OverDrive Sues OpenAI

News Summary: OverDrive Sues OpenAI over ‘Sora,’ Spotify Plans Price Hike, and Speakies Debut

We’re used to AI-related lawsuits. And we’re used to those lawsuits being about copyright. And the first story today ticks those boxes, but not in the way you might expect. OpenAI is on the receiving end, as it often is. But the litigant is the distributor of digital resources to libraries, OverDrive, familiar to many of us as the platform through which indies are able to get our works into the library system.
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AI-Generated Staff Profiles

News Podcast: AI-Generated Staff Profiles Raise Concerns, Tulia Launches Author Platform, and NZ Prize Bars AI Covers

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on concerns around companies using AI-generated staff profiles to sell high-priced author services, including Melbourne Book Publisher and related outfits in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. He also looks at Tulia’s new author platform that builds customizable book pages from ISBN data, highlights a small-group social reading app, and notes a case from New Zealand where AI-assisted cover design led to books being disqualified from a major award.
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Author Nation

What Author Nation Reveals About the Future of Indie Publishing with Joe Solari and Orna Ross

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Joe Solari sits down with ALLi Director Orna Ross for a candid debrief from Author Nation, where they talk about the energy of the conference, what it means for indie authors, and where the industry is headed. They cover everything from the value of in-person community to the rise of AI, new advertising opportunities, and the growing range of publishing paths available to authors. Orna reflects on meeting members face to face, the professionalism of the event, and what she sees as the key trends shaping author careers in the coming year.
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Tertulia

News Summary: New Tools from Tertulia and a Social Platform for Small Reading Groups

We start the week with a round-up of interesting new platforms and tools. And we begin with an expanded offering from one of ALLi’s partners, Tertulia (note to self as a theologian who spent a term studying the patristic author Tertullian, that there is but one “l”). Tertulia started life and continues to thrive as an online bookstore designed to be run differently.
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Black Friday And Cyber Monday

Indie Author Deals – Black Friday and Cyber Monday ALLi Partner Discounts 2025

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us again, with bargains on offer across the internet. Here at the Alliance of Independent Authors, we love an indie author deal and this year is no different. Read on for a stack of deals from ALLi partner members. There's something for every writer at every level in this Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale for writers. 
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Inspirational Indie Author Interview: S. J. Barratt

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: S. J. Barratt Draws Inspiration From Scotland’s Wild Beauty to Create Eco-Adventures for Young Readers

My ALLi author guest this episode is Suzanne Barratt, who writes as S. J. Barratt. She blends her background in agriculture and environmental communications with her love of Scotland and Shetland to create eco-adventure stories for middle-grade readers. We talked about her childhood surrounded by books and nature, how she shaped her writing through research and collaboration with an illustrator and editors, and why the indie path gives her the creative freedom she values. 
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HarperCollins

News Summary: HarperCollins Writes Off Baker & Taylor Losses; Spotify Reshapes Audiobook Market; Australia Imposes Teen Social Media Ban

One of the stories I’ve mentioned a couple of times in recent weeks has been the collapse of Baker & Taylor, one of the major players in wholesale and distribution. One of the things I have wondered was what actual difference this might make. Obviously, narrowing the field in such a key area has consequences, but I was interested to note that HarperCollins has attributed a significant amount of its weak financial showing of late to the closure, with monies owed being written off.
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Spotify Expands Audiobooks

News Podcast: Spotify Expands Audiobooks, Launches Recaps Feature, and beehiiv Adds New Tools for Authors

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on Spotify’s continued expansion into audiobooks, including new access across key Nordic markets and the rollout of its AI-powered “recaps” feature that helps listeners pick up where they left off. He outlines how Spotify is addressing copyright concerns around AI use and notes broader audio developments, including 11 Labs signing voice deals with major celebrities. Dan also looks at beehiiv’s move to position itself as a full-service platform for long-form creators, offering new website and analytics tools for authors who rely on newsletters.
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Beehiiv Unveils New AI Marketing Tools

News Summary: Beehiiv Unveils New AI Marketing Tools; Experts Trace How Discovery and Promotion Are Rapidly Changing

I have come across several fascinating pieces on the changing shape of marketing for indie authors over the past week. The news item that frames them picks up on Tuesday’s theme of new tools, with some more AI gizmos courtesy of newsletter platform Beehiiv (ironically, the announcement comes a week after I finally signed up to have my newsletter with them).
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Author Nation

Advice Podcast: Author Nation Conference Conclusions 2025 — Courage, Choice, and New Directions for Indie Authors with Orna Ross and Joanna Penn

Orna Ross and Joanna Penn sit down for a candid, back-and-forth debrief on Author Nation and SelfPubCon 2025, and some of the bigger creative questions raised by the conferences. They unpack the benefits and challenges of physical versus online events, then broaden the conversation into creative courage and change. Discover Drew Davies’s “kill two things” rule, why Orna pressed pause on her Go Creative! series, and how Joanna is stepping into a new season with her Masters in Death, Religion, and Culture. As ever, you’ll enjoy honest reflection, practical takeaways, and permission to step boldly into your own next creative chapter.
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