ALLi Blog

How to Protect Yourself from Phishing and Scams: The Campaigns Podcast with Matty Dalrymple

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple and Outreach Manager Michael La Ronn share tips for how indie authors can protect themselves from phishing and scams. They provide insight into how phishing works, share advice on recognizing scams, and introduce the SALSA (Sender, Attachment, Links, Subject line, Authentication) method to help authors identify potential threats. Michael also explains the resources ALLi offers, like their self-publishing service ratings and watchdog services, to help authors choose ethical publishing services. They emphasize the significance of community support and being vigilant to safeguard personal and financial information.

The Importance of High-Quality Editing: Book Award Update July 2024

In this regular series from the Alliance of Independent Authors, our Book Awards Advisor, Hannah Jacobson from Book Award Pro shares her tips for entering your indie books into awards and competitions. This month, Hannah details her view on perhaps the most important investment you can make if you want to produce an award-worthy book... editing.

Self-Publishing News: Spotify is Slowly Building an Audio Social Network to Connect Creators and Listeners

Is Spotify building an Audio Social Network? It’s interesting that Spotify has nudged its way back into the news of late with a couple of moves relevant to writers. First, there was the decoupling of audiobooks from its music streaming by allowing listeners to select between a premium service that included fifteen hours of audiobooks and a dollar-cheaper basic service that didn’t. Now they are supporting comments on podcasts, and TechCrunch has a fascinating article suggesting that may get rolled out across all audio.

Leading Audiobook Players Gather for a First Global Summit: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explores the impact of the recent UK election on indie writers, highlighting the new government's pledges on copyright protection and freelance work. He also covers the administration woes of Australia's largest online bookseller, Booktopia, and the launch of Amazon's new Vella prize. Additionally, Dan discusses the first-ever International Summit of Audio Publishers and its significance for the audiobook market.

Self-Publishing News: First International Summit of Audio Publishers to Take Place in September

It feels rather extraordinary that this year, when the format has become so established that we have seen a decade of double-digit growth and sales that now rank alongside e-books, sees the first staging of the International Summit of Audio Publishers.

Crowdfunding for Participation, Profit, and Payment: The Publishing for Profit Podcast with Orna Ross and Joanna Penn

Drawing insights from their own recent Kickstarters, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn explore both fiction and nonfiction crowdfunding and discuss their upcoming campaigns, with a particular focus on reader participation, making a profit, and getting paid. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, this episode will provide you with actionable tips and inspiration to launch your own successful crowdfunding campaign.

Self-Publishing News: Australia’s Largest Online Bookseller Booktopia Goes into Administration

Thank you to our Australia ambassador, Jacqui Lane, for bringing this story to our attention. Booktopia is Australia's largest online bookseller, and it is, sadly, seemingly on the verge of collapse. A fascinating article on the academic longform platform The Conversation goes into the full details, why it matters, and what it means.

How to Plan Your Self-Published Book: Guidance for Plotters and Planners

There are different ways to get started when writing a book. Some authors prefer to write spontaneously, seeing how one action leads to the next as they write. These authors are often described as ‘Pantsers’ meaning they write ‘by the seat of their pants’! We’ll be covering this writing approach in a future blog. In this post we’re looking at the plotter (or ‘planner’ for non-fiction) approach, with advice provided by ALLi partner member 1106 Design.

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Karl Drinkwater. Writer of Far-Away Space Operas Also Grounded in Real World as Green Party Politician

My ALLi author guest this episode is Karl Drinkwater, who writes dystopian space opera, dark suspense and diverse social fiction. But as he develops stories about far-off locales, he also writes with one eye on the real world. And that's where his writing meets his environmental advocacy and political life in the Green Party.

Award Wins, New Trilogies Completed and a 20-Year “Authorversary”: ALLi Member Milestones July 2024

Award wins, New Trilogies Completed and a 20-year "authorversary" for one of our writers: ALLi Member Milestones July 2024

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.