Substack for authors can be a useful way to publish regularly, build an email audience, and create stronger relationships with readers — but it should not replace your author website, your broader book marketing plan, or the parts of your platform you fully control.
If people are reading your book, why isn’t your author income higher? The answer is that readership and royalties do not always move together. Many readers access books through libraries, used-book sales, subscriptions, personal sharing, book clubs, or digital borrowing — channels that may generate limited royalties, one-time licensing income, or no direct payment to the author at all.
Distribute your ebook through an aggregator that feeds OverDrive — such as Draft2Digital, Smashwords, or PublishDrive — and your print edition through IngramSpark. Libraries then order copies through those catalogs. You can’t upload directly to OverDrive as an individual, which is why an aggregator is required.
Romantasy still sells, and BookTok creators broadly expect it to stay dominant through 2026. What’s changed is the supply side: the market is crowded, and there are signs that agents and editors are less hungry for new romantasy voices than they were two years ago. If you love the genre, write it—but write it knowing you’re entering a saturated field where “competent” no longer stands out.
Book rights are divisible, and many deals license print while the author retains ebook, audio, or foreign rights. Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl deal with Ace is a prominent recent example. Whether a publisher will agree to a split depends on your leverage and the specific contract.
Whether you’re drafting your first romantasy or refining a manuscript already brimming with yearning and enchantments, you’ll find practical guidance here to help you blend heat, heart, and high-fantasy energy into one irresistible spell.
At Atmosphere Press, we offer four tiered hybrid publishing packages—Essential, Premium, Flagship, and Enterprise—designed to give authors everything they need to publish a high-quality book, reach readers worldwide, and retain full creative control.
For writers considering Atmosphere Press, Dossett’s experience offers a grounded example of what a strong publishing partnership can provide: professionalism, guidance, encouragement, and a path forward.
Stuck between first draft and finished masterpiece? Beta readers can bridge the gap. These unsung heroes provide fresh eyes, insightful feedback, and honest critique to take your story to the next level.
As a writer, you’ve probably experienced the thrill of creating a piece of work that you’re proud of. You’ve poured your heart and soul into it, polished every word, and hit the “submit” button with a sense of anticipation. But then, the dreaded email arrives: “Thank you for your submission, but unfortunately, it’s not a fit for us at this time.” Rejection. Ouch. It’s inevitable, but it still stings—so let’s talk about how to handle rejection like a pro.
To write characters smarter than you, let the character seem brilliant in the finished scene while you build that brilliance behind the scenes. Use placeholders, targeted research, reverse engineering, specific expertise, and carefully planted clues so their intelligence feels earned rather than convenient.
Genre and setting aren’t separate decisions. They’re the same decision, approached from two different angles. When they’re aligned, a story feels inevitable. When they’re in deliberate tension, it can feel surprising and alive in ways readers remember long after the plot has faded.
As of September 2025, Amazon updated KDP Select terms to allow simultaneous library distribution. Your KU ebook can now appear through OverDrive, Hoopla, BorrowBox, and other major library platforms without breaking exclusivity. You still can’t distribute to retail ebook stores — Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble — while enrolled. That restriction remains. But libraries are now an open lane, and you can use third-party distributors like Draft2Digital to get there while keeping your KDP Select enrollment fully intact.
The main problems with traditional publishing stem from its focus on market viability, risk management, and scale. This can result in limited access, long timelines, reduced creative control, and uncertainty for authors—even when the work itself is strong.
Self-publishing is best for authors who want full control and are comfortable managing every step; if you want professional support and a structured process, publishing with Atmosphere Press may be a better fit.
Waiting for a literary agent can take months or years, with no guarantee of representation.
If you want more control, a clear timeline, and a collaborative publishing process, publishing with Atmosphere Press may be a better fit.
Atmosphere Press is not a print-only service—but we do work with authors who have already edited or designed their books. In most cases, we’ll review what you’ve done and recommend any refinements needed to ensure the book meets professional and market standards.
Publishing with Atmosphere Press is best for authors who want professional support, creative control, and a collaborative publishing process. It’s not a fit for authors seeking traditional publishing, a hands-off experience, or a minimal-effort path to print.
As a writer, staying abreast of the ever-evolving landscape of the publishing world is not just wise; it’s imperative. With each passing year, new trends emerge, reshaping the way books are written, published, and consumed. As we step across the threshold into 2024, let’s explore the fascinating world of publishing trends that are set to redefine the journey for authors.
What Is an Advance Reader Copy? An advance reader copy (ARC) is a pre-publication version of a book sent to reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and influencers before its official release date. ARCs are used to generate early reviews, build buzz, and…