Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)

TikTok’s 8th Note Press Faces Shutdown Amid Author Complaints: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway TikTok’s publishing venture, 8th Note Press, appears to be shutting down as authors report delays, lost income, and rights negotiations.

8th Note Press, TikTok’s publishing imprint, appears to be closing. Authors report delays and lost income, with rights negotiations underway. Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/8th-note-press/

From Manuscript to Mic — Preparing Your Book for Audiobook Production: Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Matty Dalrymple Matty Dalrymple and MaryCatherine Jones discuss how authors can prepare their books for audiobook production and connect with more listeners.

Matty Dalrymple and MaryCatherine Jones discuss audiobook production, highlighting how authors can prepare their manuscripts during editing and collaborate with narrators to reach more listeners. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-audiobook-production/

Romance Drives Fiction Boom and Audiobooks Surge: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway Romance helps drive a major rise in fiction sales, while audiobook downloads surge 31 percent, according to new industry figures.

Audiobook downloads are up 31 percent, and romance is behind a surge in fiction sales, according to the latest UK publishing data. Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/romance-drives-fiction-boom/

The Audiobook Boom: Growth, New Awards, and the Rise of AI Narration Audiobook boom brings rising listenership, new awards, and AI tools changing how books are made and heard.

Audiobook boom: More listeners, new awards like the Speakies, and AI narration tools are reshaping how books are produced and consumed. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/the-audiobook-boom/

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Tony Park Found His Voice in the African Bush—and Built a Global Indie Career Tune in to our Inspirational Indie Author interview with Tony Park, an Australian novelist who built a career writing African thrillers.

Howard Lovy talks with Australian author Tony Park on the Inspirational Indie Authors podcast. Park explains how living and writing in southern Africa shaped his long-running indie career. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-inspirational-indie-author-interview-tony-park/

Can Older Books Still Win Awards? Absolutely! Older books can still win awards, with many competitions welcoming submissions long after their original publication.

Hannah Jacobson explains why award opportunities don’t end after a book’s release year. Older titles often bring unique advantages to the submission process. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/older-books/

TikTok’s U.S. ban deadline is delayed by another ninety days. A UK publishing event will focus on AI, shadow libraries, and licensing concerns. Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/tiktok-ban-deadline/

Dan Holloway reports on the new Speakies audiobook awards, now open to indies, and Spotify's 30 percent audiobook listener growth on the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast.https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-speakies/

Spotify Reports Audiobook Growth; AI Search Summaries Cut Publisher Traffic: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway Spotify reports audiobook growth, while AI-generated search summaries are reducing traffic to publisher websites.

Spotify sees audiobook growth. AI summaries reduce publisher traffic. Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/spotify-reports-audiobook-growth/

When and How to Hire a Virtual Assistant: Self-Publishing Advice Conference Highlight Learn when and how to hire a virtual assistant to boost your productivity, reduce stress, and grow your author business.

At the Self-Publishing Advice Conference, VA Kayleigh Brindley offers practical advice on when and how authors should outsource key tasks. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-virtual-assistant/

New UK-Based Speakies Awards Offer Audiobook Alternative to the Audies: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway The new Speakies audiobook awards launch in the UK, offering indie-friendly categories alongside high entry costs.

The Speakies launch as a UK-based audiobook award open to indies, with high costs for shortlisted entries. Dan Holloway in Self-Publishing News. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/speakies/

Live Events: What Authors Gain by Showing Up Learn what authors gain from live events, with advice from Joe Solari, Dave Cohen, and real-world experiences from the ALLi community.

Live events remain vital for authors looking to grow their careers. The most valuable moments often happen in conversations between sessions. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/live-events/

Should You Try to Turn Your Book into a Film or TV Series? The Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A Podcast Featuring Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black Is it worth turning your book into a film or TV series? Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black explore what indie authors need to know.

Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black explore whether turning your book into a film or TV series is a realistic goal for indie authors in the new Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-film-or-tv-series/

Romantic Comedy Award, Interactive Middle Grade Bestseller, and More: ALLi Member Milestones June 2025 ALLi Member Milestones June 2025 include an award-winning romcom, a bestselling gamebook, and a guide to podcast guesting.

This month’s ALLi Member Milestones feature a romcom award, a bestselling middle grade gamebook, and a new guide to being a podcast guest—all from members of the global indie author community. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/alli-member-milestones-june-2025/

Unbound Struggles Continue, UK Rejects AI Transparency, and PWC Tracks Job Shifts: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway Unbound struggles continue amid missed payments, as the UK blocks AI transparency and PWC reports on job shifts.

Unbound struggles, UK rejects AI transparency, and PWC tracks job market shifts. Dan Holloway in Self-Publishing News. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/unbound-struggles/

Double-Digit Audiobook Growth Returns; Dark Genres Rise; Publishers Embrace Direct Sales: Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Dan Holloway Double-digit audiobook growth returns in the U.S.; Dan Holloway reports on dark genre trends and publishers turning to direct sales.

