ALLi Editorial, Author at The Self-Publishing Advice Center

StorySelling for Authors: Self-Publishing Conference Highlight

Join Bill Mueller in this session for novelists, poets, and nonfiction authors who want to harness the power of StorySelling to create deeper connections with their audience and encourage them to purchase. Learn the psychology behind why stories work, a life-changing technique for uncovering and crafting compelling stories from your own experiences, and how to seamlessly integrate stories into your marketing and promotional materials across a wide variety of platforms.

Marketing Strategies for Children’s Books That Work: Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Dale L. Roberts

Unlock the secrets to marketing strategies for children's nooks. In this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dale L. Roberts interviews bestselling children’s author Karen Inglis, who shares expert strategies for breaking into the market. Discover the biggest mistakes new authors make, how to market effectively, and why local connections and school visits can boost your brand. Karen also reveals how metadata and keywords impact sales, plus lessons from her journey to selling over half a million books.

Erotica Authors Confront Platform Restrictions and Market Limits

Erotica authors have always worked on the margins—pushing boundaries of taste, acceptability, and publishing norms. For many, the genre offers a space for freedom, identity, and creative expression. But that space is shrinking. Algorithms quietly bury books. Platforms impose vague restrictions. Advertising is nearly impossible. Authors are left guessing what word, image, or plot line might trigger a shadow ban or a takedown.

How AI in Publishing Is Changing Audiobooks and Author Opportunities: Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Orna Ross and Joanna Penn

On the Creative Self-Publishing stream of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss their latest creative projects, insights from the London Book Fair, and the evolving role of AI in publishing. Orna shares her thoughts on how the fair is shifting away from being author-centric, while Joanna explores AI narration and its growing impact on audiobooks, including new developments from ElevenLabs and Amazon’s Audible Virtual Voice.

Are Book Awards Only for Fiction? Dispelling Award Myths for Indie Authors

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson dispels the myth that book awards are only for fiction and explains how independent authors can find recognition for both fiction and nonfiction works.

ALLi Condemns Meta’s Use of Indie Authors’ Books to Train AI Without Permission, Calls for Clarity and Compensation

The work of Orna Ross, founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors, and thousands of other independent authors and ALLi members have been identified as part of the vast collection of books used—without permission or payment—to train Meta’s AI models.

The Practical Side of Book Production and Distribution: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast Featuring Anna Featherstone

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Anna Featherstone talks with USA Today bestselling author Phillipa Nefri Clark about the practical side of book production and distribution. Phillipa shares her experiences with different publishing methods, from KDP and Kobo to direct sales and working with a digital-first publisher. She discusses hiring a well-known TV actor for her audiobook, handling production challenges, navigating translations, and managing finances with the help of a specialist accountant.

Six Questions Every Author Should Ask: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast Featuring Matty Dalrymple

Matty Dalrymple talks with Howard Lovy, a developmental editor and ALLi’s content and communications manager, about six questions every author should ask to improve their craft. They discuss maintaining narrative immersion, balancing detail with engagement, and ensuring characters drive the story. Howard shares practical tips on avoiding common pitfalls, keeping scenes purposeful, and writing from the characters' perspectives to keep readers engrossed in the narrative.

Howard Lovy Interviews Maggie Marr on How Indie Authors Can Get Their Books Adapted for Film and TV

In this interview, Howard Lovy speaks with Maggie Marr, ALLi’s book-to-screen advisor, a former ICM motion picture literary agent, entertainment attorney, and USA Today bestselling author, about how indie authors can get their books adapted for film and TV. Marr, who has worked on major book-to-screen projects, shares industry insights on what makes a book appealing for adaptation, the role of agents and attorneys, and common pitfalls to avoid. She is also the author of Books to Film and TV: What Every Author Needs to Know, a resource for writers navigating the adaptation process.

How to Vet a Book Publicist Before You Hire One: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A Podcast Featuring Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss the challenges of hiring a book publicist, including how to vet them, what questions to ask, and whether most indie authors even need one.

Debut Award, Viral Sci-Fi, Historical Novel Recognition, and More: ALLi Member Milestones March 2025

This regular post from the Alliance of Independent Authors celebrates ALLi member successes to inspire our indie author community. Our ALLi Member Milestones for March 2025 celebrate the successes of author members Ali Steed, Jeff Probst, Helena Trooperman, Sara Sartagne, Elizabeth A. Estabrooks, Debbie Emmitt, and Nancy Stanfield Webb. Congratulations to all those featured in this month’s roundup and to everyone in our community who has hit a milestone!

The Profitable Writer: Increase Your Output, Grow Your Income: Self-Publishing Conference Highlight

Becoming a profitable writer requires more than just productivity, but consistently completing projects is essential for success in self-publishing. ALLi's Crowdfunding Adviser, USA Today bestselling author, and author-publishing expert Russell Nohelty shares strategies to help authors increase their writing output and turn finished projects into profitable ventures. This session offers practical insights to help indie authors make each year more productive and financially rewarding.