On the Advanced Self-Publishing Podcast: Stages of the writing craft. As indie authors, we can update our books whenever we want. For some authors, this feature of digital publishing is a curse, igniting perfectionism and endless tinkering. Even the most productive self-publisher can decide to do a major rewrite of an old project. Orna Ross is currently rewriting her novel, Her Secret Rose , and Joanna Penn her first book, Stone of Fire . Join them for a deep dive into why, when to consider doin...
Mar 04, 2022•48 min•Ep. 344
Who makes money from subscription services? Also, Draft2Digital acquires Smashwords. These are among the topics discussed on Self-Publishing News with Alli News Editor Dan Holloway and News and Podcast Producer Howard Lovy. Together, they will bring you the latest in indie publishing news. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center : https://selfpublishingadvice.org , with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info ...
Feb 25, 2022•13 min•Ep. 343
My guest this episode is Jim Merryfield, who lived what he called the British version of the Wolf of Wall Street. He was rolling in dough from his sales job for a company that really didn't care about the impact it was having on the world. Jim decided it wasn't a life for him. So, he bought a motorcycle, saw the world, and wrote about how others can do the same. Midlife crisis? Not quite. Jim Merryfield is only twenty-seven years old. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by...
Feb 20, 2022•14 min•Ep. 342
In this episode: Influencer marketing for beginner authors. Writing and publishing a book to a professional standard is a mammoth challenge, but it’s only the first step in growing your author business. Next comes marketing. Some authors manage a huge budget and a savvy paid advertising plan to make a splash, but not all of us can do that when we start out, nor is it essential. In fact, you can actually sell books without spending any money using influencer marketing—the process of leveraging tr...
Feb 18, 2022•37 min•Ep. 341
The business of writing articles and short stories for magazines is among the questions answered on our #AskALLi Members Q&A hosted by Michael La Ronn, author of science fiction and fantasy novels as well as author self-help books; and ALLi Director, author, and poet Orna Ross. Other questions include: If I submit an article/short story to a magazine, who owns the copyright? When assigning an ISBN, is a cover required Do I need a writing coach? Does ALLi help authors with taking down pirated...
Feb 11, 2022•46 min•Ep. 340
My guest this episode is Rachel McLean, winner of the 2021 Kindle Storyteller Award who enjoys writing crime thrillers that also make you think. The key to Rachel's success, she says, is to strike a balance between what you enjoy writing and what you know readers will buy. I'll let Rachel explain in her own words. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, a global, independent ebook and audiobook publishing platform that empowers authors with a quick and ea...
Feb 06, 2022•16 min•Ep. 339
In today's Advanced Self-Publishing podcast, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss the changing audiobook market. Audiobooks once again performed well in 2021 in the United States, UK, and Europe, with double-digit growth for the seventh year running. The opportunities of audio continue to expand with more distributors and improved discoverability so more listeners can find our work. But the rise of subscription models is impacting the profitability of audio, so how do indie authors use the services...
Feb 04, 2022•48 min•Ep. 338
Why are books disappearing from Amazon? Also, paper price hikes hit the publishing industry. These are among the topics discussed on Self-Publishing News with Alli News Editor Dan Holloway and book editor Howard Lovy. Together, they will bring you the latest in indie publishing news. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center : https://selfpublishingadvice.org , with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the...
Jan 28, 2022•14 min•Ep. 337
My guest this episode is Barry Nugent, who has been self-publishing and podcasting since the early 2000s, well before many people caught on to these trends. Barry is a mild mannered IT guy by day, but spends his early mornings writing action/adventure stories and making them widely available in many formats. His advice to other authors in an era of many choices: listen to your own inner voice. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, a global, independent ...
Jan 23, 2022•13 min•Ep. 336
In this episode: How to build a publishing team. Self -publishing is a misnomer. A good book is always a team effort. As a beginner author, it can be tempting to either try to handle everything yourself or totally hand over control to a publishing service. Neither is most likely to bring you a successful publishing business. Today, ALLi Director Orna Ross and Production Manager Dan Parsons promote a best-practice approach that has brought success for countless ALLi members and other indie author...
