Self-Publishing with ALLi

In the latest episode of the Creating Better Books podcast, ALLi Content and Communications Manager Howard Lovy interviews Kathryn Goldman of the Creative Law Center, a seasoned intellectual property attorney dedicated to supporting independent creatives. Kathryn shares her expertise on how authors can protect themselves legally, from handling defamation risks in memoirs to understanding the right...

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple and Outreach Manager Michael La Ronn share tips for how indie authors can protect themselves from phishing and scams. They provide insight into how phishing works, share advice on recognizing scams, and introduce the SALSA (Sender, Attachment, Links, Subject line, Authentication) method to help authors identify potential threats. Michael also explains the res...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explores the impact of the recent UK election on indie writers, highlighting the new government's pledges on copyright protection and freelance work. He also covers the administration woes of Australia's largest online bookseller, Booktopia, and the launch of Amazon's new Vella prize. Additionally, Dan discusses the first-ever Inter...

Drawing insights from their own recent Kickstarters, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn explore both fiction and nonfiction crowdfunding and discuss their upcoming campaigns, with a particular focus on reader participation, making a profit, and getting paid. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, this episode will provide you with actionable tips and inspiration to launch your own successfu...

My guest this episode is Karl Drinkwater, who writes dystopian space opera, dark suspense and diverse social fiction. But as he develops stories about far-off locales, he also writes with one eye on the real world. And that's where his writing meets his environmental advocacy and political life in the Green Party. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses how TikTok and indie bookstores are launching alternatives to Amazon Prime Days. TikTok's "Deals for You Days" kicks off on July 9, promoting viral videos to drive sales through their shop. Meanwhile, the American Booksellers Association's "Indies Take the Gold" campaign encourages readers to support independent bookstores...

In this episode of the AskALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss options for simple and affordable website builders suitable for authors. Other questions include: What is the best way to get peer feedback on alternative cover designs for a spiritual, inspirational book? How does ISBN assignment work for different book formats, including audiobooks? What are effectiv...

In her final episode on the Creative Self-Publishing stream of the Self-Publishing Advice & Inspirations podcast, Orna Ross outlines the relationship between publishing models and marketing models for indie authors. There are three guiding publishing values: productivity, connection, and originality—and knowing your top publishing value gives you the framework for your marketing. This episode guid...

In the Reaching More Readers podcast, Dale L. Roberts and Holly Greenland continue sharing their insights on building an effective email marketing strategy for indie authors. Their discussion includes the frequency of sending mailers, how to build subscribers, and the importance of automation. Dale and Holly provide practical tips and best practices to help authors connect with readers and promote...

My guest this episode is Shana Frost, who is not only ALLi's publications manager, but she's also an author who enjoys writing about people who feel like outsiders and create new families. It's a subject she knows a great deal about through her own journeys from her birthplace in India to her adopted home in Scotland. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Ce...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explores a study on Canadian reading habits, revealing a shift toward readers obtaining more printed books for free. Libraries are a major source, while "free internet sites" dominate for audiobooks. Dan also covers Meta's controversial AI training policy, which faces regulatory pushback in the UK and EU. Additionally, there's news...

In the latest episode of the Creating Better Books podcast, ALLi News and Podcast Producer Howard Lovy interviews Alessandra Torre, cofounder and president of Authors A.I. They discuss how the company utilizes nongenerative AI to provide detailed analytical feedback on manuscripts, aiding authors in enhancing their writing without replacing the creative human element. Find more author advice, tips...

In this episode of the Campaigns Podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors, ALLi Director Orna Ross interviews newly appointed Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple about the latest initiatives ALLi is taking under its Self-Publishing for All and Ethical Self-Publishing campaigns. Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue? If you're an  ALLi  member, head over to t...

In this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses new surveys showing a slowdown in audiobook sales growth but an increase in listener engagement. He highlights the Independent Book Publishers Association's Innovative Voices program, offering support to publishers from marginalized communities. Dan also covers Google's recent challenges with SEO practices and piracy issue...

On the Publishing for Profit Podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors, ALLi Director Orna Ross and Business Adviser Joe Solari discuss essential financial strategies for indie authors. They emphasize realistic budgeting, long-term planning, and understanding brand promise to create sustainable and profitable author businesses. They address misconceptions around rapid release strategies, th...

Join Becca Syme for a keynote presentation that will give you a comprehensive understanding of how mindset plays a foundational role in every aspect of an indie author's business, from the writing process to marketing, networking, and managing both successes and setbacks. Emphasizing the profound impact of mindset on productivity, creativity, and mental well-being, this session offers authors tang...

In this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses the controversy surrounding Facebook AI, specifically Meta's decision to use user content to train its AI platforms unless users opt out. He highlights a helpful guide on how to opt out, examines a new study revealing authors' ambivalence toward AI, and introduces an app that helps users write their autobiographies. Dan al...

In the latest installment of the AskALLi Member Q&A podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss effective strategies for marketing middle-grade or young-adult books. They emphasize the importance of targeting parents rather than children and recommend networking with other authors in the same genre to maximize visibility and sales. Other question...

My guest this episode is Roxanne Bland, a mixed-genre author who admits that her books are not for everyone. But if you're interested in stories that throw away all the old tropes and surprise you with elements of fantasy, science fiction, and romance, then you might want to check out her work. Not only that, but Roxanne writes with one eye on real-world problems such as bigotry. Find more author...

In this episode of Self-Publishing News, Dan Holloway explores the potential impacts of a TikTok ban on print book sales, particularly in the romance and fantasy genres. He also highlights the recent sale of a first edition of Tolkien's "The Hobbit" for £31,000, discusses the latest print and eBook sales figures, and addresses the controversy surrounding OpenAI's use of a voice resembling Scarlett...

One of the most interesting pieces of data to come from the  Big Indie Author Data Drop  was that even when indie authors are very successful, they don't stop doing their own marketing. They use tools and assistance/assistants, but marketing remains their responsibility, always. Many of the emerging indie authors, or those not selling, said that marketing was the task they liked least. There's an...

In this Creative Self-Publishing episode, Orna Ross talks about the transformative power of values-based, story-driven email marketing. Discover why aligning your email campaigns with your core values can foster deeper connections with your audience and boost engagement with your emails. Orna walks you through the essentials of crafting compelling stories that resonate with readers, build trust, a...

On the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway pays tribute to the late Nobel Prize-winning author Alice Munro and highlights recent British Book Awards winners, including Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing. He covers major tech and legal news: OpenAI's disbanded risk project, the EU's fine on Microsoft, and ByteDance's legal battle over TikTok. Dan also discusses Sony Music's legal stance on AI and...

In the Reaching More Readers podcast, Dale L. Roberts and Holly Greenland discuss effective email marketing strategies for indie authors. They cover topics like choosing an email service, welcome emails, metrics to track, and engaging subscribers on a regular basis. The hosts aim to provide practical tips and best practices to help authors connect with readers and promote their books through email...

My guest this episode is Anna Sayburn Lane, who began her career as a journalist until she decided she had enough of writing content for other people and became a novelist. Anna's entry into indie publishing was rocky until, just recently, she decided to pivot and write to market. Now, her crime fiction is seeing fantastic sales as she works toward becoming a full-time novelist. Find more author a...