Amazon Self-Publishing in 2026: Dave Chesson (Kindlepreneur) on Writing, Marketing, and Book Trends

Amazon Self-Publishing in 2026 with Dave Chesson (Kindlepreneur)In this episode, we sit down with Dave Chesson, founder of Kindlepreneur.com and Publisher Rocket, to break down what authors and writers need to know to succeed with Amazon self-publishing, book marketing, and Amazon KDP heading into 2026.Dave Chesson is one of the most trusted voices in the self-publishing world. Through Kindlepreneur, he has helped hundreds of thousands of authors understand Amazon keywords, book discoverability, category selection, and long-term marketing strategies for independent authors. Publisher Rocket is one of the most widely used tools for Amazon keyword research and category optimization.In this conversation, Dave shares:How Amazon’s algorithm actually works for authorsThe role of keywords, categories, and metadata in selling booksHow AI is changing self-publishing and book marketingTrending genres and categories in self-publishingWhy authors should think about marketing from day oneWriting craft vs strategy and finding the right balanceStarting over with new pen names and avoiding the “overnight success” mythBeyond publishing, Dave also talks about his background as a U.S. Navy veteran, nuclear engineer, entrepreneur, and writer, and how those experiences shaped his approach to building sustainable author careers.Perfect for: Authors, writers, self-publishers, Amazon KDP users, indie authors, and anyone interested in book marketing, publishing trends, and building a long-term writing career.This episode is brought to you by Bookum Bookum is the new and best way to host dynamic online book clubs and build real book communities. Download the app and start your book club today at www.bookumapp.comLike, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with authors, creators, and publishing experts.Timestamps1:03 – Memorial Day 1:37 – Serving in the Navy 3:08 – Entrepreneurship and Indiana Jones 5:23 – Getting your first customers 9:00 – Amazon keyword strategy 10:38 – Converting sales on Amazon 12:04 – Amazon’s algorithm 14:30 – AI and Amazon publishing 18:03 – Strategy vs writing craft 22:10 – Publisher Rocket 25:08 – Trending self-publishing categories 31:10 – Dave on writing 36:00 – Marketing from day one 42:00 – New pen names and starting over 43:28 – The “overnight success” myth 47:30 – More of in the book world 48:00 – Less of in the book worldThis Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs. Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!