Jan 21, 2022•37 min•Ep. 337
What is the best way to format a paperback? This is among the questions answered on our #AskALLi Members Q&A hosted by Michael La Ronn, author of science fiction and fantasy novels as well as author self-help books; and ALLi Director, author, and poet Orna Ross. Other questions include: Where can I find the show notes for the podcast? Does ALLi connect authors with agents? How can I minimize my tax liability as an author? Does ALLi recommend writing coaches? And more! Our Members Q&A Pod...
Jan 14, 2022•37 min•Ep. 335
My guest this episode is Peter Turnham, who has dyslexia, which means that he has difficulty reading and interpreting words. It seems like an unlikely condition for a writer. But Peter has spent his life proving that he can overcome any obstacle. Peter says the odds of him becoming a writer were about as great as climbing Mount Everest. But I'll let Peter tell the story of how and why he climbed to the peak, anyway. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by Kobo Writing Life,...
Jan 09, 2022•9 min•Ep. 334
To succeed as a working indie author, you must write and publish well, two complex skills which take years to learn. You must fulfill or exceed the expectations of your readers and followers, not just once, but again and again. And you must do all this at a profit, so that everyone—including you—gets properly paid. Having a good creative publishing plan makes all of this much easier. In this advanced podcast for indie authors Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss the importance of planning and Orna ...
Jan 07, 2022•47 min•Ep. 335
How do I grow my email list? This is among the questions answered on our #AskALLi Members Q&A hosted by Michael La Ronn, author of science fiction and fantasy novels as well as author self-help books; and ALLi Director, author, and poet Orna Ross. Other questions include: I acquired the rights to my book from my publisher, but they won't take my books down from sale. What do I do? If I upload my book to the British Library, does that violate Amazon's KDP Select Exclusivity clause? What langu...
Dec 10, 2021•52 min•Ep. 333
Dan Holloway reports from the Futurebook conference, and the future belongs to audio. Also, Spotify buys Findaway in a potential audiobook game-changer. These are among the topics discussed on Self-Publishing News with Alli News Editor Dan Holloway and book editor Howard Lovy. Together, they will bring you the latest in indie publishing news. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center : https://selfpublishingadvice.org , with a huge archive of nearly 2,00...
Nov 26, 2021•21 min•Ep. 332
My guest this episode is Denise Baden, who sponsors climate fiction contests, but is continuously in search of green stories of a different color, an optimistic one rather than the usual dystopian visions of the future. Denise has a background in psychology, and she's convinced that if you show readers an optimistic scenario, they're more likely to work to make it come true. Those optimistic books are so rare, in fact, that she decided to write one herself. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author inte...
Nov 21, 2021•15 min•Ep. 331
In this episode: lean publishing for beginner authors. If you’re an author who writes for pleasure, you can write for yourself but if you’re an indie author, you're also a publisher, and so your book(s) must also please readers. Lean publishing is one way of achieving that, using social media or other methods to publish a book-in-progress and, based on reader feedback and digital metrics, improve its chances of success as you write. Join ALLi Director Orna Ross and Production Manager Dan Parsons...
Nov 19, 2021•35 min•Ep. 330
Do I have to blog to be successful at writing? This is among the questions answered on our #AskALLi Members Q&A hosted by Michael La Ronn, author of science fiction and fantasy novels as well as author self-help books; and ALLi Director, author, and poet Orna Ross. Other questions include: Should I traditionally publish my book? Should I hire someone to manage my social media? I've been approached by a legitimate traditional publisher! What do I do? And more! Our Members Q&A Podcast is b...
Nov 12, 2021•43 min•Ep. 329
My guest this episode is M. K. Williams, an indie author who got some rather dispiriting advice from a fellow author early in her career. She was told that she shouldn't bother. What could she possibly have to say? Turns out, she not only had a lot to say as an author but also as a coach for other indie authors. Today, she has different advice for anybody who wants to become a self-published author. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, a global, indepe...
Nov 07, 2021•15 min•Ep. 328
So far, 2021 has seen an acceleration in emerging technologies for authors, including NFTs on blockchain and voice technologies for audio. In this month's #AskALLi Advanced Self-Publishing Salon, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn explain what these technologies mean for authors and the publishing industry and dispel some of the misinformation, fear, and doubt in the community. The #AskALLi Advanced Self-Publishing Salon is sponsored by IngramSpark: "Go Publish Yourself!" Find more author advice, tips, a...
