Self-Publishing with ALLi

My guest this week is Dean Blake, who has turned Instagram fame into an indie author career. What began as simple drawings that poke fun of ridiculous life situations went viral on social media and have struck a chord, especially in these times, when we can all use a good laugh. Every week I interview a member of ALLi to talk about their writing and what inspires them, and why they are inspiring t...

As the world begins to tentatively unlock from social cocooning and quarantine, indie authors and others are reassessing what's most important to them as writers and publishers. Both Orna and Joanna have used this as a time for reflection and reassessment, and they share what they've been doing to reshape their author brands. You are invited to reflect and reassess too in the light of their insigh...

My guest this week is Dan Holloway, who many of you already know as ALLi's news editor who updates us on our blog and podcast with the latest news from the world of independent publishing. Who you may not know is Dan Holloway the advocate for the disabled, the power lifter, the ultramarathon runner, the writer of thrillers and poetry, and the expert in how to think creatively, which is the subject...

In this month's Fiction & Nonfiction Self-Publishing Salon, Sacha Black and Orna Ross outline the advantages and downsides of selling books directly to readers from your own author website and consider the implications for exclusivity with platforms like KDP Select.  You'll learn: The tools you need How to cope with global taxes How to add other products and services, in addition to your books How...

My guest this week is Lynda Edwards, an indie author who left her childhood home of Jamaica long ago, but whose writing is still flavored with the culture and magic of the Caribbean. Not too long ago, Lynda woke up from a vivid nightmare about the land of her birth, and she had no choice but to write it down. The result was her debut novel, Redemption Songs . This is the story of Lynda's journey. ...

Are you maximizing the many opportunities for attracting attention to your poetry these days? In this salon, Orna Ross and Dalma Szentpály compare the traditional way to feature poetry ( literary magazines, competitions and eventual establishment of reputation and book publication) compared to the new way (feature on podcasts and social media, grow your audience and create a community then self-pu...

My guest this week is Barry Faulkner, who writes police procedural novels. But to leave it at that would not adequately describe who Barry is. Let's just say that he comes from a colorful family background that I'll let him describe in his own words. Barry is a born storyteller and, at the age of seventy-five, has many tales to tell. So, I'll be quiet, for the most part, and just let Barry Faulkne...

Should I self-publish or traditionally publish? That's among the questions answered in this month's Members Q&A and Self-Publishing News Salon with Orna Ross, followed by Dan Holloway's news roundup. Other questions this month include: I am now published. Do I need to change my membership? I want to write a biographical story that exposes racism I experienced, but I don't want to be sued for libel...

My guest this week is Liza Perrat, a truly international indie author—an Australian by birth who writes historical novels about France, her adopted country. In fact, you'll hear a combination of both countries in her voice. Liza's books also give voice to those who lived through painful periods in both French and Australian history. But before we talk about her books, here's Liza's story. Every we...

In this month's #AskALLi Advanced Salon, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn will talk about the tools they use that are the most advantageous for indie authors—from writing tools to formatting to planning, sales tracking, accounting and more. You'll discover: - More about the Alliance of Independent Authors services watchdog desk - Latest software - Artificial intelligence tools And more... This salon is f...

My guest this week is Edward Trayer, but many schoolchildren, parents and teachers know him by the name Billy Bob Buttons. Edward went through a few incarnations before he settled on this persona, from a teacher to a pilot, but he found his life's calling when he brought the joy of reading and writing to children. Edward is also a fierce advocate for indie authors, launching an award that recogniz...

Join author A. G. Billig in this Self-Publishing Advice Conference Highlight: How to Boost Your Book Sales Using Traditional Media and P.R. Traditional media and PR are two of the most valuable tools in your book-marketing arsenal. When used wisely, they can boost your visibility, sales, and number of loyal and get you on the bestseller lists. In this presentation, you will find out the secrets th...

My guest this week is Sonja Dewing, an author of adventure tales who enjoys living on the wild side while she writes about it, whether it's touring the Amazon or mixing it up in the roller derby. Sonja decided to quit her job a few years ago to focus on her writing, travel, and helping other authors, and has not regretted the decision for one second.  Every week I interview a member of ALLi to tal...

