ALLi Blog: The Self-Publishing Advice Blog

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Muhammad Atique. Author Explores AI, Algorithms, and Human Connection in the Digital Age

My ALLi author guest this episode is Muhammad Atique, an author and lecturer whose journey has taken him from Pakistan to China, the United States, and now New Zealand, where he’s connecting with the indie author community. His book explores how AI, algorithms, and digital media are reshaping the way we communicate, think, and relate to one another in an increasingly online world.

May 10, 2026
Howard Lovy
Podcast
1 Comment

News Summary: First BookTok Bestseller List Dominated by Romance; Publishers Sue Meta over AI Training

A few interesting pieces of news with which to end the week. The one I found most interesting is the long-anticipated release of the first (UK for now, following a trial in Germany) BookTok Bestseller list. In a shocking turn of events that no one could have foreseen, seventeen of the top twenty titles are romance and romantasy, with the likes of Rebecca Yarros, Chloe Walsh, and Sarah J. Maas dominating. It is also no surprise to see the ur-text of dark academia, Donna Tartt's The Secret History, standing proud in the chart.

News Podcast: Audible Retires Legacy Royalty Model; Oscars Rule on AI; Publishing Industry AI Survey

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dan Holloway breaks down Audible's decision to retire its legacy royalty model by the end of 2026, explaining what the new model means for audiobook authors and the separate decision about whether to enter the All You Can Listen pool. He also reports on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' new Oscar eligibility rules requiring human actors and writers, and examines a Book Industry Study Group survey showing that concern about AI-generated books in the marketplace has now entered the top four worries for publishing industry professionals.

News Summary: Oscars Require Human Actors and Authors; Canadian Publishing Survey Reveals AI Concerns

From time to time in the past few years, major, globally recognized red carpet events in the creative sphere have issued policies on AI and its eligibility for entry into their sanctum sanctorum. Most notable among them was the Grammys. Until now. The Motion Picture Academy of America has updated the rules governing eligibility for the Oscars.

Guided Selling for Authors: Taking Readers by the Hand, with Orna Ross

In this episode, Orna Ross explores guided selling for authors: how indie authors can help readers find the right book or next step into their ecosystem without overwhelm or decision fatigue. Drawing on research into the ‘paradox of choice’ and online book-buying behavior, this episode asks how we can use our websites, stores, newsletters, book pages, and reader links more consciously to take readers by the hand, reduce friction, and make the buying journey feel less like a maze and more like a good bookseller’s recommendation.

News Summary: Audible to Discontinue Legacy Royalty Model; All Creators Must Switch to New System by Year-End

The end of last week saw the latest in a string of announcements that's been ongoing over many years and that can all be basically summarized as "Audible changes its royalty model." You will remember that the last time this happened it was to announce a new model that effectively followed the Kindle Unlimited format (or indeed the class action settlement format!) of paying rights holders from a fixed pool (which might vary month to month but was fixed for each month). The so-called "new model" has had its fans and its detractors but has so far been a choice for rights holders to make.

Legal Reviews, ISBN Ownership, and Pre-Order Pitfalls: Member Q&A with Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss whether authors of memoir and creative nonfiction should invest in a legal review before publication.

News Summary: UK Study Shows Decline in Children’s Reading for Pleasure; Green Shoots among Teens

Are children reading less for pleasure than they used to? It feels like one of those "death of the novel" questions, the kind it's almost compulsory to ask at regular intervals if you are even semiserious about books. But in this instance, as I am fairly sure has been the case several times in the past when I've reported on the same annual report, the occasion for the question is a new survey of reading habits.

News Podcast: BookCon Returns with a Welcome for Indie Authors; Anthropic Settlement Class Reaches 91%

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dan Holloway reports on the return of BookCon to New York after a pandemic-era hiatus, where the Indie Alley proved a genuine hit with readers — a sign that the established book world is increasingly making room for independent authors. He also has an update on the Anthropic copyright settlement, where 91 percent of eligible titles were claimed before the deadline, putting the expected payout per title at around $2,931, with a reminder that traditionally published authors may receive less due to rights splits with their publishers.

News Summary: Beehiiv Adds Webinars and Metered Paywalls; Anthropic Settlement Reaches 91% Claim Rate

Beehiiv has been in the news again this past week. I want to report on the latest from the newsletter platform if for no other reason than an irresistible desire to say they have been busy little bees. A facility offering webinar capability will be of interest to some. But more interesting might be the so-called "metered paywall" capability. That's something many will be familiar with as readers, where you get a certain amount of content for free (say, three articles) before you have to pay to unlock more.

April 30, 2026
Dan Holloway
News
0 Comments

Audio Interview: Beyond Bookshops — Bulk Sales, Gifting and Alternative Distribution, with Anna Featherstone and Andrew Griffiths

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Anna Featherstone speaks with bestselling business author Andrew Griffiths about the production and distribution choices behind his books. They discuss the trade-offs between traditional publishing and self-publishing, and how design and print decisions shape perception, pricing, and reach. The conversation also covers bulk sales, corporate partnerships, and strategic gifting as alternatives to retail, with a focus on long-term visibility and opportunity.