Self-Publishing with ALLi

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...