FTC Cracks Down on Misleading Author Income Claims | Self-Publishing News (Apr. 29, 2026)

The FTC just hit Publishing.com and the Mikkelsen Twins with a $1.5 million settlement, and that is only part of this week's self-publishing news. I also cover impersonation scammers targeting authors, Spotify expanding deeper into audiobooks and print discovery with Bookshop.org, a helpful new KDP Select calculator from Kindlepreneur, and more rapid-fire updates authors need to know. If you care about self-publishing news, author scams, audiobook growth, and the latest publishing industry shifts, this one is worth your attention. Dibbly Create - https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link) Publishing.com to Pay $1.5 Million for Misleading Consumers about How Much Income They Could Earn Using the Company's Products and Services - https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/publishingcom-pay-15-million-misleading-consumers-about-how-much-income-they-could-earn-using Kindlepreneur: KENP Calculator: Know What a Kindle Unlimited Reader Is Actually Worth - https://kindlepreneur.com/kenp-calculator/?aff=18 Spotify Expands Audiobook Features, and Printed Book Sales Go Live in the US and UK - https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-15/audiobook-charts-recaps-page-match-bookshop-update/  Spoken: What Did the "Your Story" Winner Webinar Reveal? - https://www.spoken.press/the-spoken-chronicle/your-story-grand-prize Rapid-Fire Newsflash ProWritingAid: Plot Analysis - https://prowritingaid.com/features/plot-analysis?afid=6615 Book Brush: Launch Smarter: Build Your Newsletter, Website, and ARC Team Before Your Book Hits - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gr1FVJtBSzOwv4qYost18Q#/registration Twin Flames Studios: Great Books Aren't Written—They're Edited - https://twinflamesstudios.com/book-editing-authors/  The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast: Marketing Your Books Using Video, with Dale L. Roberts and Matty Dalrymple - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-marketing-your-books-using-video/ Indie Author Magazine: Email Marketing That Turns Readers Into Fans (and Buyers) - https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/replays/   Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp  Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts