ALLi Editorial

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New Takes On Marketing Must-Dos

New Takes on Marketing Must-Dos — Insights from ALLi’s ‘Reach More Readers’ Guidebook: Self-Publishing Advice Conference Highlight

In this Self-Publishing Advice Conference highlight, Orna Ross revisits classic book marketing must-dos and updates them for 2025. Grounded in ALLi’s Reach More Readers guidebook and the organization’s Ethical AI policy, the session cuts through content overload, shifting algorithms, rising ad costs, email deliverability problems, and growing concerns about reader trust. Ross offers a human-first, values-based approach to marketing that helps author-publishers make clear, ethical choices without burning out. Writers leave with a simple mini-audit of their current marketing and a short, realistic upgrade list to help them reach more readers on their own terms.
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Three Trends For 2026

Advice Podcast: Three Trends for 2026 — Transformation, Trust, and the ‘Agentic’ Shift with Orna Ross and Joanna Penn

Orna Ross and Joanna Penn compare notes from the indie front line, drawing on Jo’s new novel and her renewed focus on business basics for ALLi’s Indie Author Lab at the London Book Fair, alongside Orna’s shift to Substack and a clear-eyed look at what is changing fastest for authors. In this forward-looking conversation, two self-publishing veterans unpack agentic AI, the challenge of staying discoverable in a sea of content, and how permission-based audiences, reader trust, and real-world connection can make authors harder to replace.
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Create More Time For Your Writing

Taking It Easy — Seven Ways to Create More Time for Your Writing: Self-Publishing Advice Conference Highlight

In this Self-Publishing Advice Conference highlight, discover practical ways to reclaim time and focus for your writing in an age of constant distraction and AI-driven tools. Troy Lambert breaks down seven realistic strategies for using your tools more deliberately and managing your time more efficiently. The session offers grounded, actionable ideas to help writers protect their creative energy, reduce overwhelm, and make consistent progress on their work.
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Design Rules

Audio Interview: Design Rules That Make or Break a Book with Matty Dalrymple and Sam Pearce

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with publishing strategist and book designer Sam Pearce about the invisible design rules that shape a reader’s experience. They explore how readability, typography, layout choices, and genre conventions can make—or break—a book. Learn about how to create professional, reader-friendly interiors that strengthen your brand and boost your success as an indie author.
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Producing Affordable Audiobooks

Audio Interview: Producing Affordable Audiobooks with AI Assistance — Anna Featherstone and Phil Marshall

In this episode of the ALLi Self-Publishing Advice Podcast, Anna Featherstone speaks with Phil Marshall, co-founder of Spoken, about the fast-changing world of audiobook production and how authors can now record audiobooks more affordably with AI assistance. They discuss using AI versions of an author’s own voice, as well as creating multi-voice audiobooks. Spoken is a newer ALLi partner member whose platform is designed specifically for authors, offering natural-sounding narration through custom-generated voices and licensed voice clones from human narrators. The conversation explores practical ways authors can bring both new titles and backlist books to life in audio without prohibitive costs.
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How AI Can Help

Reaching More Readers: Being More Human and How AI Can Help, with Orna Ross

“Be more human,” we are told, if we want to thrive as indie authors in the age of AI, continue to sell our books, and remain relevant to readers. But what does that mean in practical terms? In this session, based on ALLi’s Reach More Readers guidebook, Orna Ross surveys how machine and human intelligences are becoming more integrated. She explores ways to strengthen and augment humanity in book marketing, offers tips on using AI assistance across three marketing models, and explains how to let go of what no longer serves your purpose as a writer and publisher while optimizing what does.
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ALLi Member Milestones December 2025

Award Wins, Audiobook Completion, a Special Edition Launch, and More: ALLi Member Milestones December 2025

This regular post from the Alliance of Independent Authors celebrates ALLi member successes to inspire our indie author community. Our ALLi Member Milestones, December 2025, celebrate the successes of author members William Brinkman, John C. A. Manley, Kevin Hwang, Ann Fairway, Brian Thompson, and Jennilynn Wyer. Congratulations to all those featured in this month’s roundup and to everyone in our community who has hit a milestone!
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Navigating New Trends In Self-Publishing

ALLi Team Roundtable: Navigating New Trends in Self-Publishing

Join ALLi team members Orna Ross, Sacha Black, Matty Dalrymple, Michael La Ronn, Shanaya Wagh, and Dan Holloway for a replay of their SelfPubCon2025 roundtable, which offers practical guidance on today’s self-publishing landscape. The session includes a brief introduction to ALLi and its member services, along with clear, actionable advice on new tools, trends, and strategies to help authors at any stage.
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Literary RPGs

Audio Interview: How Literary RPGs Find Their Audience with Anna Featherstone, Vee Hendro, and Hayley Gordon

How do indie creators reach global audiences while staying true to their values? In this second conversation, Anna Featherstone continues her chat with Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon about distribution, community, and marketing in the world of literary-inspired role-playing games. From Kickstarter to conventions and creative commons licensing, they share smart strategies for connecting stories with players worldwide.
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Ghostwritten Fiction

Audio Interview: The Hidden Craft of Ghostwritten Fiction with Matty Dalrymple and Jon McGoran

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with author and ghostwriter Jon McGoran about the craft and business of ghostwriting fiction. They discuss how Jon got started through an agency, the difference between fiction and nonfiction ghostwriting, the challenges of working in someone else’s creative world, and how clear contracts and good collaboration can make ghostwriting a steady income stream for authors.
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