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Profit, Pricing, And Publishing Strategy

Author Business Q&A: Profit, Pricing, and Publishing Strategy with Michael La Ronn and Joe Solari

In this member-first Q&A on the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Michael La Ronn talks with Alliance of Independent Authors Business Adviser Joe Solari about how indie authors can think more clearly about the business side of writing. Joe explains why authors should focus less on revenue and more on profit, how to approach pricing without undervaluing their work, when going wide makes sense, and why intellectual property and audience are the real foundations of an author business. He also offers practical advice on print distribution, direct sales, and when it may—or may not—make sense to form an LLC.
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Where Friction Hides In Your Author Business

Where Friction Hides in Your Author Business (And When It Might Be Useful), with Orna Ross and Joanna Penn

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn explore the concept of friction in the author business — the stuff that stops readers from buying and stops authors from acting. They examine reader friction including decision fatigue, pricing signals, platform fragmentation, and the challenge of buying direct; author friction including tech overload, identity resistance, and fear of judgment; and the counterintuitive idea that some friction — a signed limited edition, a serialized novel released chapter by chapter, a live human conversation — is actually worth keeping, because it creates connection, commitment, and differentiation in an age of one-click AI convenience.
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Guided Selling for Authors: Taking Readers by the Hand, with Orna Ross

In this episode, Orna Ross explores guided selling for authors: how indie authors can help readers find the right book or next step into their ecosystem without overwhelm or decision fatigue. Drawing on research into the ‘paradox of choice’ and online book-buying behavior, this episode asks how we can use our websites, stores, newsletters, book pages, and reader links more consciously to take readers by the hand, reduce friction, and make the buying journey feel less like a maze and more like a good bookseller’s recommendation.
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First Nations’ Stories

Audio Interview: Using Indie Platforms to Publish First Nations’ Stories with Anna Featherstone and Anna Borzi AM

ALLi nonfiction adviser Anna Featherstone speaks with Anna Borzi AM, chair of the First Nations Writers Festival and its publishing imprint, First Nations Publishers. They discuss how the volunteer-led charity has grown from a literary festival into a global publishing and distribution platform for Pacific writers, often where no other option exists. The conversation covers publishing in an authentic voice, professional production on a lean model, print-on-demand and direct sales, and a strategic move away from costly festivals toward sustainable social media marketing.
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Self-Publishing | With ALLi Podcast | News Analysis & | Commentary | Dan Holloway | SelfPublishingAdvice.org/podcast

News Podcast: Amazon’s New Algorithm Shakes Up Book Discoverability While Substack Offers Steadier Path for Authors

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway takes a close look at Amazon’s new book discovery algorithm and how it may be impacting indie authors’ visibility and sales stability. He contrasts the uncertainty of platform-dependent publishing with the growing reliability of direct sales, particularly through Substack, where income trends show consistent returns for authors building engaged readerships. Dan explains what these shifts mean for indie authors trying to build sustainable careers in a changing marketplace.
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Self-Publishing | With ALLi | News Analysis & | Commentary | Proudly | Sponsored By | Bookvault | Miblart | Dan Holloway |…

Double-Digit Audiobook Growth Returns; Dark Genres Rise; Publishers Embrace Direct Sales: Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Dan Holloway

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports a return to double-digit audiobook growth in the U.S., with revenue up 13 percent and over half of Americans now having listened to an audiobook. He also breaks down new data showing a shift in reader tastes toward darker genres—especially psychological thrillers and dark romance—and reflects on how traditional publishers are just now catching on to the power of direct sales and loyal fan bases, something indie authors have long embraced.
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Alliance Of Independent Authors | The Coming Year | In Self-Publishing | Ricardo Fayet On Marketing

The Coming Year in Self-Publishing: Ricardo Fayet on Marketing

Each year, ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple meets with each of our advisers to discuss what they see on the horizon in their advisory area that indie authors should be aware of. In this installment, Matty sits down with Ricardo Fayet, ALLi's marketing adviser, co-founder of author services marketplace Reedsy, and author of How to Market a Book, to explore what’s ahead in book marketing. From leveraging AI as a time-saving tool to making the most of tried-and-true marketing strategies, Fayet shares his insights on what’s working—and what’s not—for indie authors.
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Alliance Of Independent Authors | When Platforms Collapse: Authors Move To Diversify | AskALLi Team

When Platforms Collapse: Authors Move to Diversify

Authors who built their audience on TikTok got a harsh reminder on January 17: any platform can disappear overnight, and it is important to diversify. The brief shutdown sent authors scrambling for alternatives, forcing many to rethink their dependence on a single platform. While TikTok returned after twelve hours and received a temporary reprieve, the scare highlighted a bigger issue—Amazon, Meta, and other platforms have also suspended or restricted authors’ accounts without warning, often with little recourse.
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