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. The post AI and Indie Authors: Navigating Rights, Ethics, and Opportunities: A ..read more

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. The post Canva Gambles Customers Want Whizzy AI Tools More than Lower Prices: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway appeared first on The Self-Publishing Advice Center ..read more

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. The post From Childhood Bookworms to Indie Authors: Early R ..read more

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. The post 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 appeared first on The Self-Publishing Advice Center ..read more

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. The post Happy 10th Birthday to Kindle Unlimited: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway appeared first on The Self-Publishing Advice Center ..read more

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. The post Were Jobs Cut at Apple Books Because E-Books Aren’t Profitable Enough? The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway appeared first on The Self-Publishing Advice Center ..read more

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. The post Apple Books Cuts Jobs While Grammy Awards Prepare to Accept Entries That Use AI: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway appeared first on The Self-Publishing Advice Ce ..read more

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. The post Making Your Books Accessible and Ethical for Visually Im ..read more

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.” The post Bookshop.org to Buy Back Secondhand Books and Pay Authors: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway appeared first on The Self-Publishing Advice Center ..read more

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! The post Author Speaker Guide Published, Full-Cast Audiobook Released, New Literary M ..read more