Every Wednesday ALLi will tell the world about our members' latest book launches, news, awards, freebies, workshops and updates on the writing life and take a look at the projects and businesses of our partner members.
ALLI News
Orna Ross
A Message from Orna
When I left my publisher for the creative freedom of going it alone, I was delighted to find a community of likeminded people, who weren’t afraid to take control of their own work and show the rest of the world that there are many pathways to excellence in writing and publishing. ALLi was started in response to that experience and in two years, our organisation has grown into a significant voice in publishing because we are not just one person, we are many.
Still the books infrastructure lags behind the reality that is this vibrant sector of the literary community. Self-publishers regularly find their books excluded from all sorts of opportunities, often on dubious grounds.
ALLi has been busy over the past few months preparing for the launch of our “Opening Up to Indie Authors” campaign and guidebook. The campaign was formed from a belief: that the wider world of books, be it libraries, bookshops, literary festivals, reviewers or professional associations and institutions, can only benefit from including author-publishers.
Which is where you come in.
We recently talked on the Self Publishing Advice blog of how author advocacy can work and why self publishing is so good for literary culture – and as we start sending our message out to the world, we want you to stand with us.
You can:
- Add your name to our petition and send the link to an indie author friend asking them to do the same. Use the following text: “I just signed The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)’s petition calling on media, libraries, bookshops, literary festivals, reviewers or professional associations and institutions to Open Up To Indie Authors. They are aiming to get 10,000 to show indie authors care about this. Please sign it too, and spread the word to any other authors you know: It only takes a second and makes a world of difference to writers, readers and literary culture.”
- Use the #publishingopenup tag on Twitter and tweet about our goings on.
- Come to the launch of the “Opening Up To Indie Authors” guide by Debbie and Dan, if you’re attending The London Book Fair next week.
- Join us by co-launching one of your own books together with the guide at a Kobo store near you.
- Read the guide (we’ll be email members with their free copy shortly) and pass it on.
Working together we can make a real difference for each other.
Warm regards
Orna
#PublishingOpenUp
Elizabeth Eyles
If you fancy whodunits with engaging characters, gentle humour, classic armchair detection, and a touch of Scotland, there’s a new series you’ll enjoy. The books don’t have to be read in order, although it helps the red herrings if they are
The fourth book, Seven Eight Play It Straight, is out 1st April 2014 and is set against the Edinburgh Festival—the final scenes are pure Festival extravaganza. It’s fun, the alert reader will spot the murderer in time to appreciate the danger, there are a couple of complicated relationships resolving themselves in the background, and there’s a definite touch of masquerade before all is brought to a satisfactory conclusion
The series heart is the Grasshopper Lawns retirement village, some twenty miles north of Edinburgh, but think Jessica Fletcher rather than Miss Marple; the residents are in their late fifties and upwards, lively, opinionated, charming or even annoying.
James Toner
Announcing the release on paperback of JJ Toner's best selling WW2 spy story, The Black Orchestra.
The POD will be available on Amazon from April 2, 2014.
Many thanks to Karen Perkins of LionheART Publishing for her help with formatting and cover design.
Kevin Booth
My service is aimed at members who are interested in discussing professional editing and translation options for their books at the upcoming LBF. While I won't have a specific stand or seminar, I will be available to talk to people on an informal basis.
Kevin Booth, member of ALLi and Associate of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), will be available at the London Book Fair to talk to members about editing and translating their books, websites and author pages, along with other aspects of the author-publisher process.
I’ll be circulating around the Author’s Lounge over the three days of the LBF, so if you would like to have a chat about editing, translation, or any other part of the self-publishing process, feel free to contact me prior to or during the fair on +44 (0) 7794474642, send a message to [email protected] or via Twitter at @kb003500.
Otherwise, go to the website at www.poblesecbooks.com and use the links there.
See you all at the fair!
