ALLi Blog

Self-Publishing News: Amazon Launches Vellys Awards with $62,000 Prize for Serial Fiction

It’s always a pleasure to share some encouraging news that will pique the interest and get the juices flowing for a large number of you. And I get to round out this week with the news of a competition that’s open to everyone based in the United States. The Vellys, as Amazon would like us to know it affectionately, is a brand-new competition based on its Kindle Vella format. Entries are open until August 20. Prizes total $62,000 and include a first-time author award of $15,000 and a grand prize of $25,000.

TikTok and Indie Bookstores Launch Alternatives to Amazon Prime Days: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

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 with Olympic-themed promotions.

Self-Publishing News: Wattpad Parent Company Webtoon Receives Nearly $3B Valuation in IPO

Last week, we saw another reminder that there are actually bigger parts of our world than the traditional publishers, including Wattpad. Remember when Simon & Schuster was up for sale, and the valuation was just north of $2 billion? I’m fairly sure I commented at the time on the fact that although we think of the big traditional publishers as the behemoths of our industry, the figures didn’t stack up.

What are Some Simple, Affordable Website Builders for Authors? More Self-Publishing Questions Answered by Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black: Member Q&A Podcast

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.

Self-Publishing News: TikTok and Indie Booksellers Challenge Amazon Prime Day

Welcome to July. While the start of the month technically represents just the very beginning of the second half of the year, from here on in it can feel like one endless sale season. It kicks off with Amazon Prime Day. But this year, the everything store isn’t being left to own the field of early season sales. Two very different challengers will be of note to the writing community.

Referencing for Non-Fiction Indie Authors: ALLi Ultimate Guide

From why citations matter, to avoiding copyright infringement, this post will give you the key information you need to apply referencing and citation techniques to your non-fiction books.

The Three Guiding Publishing Values: Creative Self-Publishing Podcast with Orna Ross

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 guides you through.

Self-Publishing News: Authors Equity Announces First Titles

Reporting on a new publishing model is always interesting. And the news from Author Equity coincides with the Readmagine conference in Spain, where it announced the first titles on its roster, so it makes an ideal story.

Self-Publishing News: New AI Tools for Writers and Their Impact on the Industry

AI tools for writers are the focus of this week's self-publishing news, highlighting their potential to enable, enrich, and empower creatives. These developments bring both opportunities and concerns, as the impact of AI on the writing industry continues to evolve.

More Email Marketing Tips for Indie Authors: The Reaching More Readers Podcast with Dale L. Roberts and Holly Greenland

In the Reaching More Readers podcast, Dale L. Roberts and Holly Greenland continue sharing their insights with email marketing tips—building an effective 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 their books through the all-important email newsletters.

Self-Publishing News: Spotify’s New Basic Plan Strips Out Audiobooks

Over the past couple of years, I have reported a lot about Spotify’s entry into the audiobook market. This went from anticipation to rumor to normalization with the new subscription offering of fifteen hours of audiobook content per month, which listeners can split across any titles they want in the platform’s catalog.

25 Indie-Author Tips and Tricks to Finding Success in 2024

We recently asked our forum members on SelfPubConnect “What's the one self-publishing author tip or trick you've learned that's made a big difference to your writing and publishing journey?” and it really got a reaction! Over 100 authors shared their advice, and we’ve gathered 25 of our favourite responses here.