Hello all, I just wondered why my bestselling book (a LC journal) doesn't sell as good as I want it to. Some research found, that actually someone copied my cover and a+ content almost 1:1. How would you procede in such a case? My book was published in June 24, the copycat on Jan 8, 2026.

what was the name of the AI used (Igor mentioned that) that can be used to have the manuscript read too you by the AI?

I've been skimming discussions across several KDP groups this week. Here's a short snapshot of what keeps coming up. 1. "Why did this book stall?" Many posts are from authors whose books launched well, then flattened out. The common thread is not ads or reviews, but weak topic depth, thin interiors, or unclear audience fit. People are slowly realizing that a clean launch cannot fix a shallow product. 2. Low-effort books are quietly dying There is growing frustration from people who followed older playbooks: low content, fast publishing, and generic covers. These books are not banned or penalized. They just stop selling. The mood is less panicked, more accepting of the fact that the bar moved. 3. Fewer tactics, more questions about catalogs Instead of "How do I launch this book?", more people ask: - How many books do I need before things feel stable? - Does niche focus still matter after 10–20 titles? - Is it better to go deeper or wider now? This is a shift toward long-term thinking. 4. Ads confusion without panic Ads are discussed a lot, but the tone has changed. Less "this trick prints money," more "I’m spending, but I don't fully understand what’s working." Many admit they run ads before they understand their own books. 5. Quiet interest in boring niches Several threads circle around planners, logs, workbooks, and reference-style books. People are noticing that unsexy ideas often behave better over time than trend-based projects. 6. Burnout signals Not dramatic exits, but comments like: - "I published 12 books, and I'm tired." - "I'm not sure what to publish next." - "I feel busy but not effective." This shows a need for systems, not motivation. Open question for the Guild members: Which of these feels closest to where you are right now, and why? Reply with a number (1–6) or add what you are seeing that's missing here.

Do you know of any publisher whose revenue is 1M+ USD per month? I know of multiple publishers who earn 100k or 200k per month, but I have never heard of anyone who earns more than 200k.

@Pamela Henkels kindly offered her book to be used as a case study. The book ranks well for the major search term on the first page. To boost sales, Pamela decided to redesign the cover. I decided to participate in the experiment and ordered my version of the cover. You can see the result. I'd like to ask you to provide feedback and, most importantly, estimate the cost of such a transformation. Based on your experience, how much would it cost to produce a cover like this? At the end of the week, I will reveal how much I paid, and we can compare your estimates with the actual price. 💲Also, since we are discussing costs, the Premium tier pricing update takes effect today. It will be a 64% discount till the end of the month. Next month, the price will increase by $1. Over time, it will reflect the increased value of the tools for Premium tier members. Once you subscribe, the price will remain the same for the duration of your subscription (until you cancel). And now, please, your feedback on the cover experiment.