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway discusses double-digit audiobook growth, the rise of dark genre sales, and how publishers are following indie authors into direct sales. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-audiobook-growth/

US Book Show Highlights Big Books, AI, and the Value of Direct Sales: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway The US Book Show spotlighted trends in big books, artificial intelligence, and direct-to-reader sales, reflecting shifts in publishing.

US Book Show puts focus on big books, AI, and direct sales. Dan Holloway reports in Self-Publishing News. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/us-book-show/

The Truth About Book Promotions (and Why Authors Get It Wrong): Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Dale L. Roberts What drives effective book promotions? Dale L. Roberts and Emma Boyer explain why timing, branding, and strategy matter.

Dale L. Roberts and Emma Boyer of Written Word Media break down what makes book promotions succeed or fail on the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-book-promotions/

Dark Romance Leads Book Sales; Scientists Develop Tool to Detect Poisoned Covers: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway Dark romance continues to top US book sales in 2025, according to the latest Circana report tracking reader trends.

Dark romance leads U.S. book sales, according to Circana. Separately, University of St Andrews researchers have developed a method to identify arsenic-laced vintage book covers. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/dark-romance/

Going Local: Authors on the Payoffs and Pitfalls of Hometown Promotion Going local: authors share how hometown events and media boost visibility—and where the effort can fall short.

The new piece “Going Local” gathers writers’ stories of bookshop events, agricultural shows, and local media spots, mapping what works—and what doesn’t—in hometown promotion. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/going-local/

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Maria Iliffe-Wood — Leadership Coach, Author, and Publisher on Writing, Presence, and Trusting Your Inner Voice Tune in to our Inspirational Indie Author interview with Maria Iliffe-Wood, a coach, writer, and indie publisher who guides others.

Maria Iliffe-Wood talks with Howard Lovy on the Inspirational Indie Authors podcast about writing, coaching, and helping others navigate creative doubt and self-publishing. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-inspirational-indie-author-interview-maria-iliffe-wood/

Audiobook Sales Climb Back to Double-Digit Growth, Topping $2.22 Billion: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway Audiobook sales rose 13 percent in 2024, reaching $2.22 billion and marking a return to double-digit growth.

Audiobook sales are up 13 percent, reaching $2.22 billion in 2024. AI usage grows but interest dips slightly. Romance and children's books are among the fastest-growing genres. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/audiobook-sales/

AI Recreates Agatha Christie; Nearly Half of Authors Use AI; eBook Lending Debate Returns: Self-Publishing with ALLi featuring Dan Holloway AI brings Agatha Christie to life in a new writing course; Dan Holloway reports on author AI use and renewed eBook lending debates.

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway reports on AI bringing back Agatha Christie, author AI adoption, and fresh concerns over eBook lending access in schools. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-agatha-christie/

AI Acts as Librarian, Revives Agatha Christie, and Outsmarts Humans on Reddit: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway AI acts as librarian, brings Agatha Christie back as a writing coach, and outperforms humans in a Reddit debate experiment.

AI is helping users discover books, teaching writing as Agatha Christie, and winning debates on Reddit. The latest coverage from Dan Holloway in Self-Publishing News. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/ai-acts-as-librarian/

Books Without Barriers – Making Your Writing More Accessible: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast Featuring Anna Featherstone Learn how to create books without barriers in this episode with Anna Featherstone, featuring practical tips on accessible publishing.

Anna Featherstone hosts a conversation with the authors of Books Without Barriers on the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, focusing on how writers can make their books more accessible. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-books-without-barriers/

Comics Plus and Penguin Random House Clash Over E-Book Lending Models: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway Comics Plus and Penguin Random House clash over unlimited e-book lending, renewing debate on access, licensing, and creator compensation.

Comics Plus and Penguin Random House are clashing over unlimited e-book lending. The disagreement brings back industry concerns about how libraries serve readers and how creators are compensated. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/comics-plus/

How Authors Measure Success: Income, Fulfillment, and the Joy of Storytelling Indie authors measure success in ways that go beyond sales—through impact, growth, and personal satisfaction.

How do authors measure success? Some point to financial independence, others to personal growth, reader feedback, or creative satisfaction. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/measure-success/

Live Events Drive Author Success in a Changing Industry: Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Joe Solari Joe Solari discusses how live events help authors grow their businesses, build networks, and spot industry trends.

Joe Solari is featured on the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast discussing how live events help authors stay informed, connect with peers, and grow sustainable publishing careers. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-live-events/

A new BookBub survey analyzed by Dan Holloway finds indie authors are split on generative AI use. While over half use it for writing or editing, nearly half reject it due to ethical concerns. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/bookbub-survey/

AI Fakes Book List in Major Newspaper; Spotify Sees iOS Boost; Authors Push Back on Copyright: Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Dan Holloway AI fakes books in major newspaper; Spotify gains iOS subscribers; authors push for stronger AI copyright protections.

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dan Holloway discusses AI-invented books published in a major paper, Spotify’s iOS subscription gains, and authors pressing for stronger AI copyright safeguards. https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-ai-fakes-book-list/