Podcasts about self publishing

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In this episode, Matt & Lauren review how to publish your book in 7 steps! Check out these resources to help you with each one: 

Alexa is joined by five dynamic authors from different genres to talk all things book marketing—what worked, what didn't, and how the Book Launch in a Box program helped them succeed. Real advice, real results, and a whole lot of encouragement for authors at every stage.

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!This week, I'm joined by publicist Emily Florence, and we're talking about how to set publicity goals before you start chasing them, why a Today Show appearance might not sell nearly as many books as you think, and how to make your marketing feel less like shouting into the void and more like having conversations that matter.Here's what we get into:Why knowing your goals (career author? credibility? visibility?) makes all the differenceThe surprising truth about big media hits (and what works better)Building an author platform that doesn't rely on hacking the algorithm or pretending to be someone you're notHow to build a real-deal, supportive author community (no fake “collabs” required)

Welcome to another insightful episode of Wealth Talk, where we explore the strategies, tools, and mindset shifts that help you build lasting wealth. This week, host Christian Rodwell is joined by Karen Williams, book mentor and founder of Librotas, who helps coaches, consultants, and business owners turn their ideas into impactful books that elevate their authority and attract new opportunities.Key Topics & Takeaways:The Real Value of a Book:Why books rarely make you rich from sales alone, but can transform your business as part of your wider intellectual property and personal brand. Who Should Write a Book?Ideal candidates, including entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and CEOs seeking to boost their credibility and open new opportunities. Karen's Story:How publishing her first book changed her business, and why the process is both easier and more competitive today. Unexpected Opportunities:Real-life client stories—from global speaking gigs to film projects—that started with publishing a book. Practical Tips to Get Started:Why structure and planning are essential, overcoming “blank page syndrome,” and how to avoid overcomplicating the process. The ‘Smart Author' Process:Karen's step-by-step system for moving from idea to publication, including messaging, structure, writing, feedback, editing, and launch. Publishing Options Explained:A simple breakdown of self-publishing, hybrid, and traditional publishing—plus how to choose what's right for you. Marketing Your Book:Building your list as you write, leveraging social media and podcasts, and using your network for a successful launch. The Role of AI:How tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly can support the writing and editing process—without replacing your unique voice. Karen's Free Resource:Download Karen's “9 Pieces of Content Hiding in Your Business” to help you uncover valuable content you already have. Summer Writing Challenge:Details on Karen's upcoming writing challenge, including workshops, AI training, and group writing sessions to help you finally get your book done.Action Steps:Reflect: “How would you feel if you didn't write your book?” Karen's final advice is to consider the opportunity cost of waiting.Download Karen's free resource: Get the “9 Pieces of Content Hiding in Your Business” —plus full details about the upcoming Summer Writing Challenge once they are availableLinks & ResourcesKaren Williams "9 Pieces of Content Hiding in Your Business" - Download hereKaren Williams LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karenwilliamslibrotasKaren Williams Facebook: facebook.com/librotasKaren Williams Instagram: instagram.com/karenwilliamslibrotasKaren Williams X(formerly Twitter): x.com/librotasConnect with WealthBuildersListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms.For more inspiring stories and actionable tips, subscribe to Wealth Talk and leave us a review!Next Steps On Your WealthBuilding Journey: Join the WealthBuilders Facebook CommunitySchedule a 1:1 call with one of our teamBecome a member of WealthBuildersIf you have been enjoying listening to WealthTalk - Please Leave Us A Review!If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review WealthTalk on your favourite podcast platform. 

