Amazon KDP's New Groundwood Paper. Lower Costs, Classic Feel, and What It Means for Your Books

Amazon KDP has introduced Groundwood paper as a new beta option for eligible black-and-white paperbacks. In this bonus episode, KB breaks down what Groundwood paper is, how it compares to the existing white and cream options, the cost and environmental benefits, the important limitations authors need to know about, and actionable steps for evaluating whether to switch your titles.

Bonus 05: KDP's Performance Algorithm — What the Data Says About Your 90-Day WindowSpotify Episode Summary

Every self-published author has heard about the "90-day cliff" — but most of what gets repeated is half-truths. In this data-driven bonus episode, Kevin breaks down how Amazon's KDP algorithm actually evaluates your book, what the research says about the 90-day window, and how to use it to your advantage.

Backed by cited sources including Amazon's own documentation, advertising benchmark reports, practitioner case studies, and academic research, this episode covers:

🔍 The Algorithm Decoded — Sales velocity (~40% of ranking weight), conversion rate, CTR, and engagement signals — what actually moves your rank

📈 The 3 Phases — The 30-day New Release boost, the 30-60 day judgment period, and the 60-90 day make-or-break window

🚀 Launch Strategy — A 6-week pre-launch timeline, why 10+ reviews in week 1 matter, and the science behind consistent sales velocity

💰 Promotion Tactics — Free promotions vs. Countdown Deals, the 70% royalty advantage, and evidence-based timing strategy

📝 A+ Content Timing — Why Amazon's data shows up to 8% sales increase and 3-10% conversion lift, and why it should be live before launch day

📉 Rank Recovery — The 5-step playbook for when your book slides, plus the 90-day relaunch cycle

Sources include Amazon KDP documentation, HillTree Press, Ad Badger's 2026 Benchmarks, PublishRank, Sequence Commerce, and more. Full citations in the show notes.

🎯 Whether you're about to launch your first book or trying to revive an older title, this episode gives you the data-backed framework to make smarter publishing decisions.

#KDP #SelfPublishing #AmazonAlgorithm #BookMarketing #IndieAuthor #SelfPubEmpire

Bonus 04: Audible's New Royalty Model — What Every Self-Published Author Needs to Know

Audible just flipped the switch. On May 26th, 2026, ACX officially opened enrollment for a brand new royalty model — and by December 31st, the old system goes away entirely.

In this bonus episode, I break down everything self-published authors need to know:

• The new royalty rates — 50% exclusive (up from 40%) and 30% non-exclusive (up from 25%)

• How the new "Member Value" pooled system works — and why Audible now acts more like a streaming platform

• Earning from Audible Plus listening for the first time

• What critics are saying — including the 30,000-signature petition

• 6 actionable steps you should take right now to protect your audiobook income

Whether you already have audiobooks on Audible or you're thinking about getting started, this episode gives you the full picture so you can make smart decisions before the deadline hits.

🔗 Resources mentioned:

- ACX Dashboard: acx.com

- ACX New Royalty Model FAQ: help.acx.com

#SelfPublishing #Audiobooks #ACX #Audible #IndieAuthor #KDP #SelfPubEmpire

Hey everyone, it’s KB here with a quick rundown of our latest bonus episode: **“How AI Can Be Your Secret Accelerator – Deeper Proofreading and Editing Without the Headache.”**

In this fast-paced bonus episode, I share exactly how I’m using artificial intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool to take my self-published books to the next level. I explain why no author is great at proofreading their own work and how AI steps in as a smart, tireless assistant that catches grammar issues, awkward phrasing, repetitive words, and flow problems that our eyes often miss.

I walk you through my personal step-by-step process: feeding chapters into AI with clear instructions, reviewing every suggestion carefully to protect my unique voice, and combining it with read-aloud features for even better results. Whether you’re just starting your first book or polishing your latest manuscript, you’ll discover how AI helps you edit faster and deeper without replacing your creativity or breaking the bank.

This episode is packed with practical tips you can use right away, plus encouragement that progress beats perfection every time. AI isn’t here to write your book for you — it’s here to help you make your book stronger, cleaner, and more professional so you can confidently hit publish.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the editing stage, this bonus episode will give you new confidence and real strategies to move forward.

I hope this helps you go from posts… to profit!

Tune in to Bonus Episode 03 of **KB’s Self Pub Empire** now and start using AI as your editing accelerator today.

