Self-Publishing with ALLi

A look at why authors should stop mirroring peers and refocus on readers. A lesson from Amazon’s early years on ignoring market mood and tracking true progress. An exploration of mimetic desire and how communities can hijack your goals. Practical tools: a one-page North Star and a one-week information audit to separate signal from noise.

Muhammad Atique, author and lecturer with a PhD in digital government, explores how AI and algorithms reshape communication and culture. He discusses AI’s impact on writing, the erosion of face-to-face bonds, digital fasting as a remedy, and teaching critical thinking to counter overreliance on machines.

Coverage of Audible replacing its legacy royalty model and what authors must decide about audiobook distribution. A clear comparison between all-you-can-listen pools and a la carte royalties. New Academy rules now require human actors and writers for awards. Survey findings reveal rising industry worry about AI-generated books and their market impact.

Discussion of guided selling techniques to lead readers through choices without overwhelming them. Examination of choice overload research and how it applies to online book buying. Practical tactics for simplifying purchase paths, from curated retailer options to series and gift prompts. Tips for auditing websites, store pages, and links to reduce friction and nudge the next step.

Legal reviews for memoir and creative nonfiction get debated alongside when to add references during drafting. Ownership of ISBNs and risks of assigning them to a service are explored. Practical tips cover simple author websites, low-cost marketing tests like Goodreads giveaways, handling missed Amazon pre-order deadlines, and whether to revise or write new after a bestselling release.

BookCon makes a comeback in New York with a buzzing Indie Alley that drew readers and spotlighted indie talent. Discussion covers how reader-led discovery via word-of-mouth and BookTok helps indie romance and fantasy shine. An update on the Anthropic copyright settlement reveals 91% of eligible titles were claimed and outlines expected per-title payouts and publisher rights splits.

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Anna Featherstone speaks with bestselling business author Andrew Griffiths about the production and distribution choices behind his books. They discuss the trade-offs between traditional publishing and self-publishing, and how design and print decisions shape perception, pricing, and reach. The conversation also covers bulk sales, corporate partnerships, and strategic gifting as alternatives to retail, with a focus on long-term visibility and opportunity. 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 confidently. Gatekeeper Press — Where Authors Are Family. About the Host Anna Featherstone is ALLi's nonfiction adviser and an author advocate and mentor. A judge of The Australian Business Book Awards and Australian Society of Travel Writers awards, she's also the founder of Bold Authors and presents author marketing and self-publishing workshops for organizations, including Byron Writers Festival. Anna has authored books including how-to and memoirs and her book Look-It's Your Book! about writing, publishing, marketing, and leveraging nonfiction is on the Australian Society of Authors recommended reading list. When she's not being bookish, Anna's into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time. About the Guest Andrew Griffiths is Australia's leading small business author, speaker, and longtime advocate for using books strategically. He has published seventeen books, both traditionally and independently, in more than sixty-five countries and delivered more than one thousand presentations worldwide. His recent titles include Someone Has to Be the Most Expensive—Why Not Make It You and The Business of Being an Author. You can find Griffiths on his website.

My guest this episode is Biba Pearce, an award-winning author with more than fifty novels across crime, romance, and cozy mystery. She's built a six-figure career as an author and now mentors writers who want to build sustainable careers of their own. 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 is an author, developmental editor, and writing coach with a long career in journalism and publishing. He works with writers at many stages of their careers, with a focus on helping them develop their ideas and strengthen their work while preserving their unique voices. He lives in Northern Michigan. About the Guest Biba Pearce is an award-winning, internationally bestselling crime author known for her gripping, atmospheric thrillers. She writes across multiple genres and pen names, including gritty crime as Biba Pearce and romance as Gemma Ford. A hybrid author published by Joffe Books and Liquid Mind Media, as well as independently through her imprint Mortlake Press, she has built a global readership across more than fifty novels. She is also a mentor, publisher, and founding executive committee member of Sisters in Crime UK/EU Chapter. You can find her on her website, Substack, Instagram, and Facebook.

On this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Dan Holloway examines Draft2Digital's decision to introduce fees for the first time — a $20 account activation charge for new accounts and a $12 annual maintenance fee for low-activity accounts — and considers both the rationale and the concerns. He also reports on Bookshop.org's record $70 million in sales last year, a 55 percent increase, and explains why the two stories are closely connected. 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. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.

Allyson Longueira, award-winning writer, editor, and book designer who teaches publishing at Western Colorado University. She discusses typography, interior layout, and cover branding. She explains how design signals genre and how authors should brief designers with mood, tone, and comps. She also covers typography trends, AI limits, and when to hire a professional.