Is your book marketing strategy helping you grow—or wasting your budget? In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Dale L. Roberts talks with Emma Boyer, VP of Digital Operations at Written Word Media, about what truly drives successful book promotions. They explore why branding matters, how genre impacts performance, and why waiting to market your book might be the biggest mistake you make. Emma shares actionable strategies around email list building, pricing expectations, and leveraging promotions to boost visibility and connect with readers—whether you have one book or a full backlist. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Host Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale's inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 50 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale. Selected by Feedspot and LA Weekly as one of the best sources in self-publishing of 2022, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. You can find Dale on his website or YouTube. About the Guest Emma Boyer is the Vice President of Digital Operations at Written Word Media, where she is responsible for overseeing the company's digital initiatives and operations. Prior to her current role, she served as the Director of Digital Operations at the same organization. Boyer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1713: Brandon Clements outlines a clear, encouraging path for aspiring authors to self-publish successfully. He emphasizes audience-building, professional quality, and smart marketing to ensure that writers not only finish their books but also connect meaningfully with readers. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://goinswriter.com/self-publishing/ Quotes to ponder: "Self-publishing is a misnomer. You might do a lot of things yourself, but you won't do everything." "Before you even think about publishing a book, you should start building an audience." "Publishing your book is only the beginning. Marketing and selling it is a whole other journey." Episode references: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From brainstorming to hitting the shelves, find out what it takes to publish a rock and roll book. Learn the ins and outs from music book publishing insiders Steve Roth and Dennis Pernu of Motorbooks.Go to the Quarto Books website for the latest and upcoming releases from MotorbooksListen to Steven Roth's Podcasts The DLRCast and Another Cool Rock Podcast---------- BookedOnRock.com The Booked On Rock Store The Booked On Rock YouTube Channel Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:BLUESKYFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMTIKTOKX Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

What does it take to go from U.S. Marine to bestselling author? In this episode, we sit down with G. Michael Hopf—acclaimed writer of dystopian thrillers, military fiction, and Westerns—to discuss his incredible journey from self-published breakout success to a major publishing deal, and how he's now helping other authors do the same.With over 40 books to his name, Hopf's stories dive deep into the human spirit under pressure, shaped by his own experiences in the military and entrepreneurial world. But his success didn't come overnight—it took grit, discipline, and a willingness to bet on himself.We'll explore:

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports on a BBC Maestro course using AI to recreate Agatha Christie, a Nordic platform's AI book-recommendation chatbot, and a BookBub survey showing nearly half of authors now use AI. He also covers renewed tension over library eBook lending after Penguin Random House pulled comics from a school platform. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. 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. 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.

Start your book the right way with a brand strategy blueprint. In this episode of the Wait What Really OK, Brand Communications and Optics Podcast, I break down what it means to plan your book with purpose and clarity. Many people rush to write a book for the wrong reasons. Some want to look like an authority. Some use AI or quick prompts to get it done fast. But if you want your story to stand out and build real credibility, you need a strong foundation.I share some practical steps for authors and professionals who value transparency, authority, and longterm stability. I talk about the risks of shortcuts, self-publishing scams, and the truth behind the “Amazon bestseller” label. I explain why building a brand strategy blueprint for your book matters as much as the writing itself. This episode covers publishing options, the importance of chapter titles, and how to protect your intellectual property from the start.You'll hear how to use your book to support speaking, consulting, and other services. I walk through my own experiences with self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and working with major publishers. I show how planning your book's brand strategy blueprint early can help you reach your audience, build trust, and set yourself apart in a crowded market.If you want to make your book part of a bigger message, this episode may be for you. I focus on actionable insights for professionals and businesses who care about honorable business practices. I talk about outlining, titling, and marketing your book before it's even finished. I also touch on the value of your own quotes, building your online presence, and protecting your work with smart contracts and legal reviews. #brandstrategy #bookpublishing #authenticity #businessgrowth #authorbranding #publishingtips #professionalbranding #longtermstrategy #brandcommunications #bookmarketing

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!Bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz has published nearly 80 books (yes, 80), and in this episode, she shares what it really takes to build and sustain a long-term writing career. From surviving the shifting tides of publishing to protecting what gets you "in the mood" to write, she shares the kind of wisdom every author loves hearing. INSIDE THE EPISODE:• Melissa's advice: Don't quit your day job until the math says you can• Success is wonderful; it also resets with every new book• How to protect your creative hours (8am–1pm, in her case)• Books are logic puzzles, not lightning strikes (I love this analogy!)• If social media isn't fun, don't do it. Period. (Who's cheering?)• The final sprint before deadline is where the magic (and panic) often happenWhether you're writing book 1 or book 71, this episode's packed with truths you'll be grateful for.

