Askalli: Self-publishing Advice Podcast

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss whether authors who narrate their own audiobooks should file for copyright registration of the performance rights in addition to registering the text. Other questions include: What affordable alternatives exist to expensive PO boxes for UK authors who need a postal address for their newsletter Should authors delay book publication if they cannot obtain a Library of Congress control number during a government shutdown How can middle-grade authors market their books while complying with laws around children and content What should authors do when experiencing quality control problems with Ingram Spark orders Should authors enable or disable DRM on Amazon in light of new policies allowing readers to download epub files And more! Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find ke

In this episode of Self-Publishing News, Dan Holloway examines the Nebula Awards' abrupt reversal on AI eligibility rules, moving from disclosure to a blanket ban and sparking debate across the science fiction and fantasy community. He also looks at growing concerns over Amazon's "Ask This Book" feature, including a rare public response from Amazon and renewed questions about licensing, derivative use, and author consent in AI-powered reading tools. Show Notes SFWA Launches, Aborts LLM Tools Nebula Rule Change on Same Day Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if yo

In this Self-Publishing Advice Conference highlight, discover practical ways to reclaim time and focus for your writing in an age of constant distraction and AI-driven tools. Troy Lambert breaks down seven realistic strategies for using your tools more deliberately and managing your time more efficiently. The session offers grounded, actionable ideas to help writers protect their creative energy, reduce overwhelm, and make consistent progress on their work. This is a post from SelfPubCon (The Self-Publishing Advice Conference), an online author event run free twice yearly in association with the Alliance of Independent Authors. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org.

My guest this episode is Dale Rogers, an indie author, illustrator, and former assistant professor who retired after eighteen years in higher education to focus on his creative work. Based in Nashville, Dale blends poetry, visual storytelling, design, and spirituality in what he calls Poetry Comics, a genre he's developing as an indie publisher. We talk about his early creative life, his years as an educator, and what it means to start something new later in life. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Howard Lovy has been a journalist for 40 years and now amplifies the voices of independent author-publishers and works with authors as a developmental editor. Find Howard at howardlovy.com, LinkedIn, and X. About the Guest Dale Rogers is an independent author and artist whos

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway opens 2026 by looking at newly released public domain works, including titles by Agatha Christie, T. S. Eliot, and other major crime and literary writers, and what authors should watch for when reusing characters and stories. He also reports on the launch of the Copy Might Coalition, a new effort to support indie authors in AI-related copyright disputes and collective licensing, and examines a fresh legal challenge to the Anthropic settlement that raises questions about how the value of books is judged in AI training cases. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts a

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with publishing strategist and book designer Sam Pearce about the invisible design rules that shape a reader's experience. They explore how readability, typography, layout choices, and genre conventions can make—or break—a book. Learn about how to create professional, reader-friendly interiors that strengthen your brand and boost your success as an indie author. About the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Ey

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway closes out 2025 by examining Amazon's new "Ask This Book" AI feature for Kindle and the backlash over its always-on use with no author opt-out. He reflects on a year shaped by AI controversies, including the Anthropic class action, contrasts Amazon's approach with Spotify's push for greater transparency, and looks at wider industry shifts, from romance's continued dominance to the rise of Bookshop.org as a meaningful alternative for both print and e-book sales. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. An

In this episode of the ALLi Self-Publishing Advice Podcast, Anna Featherstone speaks with Phil Marshall, co-founder of Spoken, about the fast-changing world of audiobook production and how authors can now record audiobooks more affordably with AI assistance. They discuss using AI versions of an author's own voice, as well as creating multi-voice audiobooks. Spoken is a newer ALLi partner member whose platform is designed specifically for authors, offering natural-sounding narration through custom-generated voices and licensed voice clones from human narrators. The conversation explores practical ways authors can bring both new titles and backlist books to life in audio without prohibitive costs. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsor This podcast

My guest this episode is Joe Walters. He's the founder and editor-in-chief of Independent Book Review, a platform devoted entirely to indie and self-published books. He's spent years working in book marketing for small presses. He recently published The Truth About Book Reviews, a practical guide for indie authors on making sense of reviews and using them well. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Howard Lovy has been a journalist for 40 years and now amplifies the voices of independent author-publishers and works with authors as a developmental editor. Find Howard at howardlovy.com, LinkedIn, and X. About the Guest Joe Walters is the founder of Independent Book Review, a platform celebrating the best in indie books. He has worked on the marketing teams of indie presses

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway breaks down two major Amazon stories, including a controversial change to Kindle's DRM policy that will allow DRM-free books to be downloaded as EPUB and PDF files, raising fresh concerns about piracy. He also looks at Audible's new partnership with TikTok to surface trending BookTok titles inside the Audible app, and examines Australia's new ban on social media use for under-sixteens and what it could mean for book discovery, especially in YA and New Adult markets. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you nee

