Self-Publishing with ALLi

ALLi nonfiction adviser Anna Featherstone interviews Catherine Bilson, who writes in multiple genres across four pen names, about the practicalities of updating and rebranding books. With more than 60 titles published and hundreds of translations under her belt, Catherine explains how indie authors can approach everything from refreshing blurbs and covers to managing keywords, metadata, and back m...

My guest this episode is Mo Fanning, a novelist whose work blends humor, heartbreak, and hope while exploring themes of identity, loss, and chosen family. His stories often center LGBTQ+ lives but treat them with the same depth and complexity as any other. He also creates original music to accompany his books. 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 highlights the launch of ALLi's Author Income Survey, a vital tool to track how indie writers earn from their work and strengthen industry advocacy. He also reports on the judge's rejection of the proposed Anthropic settlement, which had offered $3,000 per pirated title, and notes that James Patterson has awarded $50,000 each to 12...

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with editor Gale Winskill about the craft of editing children's books and picture books. Winskill discusses age-appropriate language and content, the author–illustrator collaboration, structural and developmental editing, marketing considerations, and the role of beta readers, while emphasizing the importance of challenging young readers and creating st...

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn focus on business models and ethics for indie authors. They look at how "windowing" releases and short KU stints can fit into a publishing strategy, and why managing cash flow is critical for crowdfunding and direct sales. They also examine the collapse of Unbound/Boundless, highlighting the importance of rights-reversion clauses...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports on Libby's new Inspire Me discovery tool, which promises to boost book discoverability but has raised concerns among librarians. He covers Threads' rollout of long-form text, giving authors new ways to share excerpts and engage with readers. The main story is the settlement in the Anthropic AI copyright case, where avoiding...

In this Self-Publishing Advice Conference highlight, Martin Cavannagh of Reedsy moderates a panel with editor Rebecca Heyman, designer Danna Mathias Steele, and marketeer Ricardo Fayet. The session examines the role of professional services in the success of self-published books, focusing on how expert editing, design, and marketing can increase sales and long-term profitability. The discussion al...

My guest this episode is David Penny, a longtime ALLi member who began publishing fiction in the 1970s, took a long break to build a career in software, and returned to writing with a renewed focus on independent publishing. Since then, he has written dozens of books across genres, built a loyal readership, and helped others find their way on the self-publishing path. Find more author advice, tips...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway looks at a new study on US reading habits that shows a 40 percent drop in reading for pleasure between 2003 and 2023, with possible shifts toward digital formats and functional reading. He also covers surprising findings about reading with children, the limited impact of COVID on reading trends, and the growing controversy over Audi...

Libraries offer more than just shelf space—they can be a consistent source of income and visibility for indie authors. In this episode, Dale L. Roberts talks with award-winning author and publishing strategist Sylvia Hubbard about how to build strong relationships with libraries. Sylvia shares how she pitches events, lands paid speaking gigs, and gets her books into circulation, all while supporti...

In this Self-Publishing Advice Conference highlight, Ben Hughes, senior manager of business development for IngramSpark UK and AU, moderates a panel with successful authors who are thriving on the platform. The discussion explores how these writers have increased their earnings by leveraging IngramSpark's global reach, print-on-demand services, and wide distribution network. The session covers pra...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports on urgent updates in the Anthropic class action case, with a fast-approaching deadline for authors to register their works. He explains the eligibility rules, why U.S. Copyright Office registration matters, and how writers can take part. Dan also introduces a new competency tool from the Chartered Institute of Editing and Pr...

ALLi nonfiction adviser Anna Featherstone chats with Danica Favorite, community manager at PublishDrive, about the challenges indie authors face in global distribution. They discuss how writers can navigate multiple platforms, balance print, audio, and ebooks, and manage metadata. They also talk about new accessibility laws and when outside tools or services make sense—and when they may not. Find...

My guest this episode is Yvonne Vincent, who began her path to becoming a full-time author with a Facebook blog called Growing Old Disgracefully, writing humorous posts about everyday life. During lockdown, the Scottish author turned those posts into a book, which unexpectedly became a bestseller. That success led to more books, a loyal readership, and eventually the leap to writing full-time. Tod...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports on a renewed wave of AI-generated fake books appearing on Amazon under real author names, prompting concerns about trust and transparency. He also covers the final closure of Boundless Books—formerly Unbound—leaving authors unpaid and in limbo, and raising familiar questions about communication breakdowns, sales reporting, a...

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael Pietrobon, founder of Canadian book design and self-publishing company Foglio, about budget-friendly ways to add audio to eBooks without producing full audiobooks. They discuss using sound effects and leitmotifs to enhance stories, technical standards for eBook production, sourcing free audio, AI clean-up, and creating interactive enhanced...

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss whether media liability insurance is worth the cost for memoir authors and explain how it differs from errors and omissions coverage. Other questions include: What printers offer special features like sprayed edges and foil for print books? How can authors effectively run a presale ca...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports on a coordinated bot attack that hit indie authors using Shopify, leaving some with unexpected fees and limited recourse. He also covers new and proposed legislation across the UK, EU, and US, including the UK's Online Safety Act, concerns over enforcement of the EU AI Act, and the US White House's pro-tech AI action plan—al...

On the Publishing for Profit stream of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Joe Solari investigates why Amazon book launches no longer deliver lasting results. He explains how the algorithm now favors steady reader engagement over quick sales spikes—and how understanding this shift, along with the rise of AI-powered search, can help authors thrive in the new publishing landscape. Find more autho...

My guest this episode is Cheryl Carpinello, a retired English teacher from Colorado who writes books based on Arthurian legend and ancient history to help reach reluctant young readers. She draws on more than 20 years of classroom experience and brings her stories to life through school visits and workshops. Cheryl is also part of an international author consortium that offers support and collabor...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explains a major development in the lawsuit against Anthropic, where a judge has allowed authors to proceed as a class in claims tied to piracy—potentially leading to significant damages, but only for those with timely registered U.S. copyrights. He also covers a Senate hearing questioning tech's use of copyrighted works and a new K...

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dale L. Roberts talks with J. Kevin Tumlinson about building a personal author brand that attracts loyal readers. They explain why branding is about human connection rather than logos, how your mindset can shape your writing career, and how to create a brand that grows with you. The conversation includes practical tips on finding your voice...

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn talk about the creative process behind poetry and short fiction. They reflect on how they decide what form a piece should take, how emotion and memory shape their work, and why writing short can sometimes be harder than long. They also discuss editing, publishing, and why indie authors have the freedom to write what matters to the...

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway covers Spotify's expanded audiobook options, Meta's refusal to support the EU's AI code of conduct, and the fast-approaching deadline for the $100,000 Novel Prize. He also highlights new data suggesting the romantasy trend still has years of life, especially in emerging subgenres. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored b...

In this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Anna Featherstone talks with Stuart Grant, founder of the Digital Authors Toolkit, about how authors can use augmented reality (AR). The discussion covers what AR is, how it fits into the publishing process, and practical, affordable ways for indie authors to experiment with it. Real-world examples and tools help illustrate whether AR is a good fit for...