Host Anna Featherstone speaks with Julie Ganner and Dr. Agata Mrva-Montoya, co-authors of Books Without Barriers: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Publishing. They discuss how authors can make their books accessible from the start—by addressing formatting, fonts, image descriptions, and digital navigation. In this episode, you'll learn: What print disability means How to reach readers across formats Simple production changes that improve access Accessibility tips for children's books How semantic tagging and font choices support more readers 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. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. 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 Guests Dr. Agata Mrva-Montoya is a senior lecturer and degree director of the Master of Publishing program in the Discipline of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney. Her research explores how technological innovation and power dynamics shape the publishing industry, with a particular focus on equitable access to literature and knowledge. She is president of the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disability and co-editor of Publishing Research Quarterly. Her background includes leading the implementation of accessible publishing practices at Sydney University Press. She is co-author of Books Without Barriers: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Publishing (2023), and her forthcoming book, Inclusive Publishing and the Quest for Reading Equity, will be published in August by Cambridge University Press. Julie Ganner, AE, is an accredited freelance editor and a lecturer in editing for the University of Sydney's Master of Publishing program. She represented the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) at the Australian Inclusive Publishing Initiative (AIPI), a cross-industry forum on print accessibility, and is a former chair of IPEd's Accessibility Initiative Working Party. She is the 2025 winner of the Janet Mackenzie Medal, IPEd's highest honor, awarded in recognition of her service to the editing profession. Julie is co-author of Books Without Barriers: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Publishing (IPEd and Australian Publishers Association, 2023) and Inclusive Publishing in Australia: An Introductory Guide (AIPI, 2019). Both guides are available as free downloads in multiple formats.

Toronto founder of Foglio Print & self-publisher of numerous books Michael Pietrobon talks about how he founded the company and offers various book publishing services while empowering authors allowing them to retain full ownership rights and more! Michael began his career reading books at a bookstore in mid 2000's reading every available genre, earned his degree in English & Professional Writing at York University with specialty in Book Publishing, started a literary journal and edited university research journals while learning book design and publishing, plus offer tips and advice and more! Check out the amazing Michael Pietrobon and what they can do for you at www.foglioprint.com today! #podmatch #michaelpietrobon #toronto #selfpublishing #foglioprint #bookpublishing #authors #fullownership #bookstore #english #professionalwriting #yorkuniversity #universityresearch #spreaker #iheartradio #spotify #applemusic #youtube #anchorfm #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnermichaelpietrobon #themikewagnershowmichaelpietrobon  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mike-wagner-show--3140147/support.

Big changes are coming fast for indie authors. KDP is slashing royalties for print books under $9.99 starting next week. Meanwhile, Publisher Rocket is ending its lifetime license—soon, it'll be monthly only. Plus, Spotify for Authors is moving features over from Findaway Voices and confirming promo code honors. Here's what you need to know. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: How to Get Amazon Book Reviews Without Breaking the Rules - https://bookawardpro.com/blog/how-to-get-amazon-book-reviews-without-breaking-the-rules/ Publisher Rocket SALE - https://rocket.thrivecart.com/special-publisher-rocket/?affiliate=selfpubwithdale (affiliate link) KDP: Print Royalty Rate and Paperback Printing Cost Changes FAQ - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GXFPA52P6ZJD2U3N?ref_=pe_93986420_1235824880 Spotify for Authors - https://authors.spotify.com/ Apple Books accepts accessibility metadata tags - https://itunespartner.apple.com/books/support/12-metadata Written Word Media presents: The YouTube Author Blueprint: From Zero to Growing Reader Community - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/speaker-series/ ARC: YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/ARCTeam  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

