AuthorOnAir launches AI podcast host for self-published authors

By AI, Created 5:11 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Archieboy Holdings has launched AuthorOnAir, a platform that uses an AI host to read a manuscript before interviewing an author, then auto-edits and distributes the episode to major podcast platforms. The service is aimed at self-published writers who struggle to land media coverage and starts with a free tier plus paid plans from $19 a month.

Why it matters: - Self-published authors often struggle to get podcast or radio bookings because hosts rarely have time to read a full book. - AuthorOnAir is designed to turn a book into a repeatable audio marketing asset without requiring a publicist, producer, or studio setup. - The platform targets independent authors who want ongoing discoverability on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and social video channels.

What happened: - Archieboy Holdings, LLC launched AuthorOnAir, an AI-hosted author interview podcast platform. - The AI host reads a manuscript cover-to-cover before conducting a live 30-minute interview. - The platform automatically edits the episode and distributes it through a dedicated RSS feed to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. - The launch announcement said the marketing site and platform scaffolding went live on May 8, 2026.

The details: - Authors can upload a manuscript in PDF or ePub format, or select a title from the SelfPublishing.pro catalog. - The AI host surfaces 12 interview themes before recording begins. - During the session, the AI asks a question, listens to the answer, and generates follow-up questions based on what the author just said. - Saying “scratch that” during recording triggers an immediate redo without stopping the session. - Episode show notes disclose that the interview was AI-hosted. - Authors retain full rights to both the book and the audio. - The editing system removes filler words, trims pauses, removes false starts, and applies audio enhancement. - Authors can preview the edited episode and use the transcript to delete or re-record specific segments without redoing the entire interview. - The platform generates three vertical video clips per episode for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. - Authors own their RSS feed and can move it to another host at any time.

Between the lines: - Archieboy is positioning AI interviewers as a substitute for the time and budget that traditionally limit author publicity. - The company is arguing that preparation depth matters as much as interview format, especially for authors without established media access. - The $19 monthly Solo Author plan is set at a level that would not support a human podcast production team. - The broader strategy appears aimed at building AI-native tools for independent creators across the Archieboy network, which also includes SelfPublishing.pro, BookBud.ai, and AuthorMailingLists.com. - Bo Bennett, Owner of Archieboy Holdings, said AI interviewers are “not a novelty” and are a better solution for authors who need a prepared host and cannot afford to wait for one.

What’s next: - Authors can use the Free plan to produce a five-minute sample episode with a watermarked outro and no RSS distribution. - The Solo Author plan costs $19 per month or $190 annually and includes one book, up to 12 episodes per month, full distribution, AI editing, transcripts, and three short-form video clips per episode. - The Series plan costs $39 per month and supports up to five books and five episodes per month, plus a priority queue and cross-book interview format. - The Press plan costs $59 per month and supports up to ten books and ten episodes per month, custom branding, and a featured slot in the AuthorOnAir aggregator feed. - The Book Launch Package is a one-time $99 option for four episodes inside a 30-day window. - Annual plans reduce costs by roughly 17% across all tiers. - The company says the full recording pipeline and episode publication system are in active development, and it is framing the current period as an early-access window.

The bottom line: - AuthorOnAir is betting that AI can make author interviews cheaper, faster, and more scalable than traditional podcast production for self-published writers.