📚 Why is the publishing industry falling apart? It’s not just AI’s fault. In this CultureScape interview, Peter Pischke sits down with indie author C.S. Johnson and Shaun C.W. Korsgaard (former Baen Books marketer & now head of Battle Born Publishing) to unpack the collapse of traditional publishing, the rise of self-publishing challenges, and the future of indie authors in a world run by algorithms and automation.🤖 From AI-generated slop flooding Amazon to the decline in fiction book sales, this deep dive uncovers how legacy publishing models are breaking down, and what independent creators must do to survive.🔍 What You'll Learn:📉 Why 1 in 5 books sell fewer than 12 copies📚 How the publishing industry collapse affects readers and authors alike🤖 Why AI and Amazon are not the only threats to book publishing🧠 The failure of traditional curation systems✊ How indie authors succeed with fan-first publishing and direct engagement🔮 How platforms like Substack, Iron Age, and decentralized media are shaping the future of books⏰ Chapters0:00 – Killer Pooh & Public Domain Parody1:15 – Publishing Crisis & Industry Breakdown4:30 – Can Authors Still Make It Today?6:45 – AI Slop & Self-Publishing Chaos13:15 – Discovery Failures: Goodreads, Amazon, & Algorithms17:00 – Romance Genre Dominance & Algorithm Games20:30 – Fiction’s Cultural Decline & Losing Male Readers24:10 – Saving Publishing: Quality, Curation, and Niche Focus28:35 – The Future: Indie Success, Creator Ecosystems & Book Industry Transformation🎙️ Host: Peter Pischke🧠 Guests:C.S. Johnson – Indie Author: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00E8TOZ9QShaun C.W. Korsgaard – Editor, Iron Age Media & Battle Born Publishing: https://x.com/scwkorsgaard?lang=en🐦 Twitter: @HappyWarriorP🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts💰 Support: Patreon🧙♂️ Editor: Chris Holowicki💬 What do YOU think?Are you more likely to trust independent authors over the Big 5?📣 Comment below — and don’t forget to LIKE & SHARE to support indie publishing!#publishingindustry #indieauthors #AIbooks #aiimpact #booktok #bookcollapse #bookindustry