Imagine this: one single book that acts like a 24/7 lead magnet, builds trust with your audience before they even meet you, and quietly funnels dream clients and customers into your world… all while you're off living your life. Yep, that's the magic of what we're talking about today: how a book isn't just a passion project, it can be your smartest business asset. Learn How To Launch Your Book to Bestseller Status in 3 Easy Steps at http://www.selfpublishing.com/jenna!  Chandler Bolt is the CEO of SelfPublishing.com, a 7x best-selling author, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and a straight-up wizard when it comes to helping people write and launch books that actually make an impact AND an income. If you're brand new to the idea of writing a book and want to start from square one, be sure to check out our past episodes together: Episode 645 and Episode 759! Today, we're diving into the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make with book funnels, how to use your book to grow your email list (without spending all day on Instagram), and why publishing could be the most leveraged move you make this year! So if you've got a message to share and a business to grow, grab your favorite pen (because yes, this one's a note-taker), and get ready to map out your book funnel blueprint. And if this conversation gets your wheels turning (trust me, it will): be sure to sign up for Chandler's free class at http://www.selfpublishing.com/jenna! Goal Digger Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goaldiggerpodcast/ Goal Digger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goaldiggerpodcast/ Goal Digger Show Notes: https://www.jennakutcherblog.com/selfpublish3  Thanks to our Goal Digger Sponsors: Get $25 off your first purchase at http://therealreal.com/goaldigger. Sign up for your $1/month Shopify trial period at http://shopify.com/goaldigger.  Find a co-host today at http://airbnb.com/host.  Move deals faster with an AI powered CRM your team will actually use. Visit https://monday.com/crm to learn more. Deposit or spend $5,000 in 90 days to earn up to $500 in rewards at ⁠mercury.com/goal⁠. Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC. The IO Card is issued by Patriot Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard. Working capital loans provided by Mercury Lending, LLC NMLS ID: 2606284.

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:The current landscape of self-publishing, and how has it evolved over the last few years.Some of the biggest advantages authors gain by choosing to self-publish rather than going the traditional route.What kind of costs should a first-time author expect when self-publishing a professional-quality book.Some common mistakes or pitfalls that new self-publishing authors should look out for; things that could sabotage their efforts or waste money.How important professional editing and design in the self-publishing world, and what should authors budget or look for when hiring those services.How much of the promotion rests on the author's shoulders, and what strategies actually move the needle.Artificial Intelligence's role in publishing; the good and the bad.To learn more about this guest:mjmillerbooks@gmail.comhttps://www.authormjmiller.com 