This premiere episode of Season 2 encourages aspiring self-publishers to take action in 2026, highlighting the newly updated KDP Starter Guide and its five-step blueprint for launching a book on Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. The host reflects on an eighteen-month hiatus, discusses advances in AI, Virtual Voice, and Discord communities, and teases future episodes with deeper tactical advice. Personal business milestones and a renewed focus on time management are also mentioned, setting an optimistic tone for achieving publishing success together.

In this bonus episode of KB’s Self Pub Empire, KB shares insights from attending Adepticon, a major tabletop gaming convention, and reflects on the power of capturing live experiences through podcasting. He highlights the Poorhammer podcast as a standout example of creators recording authentic, on-the-ground content that taps directly into community energy—specifically their live “Adepticon Hot Takes” episode reacting to major Warhammer announcements. KB connects this approach to broader creator and self-publishing strategies, emphasizing the importance of turning real-world experiences into evergreen content that builds trust, engagement, and long-term monetization. The episode reinforces the idea of treating every experience as fuel for a content engine and encourages creators to strategically document their journeys to move from posts to profits.

https://poorhammer.libsyn.com/

https://orchideight.com/collections/poorhammer

https://www.twitch.tv/poorhammer

https://www.patreon.com/SolelySingleton

This bonus episode of KB’s Self Pub Empire serves as an energetic teaser for the upcoming Season 2 of the podcast. KB reflects on Season 1, which focused on foundational steps of self-publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing, including setup, formatting, cover design, pricing, publishing, and basic marketing. Looking ahead, Season 2 will shift toward scaling and monetization—helping authors turn published books into sustainable income through advanced KDP strategies, smarter use of AI, improved visibility tools like A+ Content and Author Central, and burnout-free marketing systems. KB also highlights existing imprints such as the Senior Dummies series, the KSquare poetry and art collections, and previews the upcoming Boiled Down Basics app and website. The episode closes with an invitation to explore resources at selfpubempire.com and a motivational call to keep writing and publishing.

🖋️📚 Unlock Your Self-Publishing Potential with Discord! 🚀✨ From connecting with fans to discovering invaluable resources, Discord is your ultimate community hub. Ready to take your book to the next level? Learn how to create your own Discord server! 💬👇

- Initially for gamers, Discord now serves various communities with 140 million monthly active users.

- Authors like AF Kay effectively use Discord to engage with fans.

- Topics covered: Why Discord, Getting Set Up, Best

- Discord can either distract or help grow a community

- It's a powerful tool for self-published authors to deepen connections and expand reach.

- Creating an interactive community boosts engagement and loyalty among fans.

Try out my free Getting Started with KDP Guide!

🎧✨

- **Amazon virtual voice service**: Still in Beta, now over 40,000 AI-narrated books since November 2023.

- **Mixed reactions**: Critics argue it eliminates human narrators; supporters see benefits for self-publishing.

- **Advantages**: Fast, cost-effective audiobook creation;

- **Quality concerns**: Human narrators offer better inflections and tone for bringing characters to life.

- **Audiobook market growth**: Expected CAGR of 24.4-26.3%, with market potentially tripling from $5 billion in 2022 to nearly $15 billion by 2028.

- **Step-by-step guide**:

  - Open bookshelf and find eBook

  - Test and select Virtual Voice

  - Set Pricing

  - Review with Virtual Voice Studio

  - Publish Audiobook

- **Requirements for eBooks**

Free eBook: Getting started with KDP!

📚✨ Exciting News! We have the incredible Brian King joining us on the show to dive into his thrilling LitRPG series, Death and the Sword Saint! 🗡️📖 His third book just dropped in January and is already making waves on Amazon! 🌊 #LitRPG #NewRelease #AuthorInterview

- Brian King discusses his LitRPG series, Death and the Sword Saint.

- The third book in the series was released in January and is available on Amazon.

- Brian gives us an overview of the story.

- Brian’s interview includes his inspiration, integrating game mechanics, and balancing world-building with character development.

- Other topics cover challenges in self-publishing, influences, reader engagement, and essential tools for writing.

- Brian also talks about his self-publishing processes and advice for aspiring authors.

Death and the Sword Saint vol 1

Death and the Sword Saint vol 2

Death and the Sword Saint vol 3

Check out my FREE Guide to Getting Started with KDP!