11Sep 24
AI and Indie Authors: Navigating Rights, Ethics, and Opportunities: A Webinar with Orna Ross and Matty Dalrymple
In this podcast, Matty Dalrymple, campaigns manager at the Alliance of Independent Authors, talks with ALLi Director Orna Ross about AI's impact on indie authors and publishing. They discuss AI creator rights, new licensing models, and the balance between creative control and AI's benefits. The conversation also covers ALLi’s advocacy for ethical AI use, practical support for authors, and ethical considerations around AI-generated content. This conversation was featured in a webinar for ALLi members in late August.
10Sep 24
Canva Gambles Customers Want Whizzy AI Tools More than Lower Prices: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
A recent recent price hike by Canva has sparked frustration among indie writers and creatives. This is a story I first came across on TechCrunch, and it piqued my interest. I have subsequently seen a few indie writers talking about it, some decidedly frustrated, so I figured it is definitely something worth bringing to your attention.
09Sep 24
From Childhood Bookworms to Indie Authors: Early Reading Habits Spark Lifelong Passion
For many authors, the love of reading starts in childhood, shaping their imaginations and fueling a lifelong passion for storytelling. As the host of the Inspirational Indie Authors podcast for the Alliance of Independent Authors, I’ve had the pleasure of asking writers from diverse backgrounds about their early lives and whether reading and writing were always part of their journey. What’s remarkable is how, no matter where they grew up or what path they initially followed, they all shared a deep connection to books from a young age.
08Sep 24
When to Seek Permission for Quotes in Memoirs, Maximizing Global Distribution, and More: The Member Q&A Podcast with Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black
In this episode of the AskALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss when to seek permission for quotes in memoirs and when to paraphrase. They also share strategies for maximizing global distribution through various platforms and aggregators.
07Sep 24
Happy 10th Birthday to Kindle Unlimited: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
I often find myself wondering, “Where did all the time go?” It feels like just yesterday I was blogging about the introduction of Kindle. So, the announcement that Kindle Unlimited is celebrating its tenth birthday makes me feel old. It also highlights how much self-publishing has become an integral part of the literary landscape. We are here to stay, and there’s no turning back.
06Sep 24
Were Jobs Cut at Apple Books Because E-Books Aren't Profitable Enough? The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway
On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explores whether Apple cut jobs at Apple Books because e-books aren’t generating enough profit. He also covers OpenAI’s $100 billion valuation, the Grammys allowing AI-generated content, and Bookshop.org’s plan to pay royalties to authors from second-hand book sales.
05Sep 24
Apple Books Cuts Jobs While Grammy Awards Prepare to Accept Entries That Use AI: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
Apple has always felt like a strange player in the digital book market. They turned the music industry upside down with the iTunes Store, and when they introduced Apple Books, they might have thought they would do the same to the publishing industry. Kindle books had already made the major disruption, but the introduction of the iPad held out the promise of being the market-winning book replacement. But it wasn’t to be.
04Sep 24
Making Your Books Accessible and Ethical for Visually Impaired Readers: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast
In this episode of the Advice on Editing & Design stream of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael Johnson of Benetech about the importance of accessibility for authors and visually impaired readers, emphasizing ethical self-publishing and the potential market share missed if authors do not make their content accessible. Michael provides practical tips for indie authors on how to ensure their books are accessible, including the use of technology and proper formatting.
03Sep 24
Bookshop.org to Buy Back Secondhand Books and Pay Authors: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
The first set of stories this week really does feel like it illustrates an increasing momentum for what I have been calling the artisanal and the analogue. I have two stories about print books, including secondhand books, but very much not on the standard “print sales are rising/falling/insert other verb.”
02Sep 24
Author Speaker Guide Published, Full-Cast Audiobook Released, New Literary Magazine Launched, Oasis (Yes, the Band!) Mystery Drops, and More: ALLi Member Milestones September 2024
This regular post from the Alliance of Independent Authors celebrates ALLi member successes to inspire our indie author community. Our Member Milestones for August 2024 celebrates the successes of author members Matty Dalrymple, M.L. (Michael) La Ronn, Franke James, Anne Beall, Phillip Mottaz, Dawn Downey, Derek Farmer, Jay Ann Foley, Toni Cabell, John Daniel, and Michele Howarth. Congratulations to all those featured in this month’s roundup and to everyone in our community who has hit a milestone this month!
01Sep 24
Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Anna Davidson. Editor Turns Long COVID Experience into a Moving Poetry Collection
My ALLi author guest this episode is Anna Davidson, who, after years of working as an editor and managing editor, began writing poetry during her recovery from long COVID. She decided to self-publish her debut poetry collection, Poetry for Life and Other Chronic Conditions, to maintain creative control and ensure her work reached readers quickly.
31Aug 24
Draft2Digital Asks Authors for Opinions on AI Licensing: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
I report a lot on AI here, and I know authors have strong opinions on the subject. Draft2Digital, one of the most popular platforms for indie authors, is now addressing these concerns at a time when it’s becoming almost unavoidable to have a clear policy on how companies might try to use the books available through their platform.