Top Indie Author Advice Panel: JOANNA PENN, RACHEL ABBOTT, MARK DAWSON, STEENA HOLMES, CJ LYONS, MARK MCGUINESS, NICK STEPHENSON

Thanks, as they so often do, go to Mark Williams for alerting me to a story I had missed about Sarah J. Maas. Unusually so, because I have spent a considerable part of this year writing about romantasy, a genre that Maas has arguably done more than any other author to propel to the status of reading phenomenon it currently holds.

What does it really take to build a lasting author platform in 2025? In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, host Dale L. Roberts chats with indie author Kerrie Flanagan about what it means to grow and sustain an author brand in today’s crowded publishing world. From mastering the tools that matter to balancing multiple genres under different pen names, this conversation offers practical insights for authors looking to deepen their reader connections and expand their reach.

As indie authors expand their careers, many discover that one name doesn't always fit all. A romance author might pivot to horror. A nonfiction writer might decide to finally publish that novel. Or someone who writes across genres may wonder whether each audience needs a different kind of branding. The result? Writers are managing multiple identities—some under different pen names, some through distinct imprints, and others just by shifting tone and voice depending on the context.