As we wrap up 2024 and look ahead to 2025, you’re probably wondering what lies ahead for self-published authors and the publishing industry as a whole. As we can tell from the top publishing trends of 2024, self-publishing is on the rise and has become a more viable solution for authors who want to retain control of their works and distribute books on their terms. Check out our insights on the top publishing trends as we look forward to another wonderful year of helping self-published authors share their God-given stories with the world!

Top Trending Genres for Self-Published Books

Here are what we believe are the most in-demand genres for 2025:

Romance

Romance is consistently one of the most popular book genres across all types of publishing, formats, and distribution methods. Some reports indicate that 40% of self-published books on Amazon are romance novels. While demand is high, competition to get your book in front of your target reader is also high. A well-optimized book description on platforms like Amazon is essential to connecting with your target readers. You’ll also want to implement a consistent marketing strategy to engage with your audience regularly. When you partner with EABooks Publishing, we offer Amazon Optimization Services as part of our Premium packages.

Science Fiction

Sci-fi is another consistent best seller for self-published authors. One factor in marketing a sci-fi book when competition is high is to entice your readers with snippets and suspense-filled synopses on your Amazon listing, social media pages, and GoodReads profile. This will leave your readers wanting more and encourage them to purchase. EABooks offers various marketing services to help you reach your ideal reader.

Fantasy

Readers love the feeling of escaping into an epic fantasy, and advances in self-publishing printing methods make sharing your fantasy story easier than ever. If your fantasy novel includes illustrations, we offer illustrating services. If you also publish your story as an e-book, you’ll want to ensure it’s properly formatted (and we do that) for mobile devices so your illustrations are easily seen.

History

This genre has gained popularity in the last several years. We expect even more interest from authors to provide new insight into well-known historical events. Some of the best-selling history books today are written by authors with industry credentials and an established audience. If you’re a known expert in your field and looking to expand your audience by publishing your first novel, this could be an excellent route.

Audiobooks

Statista suggests that the global audiobook market could be worth more than $10 billion in the next five to ten years, making this a great time to stay ahead of the audiobook publishing trend. More and more adults are listening to audiobooks due to the flexibility of “reading” a book on the go while performing other tasks. However, only one percent of audiobooks currently on the market are self-published. We expect this trend to increase in the coming years. Wondering if your self-published novel would make a great audiobook? Check out our guide: Will My Book Make a Good Self-Published Audiobook? We have a team of narrators ready to record your book now.

Renewed Interest in Old Stories

The element of nostalgia has played a significant role in publishing trends over the last 10 years. This was seen on a mass scale in 2024 with the release of one the most popular films of the year: Wicked, a movie adaption of the long-running Broadway show, which is based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The interest in this prequel to The Wizard of Oz dives deep into the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The movie has allowed several generations to renew their interest in the original novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (which is over 100 years old), the 1939 movie epic starring Judy Garland, Maguire’s 30-year-old novel, and the musical Wicked, which has run on Broadway for over 20 years. Whether your book offers a new perspective to an old tale or takes place in the past, there are many ways to add elements of nostalgia into your story. Contact us for a 3o minute book consultation—a new service offered this year.

Embracing AI

Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, the world has been taken by storm. Authors have spent the last few years determining how this new technology will impact the future of writing, with an equal sense of fear and curiosity driving authors to explore and experiment with generative AI. Since AI is here to stay, we expect more authors will embrace incorporating AI into their writing process while maintaining the creativity and style only humans can produce. We recommend experimenting with these AI tools and learning how AI can help improve your writing—not replace it. Attend one of the many writers’ conferences where we will be and take a class on the right and potentially unethical ways of using this new tool.

Self-Publishing On the Rise

One of the biggest publishing trends is the significant increase in authors choosing to self-publish. It’s estimated that the self-published book market has increased by 264% in the last five years. Currently, nearly one-third of all books sold on Amazon are self-published. With traditional publishers only publishing a tiny percentage of books each year, more authors are taking publishing into their own hands. Self-publishing is becoming the preferred publishing method for many authors, and the ease of doing it in a poor way are evident. But thankfully, you know us and the excellence we strive for with every book we publish. Contact us today to learn more.

Stay On Top of Self Publishing Trends with EABooks Publishing

Is “self-publish my book” on your to-do list for 2025? At EABooks Publishing, we can help make that happen. We believe that every God-given story deserves to be told, and we can help you share it with the world. We provide various self-publishing services, from manuscript editing to book launch strategies to help you reach your ideal readers and get your book in front of the right audience. Fill out our contact form today to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see how we can help you get your book published.