International Rights Agent To Work With Alliance of Independent Authors

Jennifer Custer, International Rights Director, AM Heath

We’re delighted to announce that we have secured the services of Jennifer Custer, Rights Director at AM Heath, to represent those of our members who have suitable books in translation markets.

Founded in 1919, AM Heath has always been one of the UK's leading literary agencies and has represented some of the iconic writers of the 20th Century. The agency currently represents a broad range of best-selling and award-winning authors, including novelists, historians, biographers, and children's authors — and has a reputation for successfully launching talented newcomers.

The agency offers representation in all markets and all languages throughout the world and Jennifer Custer heads up the international rights department. “We have huge successes,” says Custer. “Many of our authors, Hilary Mantel, Conn Iggulden, and

July 5, 2012
Admin
Process 3 & 4: Production & Distribution
7 Comments

The Self-Publishing Advice Center: from the Alliance of Independent Authors

Welcome to ALLi's Self-publishing Advice Center, a community outreach service from the Alliance of Independent Authors, offering advice and guidance you can trust, across the seven processes of publishing: Editorial Design Production Distribution Marketing Promotion Publishing rights management

July 1, 2012
Orna Ross
Process 3 & 4: Production & Distribution

Self-Publishers Promote Each Other

We value each other's work

We've been having a debate about self-promotion on our Alliance of Independent Authors' member-only Facebook group. And one of our members, Richard Bunning, came up with a great idea to get around this perennial problem for self-publishers and the forums they hang out on.

Like most great ideas, it's simple. Naturally, as writers, we want to share news of our books and other writings but

How to get your Self-Published Books into Bookstores

For a lot of self-publishing authors, getting their books into big-chain bookshops can seem as impossible as hitting a space station with a sling-shot.

There is something of a validation in walking into a bookshop, especially a big-chain branch, and spying your book on the shelf. It’s something we crave as indie authors. But as indies, with corporate structure and head office guidelines, that shelf can often seem a million miles away.

But is getting our books into big chains as impossible as we think?

HOW I DID IT

I’m a fantasy author of The Emaneska Series and my books The Written and Pale Kings are permanently stocked in some 20+ Waterstones stores across the UK. I hold regular signings and events at a large number of branches across the South and the Midlands – around twenty so far in the past year.

I’ve just finished one

Guest Post: 50 Shades of Crimson – The Self-Publisher’s Guide to Marketing

Long ago when I was a young mother looking for a little extra income, I got talked into selling Tupperware.…

June 4, 2012
Kelly McClymer
Process 3 & 4: Production & Distribution
14 Comments

The History of Self-Publishing

1. From Bard to Scribe Publishing began with the transition from oral to written culture. In traditional society, bards were…

May 28, 2012
Orna Ross
Process 3 & 4: Production & Distribution
8 Comments

Why Self-Publishing ?

Welcome!

You've found your way to the very first post by the Alliance of Independent Authors, here on our brand new self-publishing advice blog.

A lot of people ask us why are so many authors going indie and self-publishing these days? The short answer is: because we can.

Self-publication served only a tiny number of writers before digital technology enabled print-on-demand and the direct distribution of ebooks. This technology simultaneously does four things that are very good for writers.

It gives us a global readership, instead of confining us to specific territories.
Our books are continually

May 22, 2012
Orna Ross
Opinion
2 Comments