James Calbraith
One of my short stories is published in the First Google+ Speculative Fiction Anthology, NovoPulp (Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/NovoPulp-2013-2014-Anthology-Speculative-ebook/dp/B00J10JOV6).
Novopulp was released on March 30th.
I am also taking part in the Steamlit Extravaganza with my book The Year of the Dragon, 1-4 – it's a 50% sale event, with 13 authors of steampunk genre novels, from April 21th to April 27th
Triskele Books
On the Writers & Artists blog, Triskele Books look at the rise of author collectives and how they can help self-published authors:
“It seems obvious the main reason for the rise in the author collective is a reaction to today’s depressed traditional publishing climate. With many authors turning to self-publishing as an alternative means of publication, acknowledging this burgeoning phenomenon of the author collective is essential. As self-publishing becomes an economic force, the number of organisations offering writers’ services grows at twice the rate.” Read more …
Ann Swinfen
The Secret World of Christoval Alvarez
It is the year 1586. England is awash with traitors, plotting to assassinate the Queen and bring about a foreign invasion. The young physician Christoval Alvarez, a refugee from the horrors of the Portuguese Inquisition, is coerced into becoming a code-breaker and agent in Sir Frances Walsingham’s secret service. In the race to thwart the plot, who will triumph – the ruthless conspirators or the equally ruthless State?
This is the first book in the Christoval Alvarez series, which follows Christoval’s (Kit’s) adventures in Walsingham’s service, both in England and abroad, throughout the later years of Elizabeth’s reign and into the reign of James I. The other central character is Simon Hetherington, a young actor in James Burbage’s company of players.
Book 1 is available in both paperback and Kindle editions.
Ingrid Williams
I am forwarding the link to my first review and a link to the book listing on Amazon. The official launch of the book will come with the Kindle version –probably in 5-7 days. Exciting!!
Bing &Nero is a children´s picture book aimed at 3-7 year-olds who are robot-crazy (like my own son). The reviewer liked it so much, she bought a copy for her nephew 🙂 The reviewer was recommended in an ALLi post on FB.
Matthew Wayne Selznick
Author and Matthew Wayne Selznick is pleased to announce the release of his latest non-fiction title, Reading The Amazing Spider-Man Volume One: A Critical Review With Storytelling Lessons From A Writer's Perspective.
In Reading The Amazing Spider-Man Volume One, I examine the roots of the franchise with a critical (but light-hearted) review of each story in the first twelve issues. As I do, I keep an eye out for the many lessons to be found there for writers and storytellers of all kinds interested in developing an enduring storyworld and creative franchise of their own.
More than anything, though, Reading The Amazing Spider-Man Volume One just like reading superhero comicbooks themselves, is about having fun!
Discount Offer
Readers of the Alliance of Independent Authors Self-Publishing Advice Blog receive a $5.00 discount off the regular price of Reading The Amazing Spider-Man Volume One when they purchase from author Matthew Wayne Selznick's website using the coupon code ALLISPIDER… but you have to act fast! The discount goes away seven days after this post goes live.
Clickhere to get your copy of Reading The Amazing Spider-Man
Volume One right now!
Mark Coker
How to publish an eBook: a unique lecture by Mark Coker, Smashwords
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Kingston University London
Monday, 7 April 2014 from 17:00 to 19:00
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
For more information and booking
Francis Guenette
Francis Guenette is in the middle of a blog tour (running March through May) to promote her new release – The Light Never Lies.
Eighteen stops with a variety of book reviews, guest posts and interviews. Check out the tour dates on her blog.
There are two softcover copies of The Light Never Lies going out as prizes for this tour – mailed right to the lucky winners' doors. One for the blog host who gets the most engagement with their post and one for a commenter – name to be drawn randomly from all commenters across the tour.
So check out the great blogs she's appearing on and get your name in the commenters draw as many times as you can.
If you are a member of The Alliance of Independent Authors and you would like to showcase your work on our ALLi Showcase, please send it to [email protected] to reach me no later than the Friday proceeding the Wednesday you would like it published.