Want to build an engaged mailing list of fans who look forward to receiving your mails? That's what this week's AskALLi Fiction & Nonfiction Podcast with Sacha Black and Orna Ross is all about:  How to manage your mailing list to build an engaged readership. Learn: Why you need a mailing list How to capture your readers from the start with a welcome sequence  What's the best kind of content for yo...

My guest this week is speculative fiction author Cody Sisco. Cody has divided his indie publishing work into two parts. His series of books that straddles the divide between plausible and extraordinary, and his work on behalf of other indie authors in his hometown of Los Angeles. Taken together, Cody lives and breathes the indie publishing spirit.  Every week I interview a member of ALLi to talk a...

What if a Hybrid Publisher Wants to Charge me a Ton of Money That's among the questions answered in this month's Members Q&A and Self-Publishing News Salon with Michael LaRonn and Sacha Black (filling in for Orna Ross), followed by Dan Holloway's news roundup. Other questions this month include: What rights do I have for a short story and what are all the different things I can do with it? How lon...

For this special edition of Inspirational Indie Authors, I'm going to do something a little different. I've asked the other AskALLi podcasters, and a few previous guests, to talk to us about how they're coping during the COVID-19 crisis, how they are staying connected with other writers and with their readers, and to contribute some inspirational words on how to continue to write under this kind o...

In the last few weeks, much has changed as COVID-19 sweeps the world, impacting lives and the economy. In this special episode, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss how indie authors can stay physically and mentally well, and keep writing, publishing, and sensitively marketing books—as well as how to prepare for potentially challenging times ahead.  Our advanced salon is brought to you by specialist...

My guest this week is Clare Flynn, an historical novelist who recently won a Selfies Award for best adult fiction. Even before Clare became a full-time indie writer, she always had a spirit of rebellion inside her, from her wild college days to deciding to be her own boss in her career and her writing. Clare also travels extensively to get all the nuance of place before she embarks on a new writin...

Join Robin Cutler, Orna Ross, Joanna Penn, and Sacha Black in this Self-Publishing Advice Conference Highlight: The Power of Indie Publishing. Over the last few years, there has been a seismic shift of writers choosing to self-publish rather than navigate a traditional publishing path. This is partly because authors have tools that are available to make publishing both affordable and profitable as...

My guest this week is Jules Horne, a Scottish author who understands that the best way to read a book may not be only through the eyes. With the rise in audiobooks and podcasts, we're returning back to the age of oral storytelling, and Jules is probing the borders between reading and listening, between the eyes and the ears.  Every week I interview a member of ALLi to talk about their writing and...

Do you want to perfect your book launches? Do you wonder if book launches are even relevant in 2020? This week's AskALLi session with Sacha Black and Adam Croft will discuss the conflicting and often confusing subject of launching your book and giving it the greatest chance of success. You'll learn: Should you launch during the coronavirus pandemic? How changes in publishing have affected the rele...

My guest this week is Sacha Black, who many of you may already know as the cohost of our AskALLi Fiction and Nonfiction podcast and producer of our online self-publishing conferences. What you may not know is that Sacha got her start as a child actress for the BBC and is an expert in how to create a proper villain. There's more to her story, and nobody can tell it like Sacha, herself.    Every wee...

This week's AskALLi session with Orna Ross and Dalma Szentpály focuses on poetry content marketing. Orna Ross shares her strategy and she and Dalma analyze outstanding content marketing by some other indie poets. Tune in for discussions on a different theme each month with a focus on developing prosperity for poets through community building and self-publishing. Find more author advice, tips and t...

My guest this week is Kris Spisak, who discovered that her self-publishing niche is to help other self-publishers focus on their writing and grammar. Her books, Get a Grip on Your Grammar , and The Novel Editing Workbook , along with her popular blog and editing business, are helping to raise the quality of all indie authors' work. Plus, admit it, you sometimes pause before you write "affect" or "...