Self Publishing Weekly News, November 19, 2025
1. Publishing Scam Targets Aspiring Authors via AI and Virtual Offices
A recent investigation revealed that a network of websites operating in Australia, the UK and New Zealand is posing as legitimate publishing houses—complete with copied business numbers, AI-generated staff photos and virtual offices—to lure aspiring authors into paying for publication services. Some go by names like “Melbourne Book Publisher” or “Oz Book Publishers” and even impersonate established firms via stolen credentials and fake endorsements. The scammers typically approach new writers via social media, offer contracts and video calls, ask for upfront fees for services like ABNs or “worldwide promotion”, but provide little in the way of actual support or rights reporting.
This serves as a critical warning for self-published authors: the use of AI to create deceptive team profiles, testimonials and websites makes scam operations much more sophisticated than in the past. Industry watchers are urging writers to verify claimed publishers, ask for sample royalty statements, confirm ISBNs with known affiliations, and report suspicious firms to consumer-protection bodies like Australia’s Scamwatch. The Guardian
2. China’s Crackdown Silences Female Authors of Danmei Self-Published Romance
In China, female authors of danmei—male-male romance fiction published largely online or via self-publish formats—are facing intense censorship and legal pressure. Reports indicate that dozens of writers have been detained, charged under “obscene material” laws, or intimidated into pulling their work offline as platforms purge content. The crackdown is part of a broader push by the government to regulate LGBTQ content, online literature, and what it sees as morally or socially destabilising forms of expression.
For the self-publishing community, this signals a stark reminder of the fragility of creative freedom in some jurisdictions. While these authors were already operating independently, the lack of institutional protection and rising enforcement mean that self-published voices—especially those in niche or sub-culture genres—could face sweeping risks, loss of revenue and personal legal jeopardy. AP NEWS
3. Self-Publishing Industry Trends Show Strong Growth — and Greater Need for Savvy Authors
Recent trend reports show that self-publishing continues to expand, with indie authors leveraging global distribution, print-on-demand and digital formats to reach readers on their own terms. Platforms emphasise niche markets, author-owned marketing strategies, AI-powered tools for editing and design, and an increasing emphasis on building loyal reader communities rather than mass-market launches.
However, the growth comes with a caveat: authors must now wear many hats—not just writer, but marketer, data-analyst, and business-owner. The landscape is getting more crowded, and those who succeed are those who understand audience engagement, direct-to-reader sales, email lists, and marketing platforms. The message is clear: self-publishing is less of a “set the book free and hope” model, and more of a mini-business that authors must manage actively. Spines.
4. Author Spotlight: Crafting a Series After Traditional Routes Didn’t Pan Out
Author Matthew Munson writes about his decision to pivot from seeking a traditional publishing deal to self-publishing a fantasy series, reflecting on the desire for creative freedom and control. Having completed a standalone novel and its sequel, Munson says he’s now embarked on a full series with a world of diverse civilisations—something he found lacking in many mainstream fantasy offerings.
His story resonates with many independent authors: the road to traditional publishing may not always succeed, but self-publishing offers an alternative path where series-building, world-creation and incremental release strategies become possible. Munson emphasises that while being your own publisher introduces new responsibilities, it also allows you to make the kind of book you’ve always wanted. The Isle of Thanet News
5. Author/Screenplay Hybrid: Self-Published Novel Moves Toward Big-Screen Adaptation
Aerospace engineer-turned-author Nicholas Licausi has taken his emotionally charged self-published novel The Medical Project—which imagines an AI-driven healthcare revolution sparked by personal loss—and moved it into screenplay development. The story weaves speculative science with a deeply human narrative, and the adaptation says much about how indie self-published works are increasingly crossing into other media.
For self-publishers, Licausi’s path highlights the broader potential of independent publishing: owning rights, having a story with adaptability, and leveraging cross-media opportunities (film, TV, digital) can elevate a book beyond its initial market. It also underscores the importance of thinking about rights, adaptations and author-owned IP early in the self-publishing journey. WebWire Washington City Paper
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