On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses the alliance between Andreessen Horowitz and Microsoft against AI regulation, ElevenLabs' new app that converts text to audio, Amazon’s Kindle Color launch, and Collins Dictionary’s word of the year, "brat."
Only a year or so ago, publishers were raging at what they saw as rights grabs by tech firms using AI audio and other technologies to convert books from the medium in which they were purchased to another medium, usually sold separately and considered subject to a different set of rights. AI companies now seem to be performing these medium transformations as a matter of course, and I am hearing barely a whisper of dissent amid the wider battles over copyright and AI.
In this Self-Publishing with ALLi episode, Nonfiction Adviser Anna Featherstone and Outreach Manager Michael La Ronn discuss why ISBNs matter for indie authors. Michael shares practical tips on buying, managing, and using ISBNs across book formats, with a focus on how this choice impacts professionalism, distribution, and control over your work.
I love following Word of the Year winners. But this year, I definitely feel old. Collins Dictionary has declared its Word of the Year is “brat.” This refers to the in-your-face confidence, independence, and hedonism reflected in the attitude and behavior of figures like Charli XCX, whose album of the same name coined this meaning for the word.
The special edition is becoming the next big thing in indie publishing. Once reserved for major publishers, these unique, collectible versions of books are now within reach for independent authors. With options like foil accents, custom artwork, and sprayed edges, special editions allow authors to offer readers something truly special. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter are driving this trend, letting authors test demand and build excitement for premium versions of their work.
In this episode of the AskALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss whether it’s possible for indie authors to achieve the print quality of traditional publishing when using print-on-demand services.
This regular post from the Alliance of Independent Authors celebrates ALLi member successes to inspire our indie author community. Our ALLi Member Milestones for November 2024 celebrates the successes of author members Chisom Ezeh, Michele Howarth, Dale Rogers, Philippa Rees, Gary Feinstein, and Dr. Harry Somaraju. Congratulations to all those featured in this month’s roundup and to everyone in our community who has hit a milestone this month!
Print books, literary events, special editions, and bookstores. By now, you’ll recognize that one of my themes for the year (will this end up in my top ten trends of the year? Is this a spoiler alert?) has been the power of analog.
On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway shares highlights from the Written Word Media Indie Author Survey, examining the factors behind authors’ financial success. From top-performing genres to effective marketing and cover design strategies, Dan reveals what’s driving higher earnings. He also discusses the strong role Kindle Unlimited plays for top earners and the importance of mailing lists for boosting engagement and sales.
The founder of Goodreads has launched an AI-powered reading app amid growing concerns over AI training. Depending on your perspective, that news will either fill you with excitement or utter despair.
This week on the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with Tiffany Yates Martin, editor and founder of Foxprint Editorial. Tiffany shares her insights on balancing the art and business of writing, adapting to market changes, and overcoming challenges like perfectionism and imposter syndrome. She also discusses how authors can find fulfillment by aligning their values with their goals.