Askalli: Self-publishing Advice Podcast

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly beginners' self-publishing salon with advice, tips, and tools for indie authors just starting out. Topics discussed this week include: What are the differences between a hobbyist and business mindset? Being a "content provider" for somebody else vs. actually being in business. Writing for yourself vs. writing to make a living. What is the focus of ALLi members? Writing for a market vs. writing for your passion. And more! 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 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. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Inde

This month's Advanced Self-Publishing Salon from the Alliance of Independent Authors features some of the best discussions of the year between Orna Ross and Joanna Penn. Enjoy this compilation of three of their best shows. The AskALLi podcasts are sponsored by Damonza: Books Made Awesome. Topics discussed include: Are We Moving Toward Self-Publishing 3.0? Orna outlines Self-Publishing 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. Going through giant "siren servers" like Amazon prevents authors from thinking more creatively about how to reach readers. Blockchain and other 3.0 technology will make it easier to reach readers directly, but we need to start thinking about it now. How to Refocus Your Author Business Ask yourself what you want to be known as. What do you want them to say about you at your funeral? What are the tasks you should outsource? If you build your assets over time, success is inevitable. Building Your Team of Professionals When is an author ready to build a team of professionals? What are the different kinds of p

This session will detail how a successful author-editor relationship works, no matter which type of editor your project needs. It considers the various types of editors and determines which type of editing your project need, as well as outlining what you should budget for editorial needs, manuscript preparation tips for a smooth project experience, and tips for a positive and constructive author-editor relationship. At the end of this session, you will have an editorial plan, complete with action steps that will enable you to find the perfect editor for you book and understand how authors work with editors. This podcast is part of Self-Publishing Advice Conference, an online author conference that showcases the best self-publishing advice and education for authors across the world — harnessing the global reach of the Alliance of Independent Authors’ network. Our self-publishing conference, which runs fringe to Digital Book World, features well-known indie authors and advisors, for 24 sessions over 24-hours, i

I first launched my IndieVoices podcast in March 2017 as a way of helping to amplify voices that had been marginalized—politically, artistically, socially, and in many other ways that have tragically divided us recently. I truly believe that everybody with a story to tell should be given the opportunity to tell it and be heard. Indie publishing, of course, has provided this opportunity for these voices to come in out of the wilderness. So, during the past couple of years, I have focused on interviewing publishers and authors who might have some uncomfortable things to say, but whose voices need to be heard. Criminal justice reform, autism, sex-abuse victims, aging, LGBTQ issues, are just a few of the themes I've featured since I launched the podcast. In 2019, I'll continue to amplify the voices of indie authors. They should be heard as the world dives into an unknown future. I'm using this final episode of the year to review what's been accomplished in 2018 and look ahead to 2019. Helping me do this is, of co

Welcome to AskALLi, the Self-Publishing Advice Podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it’s our monthly Member Q&A where ALLi Members’ have their most pressing self-publishing questions analyzed and answered. Join your regular hosts for the Member Q&A: Michael La Ronn and Dan Blank. The AskALLi podcasts are sponsored by Damonza: Books Made Awesome. Questions this month include If I switch from an author to a publisher, do I need to re-upload my books to Amazon? If I publish a book on KDP Print AND IngramSpark, do I need separate ISBNs? What practical steps do published British authors take do to adapt their book covers for the United States? What free software do you recommend for formatting IngramSpark-ready PDFs? How can I clear a pen name for use? How can I clear a publishing company name for use? And more! 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

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly beginners' self-publishing salon with advice, tips, and tools for indie authors just starting out. Topics discussed this week include: When should authors start marketing their book Why it’s essential to be good at marketing Online and offline channels to marketing Social media groups and online communities Events and conferences Content marketing Personal branding for authors  And more! 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 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. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Jyotsna Ramachandran is the founder of Happy Self Publishing and author o

In this month's Advanced Self-Publishing Salon from the Alliance of Independent Authors, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss how to position yourself for success in the next year. Catch up on the latest self-publishing news for author entrepreneurs, including search on voice devices and the importance of a good pitch.  The AskALLi podcasts are sponsored by Damonza: Books Made Awesome. Topics discussed this week include: Orna and Joanna update us on their writing projects; An update on ALLi's activities and campaigns, including Self-Publishing 3.0 and making the self-publishing economy more visible; New opportunities in virtual and augmented reality. What exactly is happening at Amazon? The need for business training of self-published authors. Focus on independence; build up your audience on other platforms. Have your own website and make it a functioning e-commerce site, where you can sell directly. What does "positioning yourself in your market" mean? And more! Find more author advice, tips and tools at our

Welcome to AskALLi, the Self-Publishing Advice Podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it’s our monthly Member Q&A where ALLi Members’ have their most pressing self-publishing questions analyzed and answered. Join your regular hosts for the Member Q&A: Michael La Ronn and Dan Blank. Questions this month include Should I republish a longer book into smaller books? Where can I learn to setup a Facebook page, YouTube channel, blog, etc? What do I do if the KDP dashboard isn't working as it should? Where can I find native speakers of another language to review translations of my book? Should I write my novel in the present tense or past tense? Should I be using social media, a blog, or both? And what/when should I be posting? 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 topic you need. And, if you haven’t already, we

