In my latest Author Insider Q&A, I sat down with Jane Friedman, one of the most trusted voices on the business of writing, to talk through what’s going on in publishing in 2026. The industry is evolving fast, and our conversation is a true snapshot of where things stand right now.
Some of the topics we covered include:
• What the latest sales numbers reveal about the kinds of nonfiction books succeeding right now
• Innovations in AI-detection tools and how that could affect all writers
• How publishers are currently thinking about—and valuing—platform, rights, and backlist strategy
• Where self-publishing fits today. What are the options for interested authors? Is there still a stigma?
This is a longer conversation (just under an hour), so feel free to jump to the parts most relevant to you.
I’ll be sharing a text-based highlights post based on my conversation with Jane in the next couple of days for those who prefer to read (*raises hand) or don’t have time for the full video. You can also listen to the audio version directly in the Substack app.
Before I go, a quick reminder that Office Hours are tomorrow, Wednesday, January 21, at 4 pm ET.
Office Hours are part Q&A, part community huddle. We kick things off with a quick check-in and then move on to whatever people want to talk about. Looking for a social media manager recommendation? Wondering about your book proposal length? Any and all publishing questions welcome.
You can sign up for Office Hours here (paid and founding members only).
Until tomorrow,
Panio Gianopoulos
Editorial Director, Author Insider & The Next Big Idea Club
