19Dec 25
News Podcast: Amazon Changes Kindle Download Options and Audible Taps TikTok Book Trends
On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway breaks down two major Amazon stories, including a controversial change to Kindle’s DRM policy that will allow DRM-free books to be downloaded as EPUB and PDF files, raising fresh concerns about piracy. He also looks at Audible’s new partnership with TikTok to surface trending BookTok titles inside the Audible app, and examines Australia’s new ban on social media use for under-sixteens and what it could mean for book discovery, especially in YA and New Adult markets.
18Dec 25
News Summary: Blurb Marks Twenty Years; Media Giants Enter New Battles
The sense of wistfulness, slight melancholy, and looking back through the archives of this post comes not just from the time of year. Following the shocking news of Porter Anderson’s death, this week the literary world said goodbye to two more incredibly high-profile stars, Sophie Kinsella and Joanna Trollope. It really does feel like a time of great change.
17Dec 25
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.
16Dec 25
News Summary: Audible Partners with BookTok, Raising Questions about Influence and Reach
Amazon has announced a major partnership with TikTok in an attempt to tap into the influencer-led popularity of all things literary.
14Dec 25
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!
14Dec 25
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.
13Dec 25
News Summary: Amazon Shifts DRM Rules for KDP E-Books, Allowing Wider File Downloads
Amazon has just announced a major change that affects everyone who self-publishes e-books made available through KDP. The change relates to Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology—specifically what happens when it is not applied to an e-book.
12Dec 25
News Podcast: Remembering Porter Anderson and Spotify’s Year in Audiobooks
On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reflects on the death of Porter Anderson, longtime editor in chief of Publishing Perspectives and a respected, sharp-witted voice in the book world whose influence reached far into both traditional and indie publishing. Dan shares tributes from colleagues and friends before turning to Spotify’s year-end audiobook trends, where romantic and “spicy” fantasy continue to dominate and darker genres like dystopia and horror are showing new momentum.
11Dec 25
News Summary: Spotify Wrapped Reveals Audiobook Trends and Rising Genres for 2026
Many of you will no doubt have already spent some time browsing your Spotify Wrapped. We can, of course, now do so as writers as well as listeners, finding out who spent time listening to our work. And even as listeners, we can now get the lowdown on our audiobook listening as well as music.
10Dec 25
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.
09Dec 25
News Summary: EU Removes Books from Deforestation Rules, as Daunt Weighs AI-Generated Titles
We start the week with a round-up of stories I originally had slated for Saturday before sadder events overtook us. First up, two of my favourite topics wrapped into one neat story package: print and European law.
07Dec 25
Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Jonathan Posner Writes Tudor-Era Adventures and Built a Publishing Company to Guide New Writers
My ALLi author guest this episode is Jonathan Posner, an indie author who writes historical action-adventure set in the Tudor period. After years of self-publishing, he used what he learned to build his own imprint, which has grown into a publishing company that guides new authors through the indie process. His goal is to give writers the support he wished he had when he started.