In this month's Advanced Self-Publishing Salon from the Alliance of Independent Authors, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss five tips for growing your author business. Plus, lessons learned at Novelists INC and Digital Book World. The AskALLi podcasts are sponsored by Damonza: Books Made Awesome. Topics discussed this week include: Orna updates us on what ALLi is up to, and on her poetry publishing. Joanna updates us on her print and hardback books. Joanna just got her very first advance as an indie author—for Korean rights. Embrace Self-Publishing 3.0. How to make the most of what you have. Embrace the rise of audio. Embrace publishing wide; do not rely on any one outlet. Market in a way that you love, and don't feel guilty about it. Keep as many rights as possible and think long-term. And more! Find more author advice, tips and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally.

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly beginners' self-publishing salon with advice, tips, and tools for indie authors just starting out. Topics discussed this week include: Jyotsna co-authored a book with 23 other authors called Write and Grow Rich, which is now a best-seller. What is the right price for an ebook? $9.99? $2.99? $0.99? Free? How much will KDP and Kobo pay in royalties and for which price points? What does "permafree" mean and why do authors do it? How do countdown deals work in Amazon KDP Select? What is the price for paperback bookstore distribution? And more! 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 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 

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice broadcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly IndieVoices' self-publishing salon with interviews conducted by ALLi Managing Editor Howard Lovy and updates from News Editor Dan Holloway. This Month's IndieVoices Back in 2009, Angelique L'Amour received news that she had cancer. But her first thought was not for herself. It was for her family, particularly her children. How was she going to hold things together for her kids while she went through the ordeal of chemotherapy? Cancer and parenthood are both all-encompassing. Can the two coexist? Well, Angelique literally wrote the book on how it's done. She published Chemo, Cupcakes and Carpools: How to go Through Chemo With Your Marriage, Your Family and Your Sanity Intact. And, if you think the last name L'Amour sounds familiar to you, you're right. She's also the daughter of author Louis L'Amour. I ask Angelique how and why she kept up a "normal" family life in an abnormal situation

Welcome to AskALLi, the Self-Publishing Advice Podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it’s our monthly Member Q&A where ALLi Members’ have their most pressing self-publishing questions analyzed and answered. Join your regular hosts for the Member Q&A: Michael La Ronn and Dan Blank. Questions this month include Are book teasers a good marketing tool? Could ALLI recommend a reputable producer of book trailers?  How can I better publicise my self-published book The Trivial Tragedy of Hilda the Vegetarian Vampire Bat?  How do I find podcasters / bloggers / reviewers to whom to pitch a book for interviews / coverages / reviews? Is Santa Claus copyrighted? How do I copyright a book? Should I create an LLC or PLC to protect myself and my family? Where can I find a good cover designer?  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 i

Welcome to AskALLi, the self-publishing advice podcast from the Alliance of Independent Authors. This week it's our monthly beginners' self-publishing salon with advice, tips, and tools for indie authors just starting out. Topics discussed this week include: How important are categories for selling ebooks on Amazon? Are readers still looking at bestseller charts? How to pick the right categories. How does Amazon set up categories? What is the importance of keywords? What is the best software for choosing categories? And more! 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 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. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Jyotsna Ramachandran is the founder of Happy Self Publis

In this month's Advanced Self-Publishing Salon from the Alliance of Independent Authors, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss tips and tools for how to launch a book. The AskALLi podcasts are sponsored by Damonza: Books Made Awesome. Topics discussed this week include An update from Orna Ross on ALLi's activities. Joanna Penn updates us on her writing and editing process. Orna is working on her creativepreneur (creative entrepreneur) work. What's going on with EU copyright and what does it mean for indie authors? French/Israeli author wins award; French booksellers won't stock the book because Amazon published it. Orna is outraged. The importance of developmental editors: Get one! Challenge your assumptions about marketing. Don't keep doing what is not working. How much are readers willing to pay? Build profit into every transaction. And more! Find more author advice, tips and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven’t already, we invite you to join our or

How to Launch Your Book: Bump Up Sales with the Best Book Launch Ever Are you ready to have the best book launch ever? Shayla Raquel—editor, marketer, and publishing mentor—guides you through her one-of-a-kind plan to launch Amazon bestsellers for her indie authors. You'll learn how: to build a launch team to use social media as a lifeline to your readers to pitch to influencers and book bloggers to use your email list and preorder incentives to increase sales to plan an out-of-the-park online launch party to tell the world about your book without feeling salesy to stay on top of things after the launch and a few more marketing strategies! So are you ready to have the best book launch ever? This podcast is part of London Book Fair Self-Publishing Advice Conference (SPACon), an online author conference that showcases the best self-publishing advice and education for authors across the world — harnessing the global reach of the Alliance of Independent Authors’ network. Our self-publishing conference features w