"Be more human," we are told, if we want to thrive as indie authors in the age of AI, continue to sell our books, and remain relevant to readers. But what does that mean in practical terms? In this session, based on ALLi's Reach More Readers guidebook, Orna Ross surveys how machine and human intelligences are becoming more integrated. She explores ways to strengthen and augment humanity in book marketing, offers tips on using AI assistance across three marketing models, and explains how to let go of what no longer serves your purpose as a writer and publisher while optimizing what does. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookfunnel. Do you have reader magnets, ARCs, and direct digital sales? Want to join multi-author promotions? Thousands of authors trust BookFunnel for seamless delivery and real human support. Visit BookFunnel.com. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key i

Join ALLi team members Orna Ross, Sacha Black, Matty Dalrymple, Michael La Ronn, Shanaya Wagh, and Dan Holloway for a replay of their SelfPubCon2025 roundtable, which offers practical guidance on today's self-publishing landscape. The session includes a brief introduction to ALLi and its member services, along with clear, actionable advice on new tools, trends, and strategies to help authors at any stage. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally.  

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reflects on the death of Porter Anderson, longtime editor in chief of Publishing Perspectives and a respected, sharp-witted voice in the book world whose influence reached far into both traditional and indie publishing. Dan shares tributes from colleagues and friends before turning to Spotify's year-end audiobook trends, where romantic and "spicy" fantasy continue to dominate and darker genres like dystopia and horror are showing new momentum. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't

How do indie creators reach global audiences while staying true to their values? In this second conversation, Anna Featherstone continues her chat with Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon about distribution, community, and marketing in the world of literary-inspired role-playing games. From Kickstarter to conventions and creative commons licensing, they share smart strategies for connecting stories with players worldwide. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Gatekeeper Press — your partner in premium independent publishing. Empowering authors with expert guidance, 100% rights, 100% royalties, and global distribution. From editing to marketing, their all-inclusive services help you publish professionally and confide

My guest this episode is Jonathan Posner, an indie author who writes historical action-adventure set in the Tudor period. After years of self-publishing, he used what he learned to build his own imprint, which has grown into a publishing company that guides new authors through the indie process. His goal is to give writers the support he wished he had when he started. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Howard Lovy has been a journalist for 40 years and now amplifies the voices of independent author-publishers and works with authors as a developmental editor. Find Howard at howardlovy.com, LinkedIn, and X. About the Guest After a thirty-five-year career in marketing and advertising, Jonathan Posner became a full-time writer and publisher based in Exeter, UK. He has writ

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway looks at a new study of American media habits that reveals strong daily audiobook listening—despite slowing growth driven by low uptake among readers over fifty. He also reports on OverDrive's trademark lawsuit against OpenAI over the name Sora, and shares findings from a research paper showing that poetic prompts can bypass AI guardrails far more effectively than standard requests. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a s

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with author and ghostwriter Jon McGoran about the craft and business of ghostwriting fiction. They discuss how Jon got started through an agency, the difference between fiction and nonfiction ghostwriting, the challenges of working in someone else's creative world, and how clear contracts and good collaboration can make ghostwriting a steady income stream for authors. About the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close Th

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple interviews Hannah Jacobson about how indie authors can find and make the most of book awards. Their conversation covers everything from spotting red flags and budgeting for entry fees to using nominations and wins to boost visibility, strengthen a book's metadata, and open doors to opportunities like BookBub Featured Deals. Jacobson, founder of Book Award Pro, also explains how awards can support authors at any stage of their publishing journey and offers practical tips on sharing award news without sounding self-promotional. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally.

On this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on concerns around companies using AI-generated staff profiles to sell high-priced author services, including Melbourne Book Publisher and related outfits in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. He also looks at Tulia's new author platform that builds customizable book pages from ISBN data, highlights a small-group social reading app, and notes a case from New Zealand where AI-assisted cover design led to books being disqualified from a major award. Sponsor Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by PublishMe—helping indie authors succeed globally with expert translation, tailored marketing, and publishing support. From first draft to international launch, PublishMe ensures your book reaches readers everywhere. Visit publishme.me. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Joe Solari sits down with ALLi Director Orna Ross for a candid debrief from Author Nation, where they talk about the energy of the conference, what it means for indie authors, and where the industry is headed. They cover everything from the value of in-person community to the rise of AI, new advertising opportunities, and the growing range of publishing paths available to authors. Orna reflects on meeting members face to face, the professionalism of the event, and what she sees as the key trends shaping author careers in the coming year. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Joe Solari assists authors in developing successful businesses as the managing partner of Author Ventures LLC. In his role as a business manager, he supports