In this week's episode, we take a look at the major self-publishing platforms that I use, and examine the pros and cons of each. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Doom of the Sorceress, Book #8 in the Dragonskull series, (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store: DOOM50 The coupon code is valid through June 24, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates   Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 253 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is May 30th, 2025, and today we are looking at the current major self-publishing platforms and what they offer indie authors. Before we get to our main topic, we'll have Coupon of the Week and an update on my current writing projects.   So let's start with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Doom of the Sorceress (book number eight in the Dragonskull series, as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store. That code is DOOM50. And as always, we will have the coupon code and the links to the store in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through June 24th, 2025. So if you are setting out on summer travels this summer and you need an audiobook to listen to while you're in the car or plane, we have got you covered. So now for an update on my current writing and audiobook projects. Ghost in the Corruption (as I mentioned last week) is now out and available at all the ebook stores: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Smashwords, and Payhip. It is selling well. So thank you all for that. Now that Ghost in the Corruption is finished, what am I working on next? Well, back in 2023, I finished the Dragonskull and The Silent Order series back to back, so I declared Summer 2023 to be my Summer of Finishing Things. Well, it looks like Summer 2025 is going to be the Super Summer of Finishing Things because I intend to finish three series back to back.   First up is Shield of Power, the sixth and final book of The Shield War series. As of this publishing, I am 26,000 words into it, which puts me on Chapter 6 of 29. So I think it's going to end up being around 100,000-110,000 words long, and I am hoping it will be out in June, though it might slip to July depending on how things go. Once that is done, the next one up will be Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest, which will be the third and very definitely final book of the Stealth and Spells Online trilogy. Believe it or not, I have been working on Final Quest on the side for so long that I passed the 100,000 word mark in that book this week. In fact, it's been a side project for so long that I don't remember how long I've been working on it, and I had to look up the metadata to check that I indeed started chipping away on it on October 18th, 2024. So I am very pleased that I'm nearly done with the rough draft and because of that reason, if all goes well, it'll come out very quickly after Shield of Power, since I think the rough draft will end up at about 125,000 to 130,000 words or in that neighborhood. Once Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest is finished, I will then write Ghost in the Siege, which will be the sixth and final book of the Ghost Armor series. I am 1,500 words into that and hoping for that to come out in August or September, if all goes well. Once The Shield War, Stealth and Spells Online, and Ghost Armor are finished, I will finally be free to return to the Rivah and Nadia series. I realized that through all of 2024 and the first half of 2025, I had five unfinished series at the same time, and that was just too much for me to keep track of as a writer, and I think it may have been too much for the readers because it was too much of a wait between the different series as I worked my way through them. So five series at the same time is too much, so hence the Super Summer of Finishing Things. Going forward, I've decided that three unfinished series at the same time will be my maximum, which after the Super Summer of Finishing Things will be Cloak Mage, Half-Elven Thief, and a new epic fantasy series that I will set in the realm of Owyllain.   In audiobook news, Brad Wills started working on Shield of Battle this week and Hollis McCarthy started working on Ghost in the Corruption, so hopefully before probably about July or thereabouts, we will have those audiobooks available for you to listen to. So that is where I'm at with my current writing projects.   00:03:49 Main Topic of the Week: Self-Publishing Platforms for Ebooks [Note: Information in this Episode is Very Likely to Change]   So now let's move on to our main topic for the week, which is the main self-publishing platforms for ebooks. Today we will do a brief overview of the self-publishing platforms I currently use: Amazon/KDP, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and Draft2Digital/Smashwords. The reason I wanted to do this is because there are many scammy platforms for self-publishing out there, but fortunately there are also many legitimate ones. Today we'll compare several of the most popular ones for ebooks. Just to make things easier for comparison, we'll be using the term platform to discuss both retailers and aggregators and we're not going to talk about options for self-publishing print or audio formats today. We're going to focus solely on ebooks.   First of all, what should you look for in a publishing platform? The first thing is to make sure you retain complete ownership of your content in all formats. Some of these scammer ones try to claim all rights to anything you try to post or sell through them, so that is definitely a red flag to watch out for. Make sure that you understand any exclusivity requirements of any programs that you sign up for such as KDP Select, such as if other formats like audio are also included in their requirements, how long exclusivity lasts, et cetera. If the platform requires exclusivity, that is definitely something to pay attention to. Make sure you do your research carefully to understand how pricing, royalties, and payments work on each individual platform. Sometimes some of them will pay quarterly, some of them pay monthly, and some of them pay you last month's royalties at the end of the month. Some of them like Amazon run like two months behind.   