Podcast

BookCon Returns

News Podcast: BookCon Returns with a Welcome for Indie Authors; Anthropic Settlement Class Reaches 91%

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dan Holloway reports on the return of BookCon to New York after a pandemic-era hiatus, where the Indie Alley proved a genuine hit with readers — a sign that the established book world is increasingly making room for independent authors. He also has an update on the Anthropic copyright settlement, where 91 percent of eligible titles were claimed before the deadline, putting the expected payout per title at around $2,931, with a reminder that traditionally published authors may receive less due to rights splits with their publishers.
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Bulk Sales

Audio Interview: Beyond Bookshops — Bulk Sales, Gifting and Alternative Distribution, with Anna Featherstone and Andrew Griffiths

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Anna Featherstone speaks with bestselling business author Andrew Griffiths about the production and distribution choices behind his books. They discuss the trade-offs between traditional publishing and self-publishing, and how design and print decisions shape perception, pricing, and reach. The conversation also covers bulk sales, corporate partnerships, and strategic gifting as alternatives to retail, with a focus on long-term visibility and opportunity.
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Draft2Digital Introduces Fees

News Podcast: Draft2Digital Introduces Fees; Bookshop.org Reports Record Sales

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dan Holloway examines Draft2Digital's decision to introduce fees for the first time — a $20 account activation charge for new accounts and a $12 annual maintenance fee for low-activity accounts — and considers both the rationale and the concerns. He also reports on Bookshop.org's record $70 million in sales last year, a 55 percent increase, and explains why the two stories are closely connected.
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How Authors Can Work Effectively With Book Designers

Audio Interview: How Authors Can Work Effectively with Book Designers with Howard Lovy and Allyson Longueira

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Howard Lovy talks to Allyson Longueira, associate director of publishing at the graduate program in creative writing at Western Colorado University, about what authors need to understand about book design, from typography and interior layout to covers and branding. They discuss how design choices signal genre, how authors can better communicate with designers, and where to draw the line between creative control and trusting the experts. Longueira also explains how thoughtful design supports readability and market positioning, giving authors practical ways to approach the visual side of publishing with more confidence.
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Amazon Retires Early Kindles

News Podcast: Amazon Retires Early Kindles; Publishing Scam Emails on the Rise

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dan Holloway reports on Amazon's decision to withdraw online support from Kindle devices released in 2012 and earlier, and what that means for readers who still use them—including a silver lining for indie authors distributing DRM-free books. He also sounds the alarm on a surge in sophisticated scam emails targeting authors, and reminds us of the enduring wisdom of Yog's Law: money flows to the author, not from the author.
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Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Darnnell Reese

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Darnnell Reese. Desert Storm Veteran Breaks Decades of Silence on Trauma; Turns to Faith and Writing to Confront Bullies

My ALLi author guest this episode is Darnnell Reese, a Desert Storm combat veteran and former Military Intelligence analyst. During her service, she experienced trauma both on the battlefield and within her own unit, which she kept silent about for decades. With the encouragement and help of her daughter, she finally put that story into writing. Her work also draws on faith and focuses on confronting bullies in all forms. 
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Bookstores Call For Faster Response

News Podcast: Bookstores Call for Faster Response; AI Micro Drama Deal Sparks Author Backlash

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on new insights into what bookstores want from publishers and how indie authors may be better placed to respond quickly to trends. He also examines controversy over Harlequin’s AI-driven micro drama project, where authors say they were not consulted, and looks at wider tensions in the publishing industry as it both adopts and challenges AI in different arenas.
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Substack As A Marketing Tool

Substack as a Marketing Tool for Indie Authors, with Orna Ross

Is Substack a smart marketing tool for indie authors? In this episode, Orna Ross explores the platform's strengths for marketing fiction, poetry, and nonfiction books—including reader community, discoverability, and subscription options—alongside weaknesses like limited e-commerce, conflicting priorities, and the risks of building on a venture-backed platform whose goals may shift over time. She concludes that Substack offers a powerful combination of features for authors who want to balance creativity with visibility, but is not a substitute for a solid book-selling strategy.
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Social Media Lawsuits Grow

News Podcast: Social Media Lawsuits Grow; Supreme Court Ruling Shapes AI Copyright Debate

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on a major U.S. lawsuit awarding damages over social media addiction and a new UK trial restricting teen access to platforms. He also examines a key Supreme Court ruling in Sony vs. Cox that could influence AI copyright cases, and updates on the Anthropic settlement, where reduced legal fees may increase payouts for authors.
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