Admin, Author at Self-Publishing Advice Center from the Alliance of Independent Authors

The Ultimate Guide to Finishing a Series

Authors, publishers and readers love series – authors because it’s easier to write each new book in the same world as the first one, publishers because it’s much easier and more profitable to market and sell a sequel to a successful book than a standalone, and readers because if they discover a series they like, they will read them all. Each new book feels like a homecoming. But as an indie author, how do you know when to call a halt to a successful series and move on? Debbie Young, who has just completed her seven-book Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series, gleans top tips on finishing a series from ALLi author members.

Are Bookstores Worth it for Indie Authors?

For most indie authors writing today, traditional bookstores in the mall and on the high street fueled our writing ambitions and our love of reading as children. Most writers would be thrilled to see their books on display in bookstore windows, display tables and shelves. Despite the rise and rise of ebooks and audiobooks, and especially during the boom in online buying during the Covid-19 pandemic, physical bookstores are still a significant marketplace for readers to discover and buy books. However it is much more challenging for the indie author to sell books via bookstores than online. What are those challenges and does the benefit of reaching bookstores’ customers justify finding a place for bookstores in your business plan? This post asks the question: are bookstores worth it for indie authors?

Alliance of Independent Authors Member Testimonials

Alliance of Independent Authors member testimonials

Famous Self-Publishing Authors: Past and Present

The Alliance of Independent Authors is compiling a list of famous self-publishing authors: past and present (see below). If you…

Influencer Marketing: Media Kit for Indie Authors and Poets

A media kit is an information packet that informs everyone - not just members of the media - about an…

Encore Month: Bookshop distribution

Like to get your books into bricks-and-mortar bookstores? It'll help if you understand the bookseller's objectives and viewpoint - and this extract from ALLi's guidebook about bookstores will quickly put you in the picture.

Encore Month: Why Book Marketing Doesn’t Trump Writing Craft

Why you need to make sure your writing is the best it can be before you invest in marketing it - tough love on the importance of writing craft from ALLi Author Advice Center Manager Debbie Young, herself the author of a series of cozy mysteries

Book Distribution: Why You Need to Drive Readers into Bookstores

Wondering why no-one's buying your books from bookstores, even though you've published your print books through IngramSpark? You need to drive readers into bookstores to buy them - Debbie Young explains why and how.

Cover Of The February Issue Of The Tetbury Advertiser

Writing for Local Magazines – Is It Worthwhile?

When we're aiming at marketing our books worldwide, it's easy to ignore small parochial writing opportunities - but don't be too hasty to dismiss what could provide useful strategic advantages for the bigger picture, as Debbie Young explains in her case study.

Writing: How Many Books Should You Write at Once?

How many books do you work on at a time? Whether it's one or a dozen, this post will give you ideas of other ways of managing your works-in-progress and help you decide whether to stick with your current practice or try another way in the interests of productivity.

Writing: 3 Practical Top Tips to Help Turn Your Book Idea into Reality

Do you struggle to get new book ideas off the starting blocks? Falter along the way? Read about the three top tips that Debbie Young has found helpful in driving her own productivity as an author of multiple titles in different genres.

Writing: How to Deal with Negative Reviews

Don't let negative reviews get you down - learn what you can from them, discard what makes no sense, and move on to the more important things in your writing life. Sensible advice from the ever-upbeat Debbie Young.