution. Some users, however, report concerns about responsiveness or royalty reporting, so it may require more proactive oversight. reddit.com If you’re aiming to go “wide” (beyond Amazon) and want to tap into global sales channels, PublishDrive could be well-suited to that strategy.
Barnes & Noble Press (B&N Press): This is the self-publishing arm of the major U.S. bookseller Barnes & Noble, letting authors publish print and digital books for sale on BN.com and the NOOK e-reader platform. Barnes & Noble+1 It is free to use (no hidden setup fees) and straightforward to publish, making it a solid choice for authors focused on the U.S. market and who want an additional distribution channel outside Amazon. However, physical store shelf presence is not guaranteed and may require additional effort.