Nov 05, 2021•46 min•Ep. 327
With the rise in streaming services, many authors have visions of their stories tapping in to the books-to-big-screen pipeline. So far, Wattpad has come through on this promise to take stories from young writers and sell them to services such as Netflix. Now, there's another company, called Inkitt, and they just got a new round of investment to make that happen. Also, Amazon opens up new 4-Star brick-and-mortar stores and an ALLi author wins the Kindle Storyteller Award. These are among the topi...
Oct 29, 2021•17 min•Ep. 326
My guest this episode is Haelee Moone, a fourteen-year-old author who survived an early childhood that was filled with bullying and abuse. Part of the way she healed herself was to write her book about how to love yourself. Now, she wants to give back by helping other kids who have been abused. I recently spoke to Haelee and her father, Dedrick, who told their amazing story. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, a global, independent ebook and audiobook...
Oct 24, 2021•14 min•Ep. 325
Mastering the writing craft is a foundational skill for indie authors and, if you want to earn your living as an author and publisher of books, you have to master not just quality but productivity. In this Foundational Self-Publishing Advice Podcast, Orna Ross and Dan Parsons set up the basics that ensure your production process supports your writing craft. This podcast is brought to you by specialist sponsor Dartfrog Books . ALLi Partner Member DartFrog Books provides indie authors with opportu...
Oct 22, 2021•44 min•Ep. 324
What's the best way to include photos in a book? This is among the questions answered on our #AskALLi Members Q&A hosted by Michael La Ronn, author of science fiction and fantasy novels as well as author self-help books; and ALLi Director, author, and poet Orna Ross. Other questions include: Do I need to get permission to quote work from a deceased celebrity? How do I get my book into bookstores? How can I be a lean marketer? How can I maximize my income with the Amazon Associates program? A...
Oct 15, 2021•45 min•Ep. 323
My guest this episode is Nicholas Nawroth, who took his interest in art and dogs to create a series of children's books featuring the adventures of dog characters based on real canines he has known. What gives Nick the most joy is the thought that his books are creating special moments for children, when they settle down to a story with an adult. I'll let Nick tell his story. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, a global, independent ebook and audioboo...
Oct 10, 2021•15 min•Ep. 322
“Comparison-itis” is really just comparing yourself to other people in an unfavorable way. It is, of course, permissible, even desirable, to compare yourself to other people and to have role models. But “comparison-itis” is where you look around and think other people have it easier or are doing better, getting more accolades, or selling more, or writing better. You’re comparing yourself to others in such a way that it's either stopping you completely in your tracks, or it's making you not feel ...
Oct 08, 2021•41 min•Ep. 321
There is a worldwide paper shortage just in time for the holiday book-buying season. How are indies coping? Also, artificial intelligence has come to audiobook narration, and what the brief OnlyFans adult-content ban means for indie authors. These are among the topics discussed on Self-Publishing News with Alli News Editor Dan Holloway and book editor Howard Lovy. Together, they will bring you the latest in indie publishing news. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our Self-publishing Aut...
Oct 01, 2021•20 min•Ep. 320
My guest this episode is Mary Louisa Locke, who was first inspired to write back in 1979, when her academic research showed her the stories of some incredible 19th-century women. But it wasn't until after Mary Lou retired and began her new career as an indie author that she gave these women new life in historical fiction. Mary Lou's story is one of patience, perseverance, and a vision of the past as well as the future. ALLi's Inspirational Indie Author interviews are sponsored by Kobo Writing Li...
Sep 26, 2021•15 min•Ep. 319
Book pre-orders are not a new idea, but the rise of self-publishing and ebooks have changed the way they work. Seeing new opportunities, indies have built avid readerships, improved their read-through and even found new ways to hit coveted bestseller slots by using pre-orders. You may be panicked by the idea of a looming deadline or intimidated by the logistics of setting a book launch months in the future, but using pre-orders could give you an edge as a self-publishing author. In today’s #AskA...
Sep 24, 2021•31 min•Ep. 318
How can I set my first book up for success? This is among the questions answered on our #AskALLi Members Q&A hosted by Michael La Ronn, author of science fiction and fantasy novels as well as author self-help books; and ALLi Director, author, and poet Orna Ross. Other questions include: Do I need to purchase barcodes for my paperback book? Offset printing vs. print on demand? Which is better? Is there any way to create a spine for a short book (32 pages)? Would ALLi ever consider doing a loo...
Sep 17, 2021•39 min•Ep. 317