Finally, and this is a big one, you should not have to pay any money in order to upload your work. If they are asking for money upfront, it is probably a scam. Now, there are some aggregators that don't take a percentage and instead charge you a yearly fee. I'm not talking about them in this podcast episode because I don't use them, but they are out there. One example would be Book Funnel, which does charge a yearly fee for you to use but provides a valuable service in being a backend for running your own store on like Payhip or Shopify, and there's a couple of other useful services in that way, but they're not a storefront and they don't take a percentage of any royalties. They just charge a yearly fee. So they're not the topic with this episode.   All the platforms I've talked about today do not have any fees in order to upload. Reputable sites like Amazon or Kobo will instead take a percentage of each book's sale. It's also good to have a few realistic expectations before you start using self-publishing platforms, and one of them is that the platform is not a marketer. For example, many people complain that KDP doesn't showcase their books and they get lost in the millions of books available. However, none of these services are promising that you'll make the front page of their site just by publishing there. It's a common delusion among new indie authors that when you publish your first book, that's all you have to do and people will flock to it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.   In fact, since Amazon makes a small fortune off book ads, it's not in their interest to give away screen space for free, and this isn't to knock on Amazon, that's just the way the retail industry works. For example, if you go into a Target or a Walmart or another big box retailer, note the products that are prominently displayed on the aisle displays or the endcaps of the aisles. They didn't just get there randomly. The manufacturers of those products paid big money to Amazon and Target and Walmart and the other big box retailers to have their products featured there. In many cases, online commerce is no different.   Getting your book uploaded onto a platform is just the first step. Promoting and marketing the book is up to you and strategies for those will vary based on which ones you choose to use. For example, if you choose to make your work exclusive to just one platform, it's not a good idea to run Facebook ads in countries where that platform either doesn't exist or where it's not terribly popular. Today we're going to be just focusing on comparing the platforms, not how to best to market from them. So what are the options?   #1: First up is the most common platform people use and it's the 800 pound gorilla in the self-publishing space, and that is Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. And what are the pros and cons of KDP?   Pro: They are the biggest force in ebook publishing in many countries, including the United States. Some authors find that as much as 80 to 95% of their ebook sales come from Amazon, even if they are not exclusive with Amazon. For myself, it's usually about 50 to 60% of my sales on any given month are from Amazon and the rest come from the other retailers.   Heavy readers are generally very familiar with the Kindle Store interface and Library setup, and many readers are kind of locked into Amazon because they own Kindle devices, subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, and have large Kindle Libraries. So those are all the pros of publishing with KDP.   Cons: If you're expecting a large portion of your sales to come from the print version of your book or if print sales are very important to you, be aware that many bookstores and libraries either can't or won't buy print books from Amazon, so you should find an additional platform for the print version such as Ingram Spark or maybe Barnes & Noble's print division. One big concern about going exclusive with Amazon is that you're losing readers who don't have Kindle books in their countries, people who are boycotting Amazon for a variety of reasons, people who are locked into another platform such as Apple or Kobo, or people who want to self-archive their ebooks since Amazon doesn't allow that anymore. If you're already wide, you'll have to look carefully at what percentage of your sales are non-Amazon and if this percentage is an amount you'd be comfortable risking losing in order to be exclusive. Occasionally authors do complain about the customer service available to KDP, especially if it's urgent. For myself, I've not personally had any huge problems with KDP customer service. That said, I think you should expect a lead time of about one to two business days on anything you ask because I usually go through the email form.   Does KDP offer a subscription service? Yes. Kindle Unlimited (KU) readers pay a set amount and can read an unlimited number of books each month, although they're limited as to how many they can have in their library at any one time. Promotions happen regularly, usually based around big sales like Prime Day, and it can make a subscription as cheap as $0.99 for a three month period. Some also receive free subscriptions by buying certain Amazon products such as a new Kindle or Kindle Fire.   The downside of being in Kindle Unlimited is the exclusivity. You can't be in KU without being exclusive with Amazon, or at least the specific book in question has to be exclusive. Not all of your books have to be exclusive, and many authors such as myself will usually put one series in KU and then make sure everything else is wide. You must agree to be exclusive with them for ninety days and that time period is renewable.   What does KDP pay in terms of royalty? For $2.99 to $9.99, they give you 70% of the sale price. Under $2.99 and above $9.99, it's 35%. So that is sort of an encouragement from Amazon to price your ebooks in the $2.99 to $9.99 range. Currently I price new novels at $4.99 and do short stories at $0.99 cents.   What do I do? I have all of my titles available through KDP. I have a smaller portion of my collection exclusive through KDP Select/KU, and I have only recently increased that amount of Select titles due to the economic downturn. I suspect that KU users are likely to hold onto their subscriptions while cutting other expenses because honestly, KU is a pretty good deal for readers and the monthly subscription costs is about the same as one tradpub frontlist ebook, but with a KU subscription, they could read thousands of books for the same price. The value of KU is really very strong for frequent romance, LitRPG, science fiction, and fantasy readers. There's a strong population in the KU subscriber base often referred to as binge readers. They care more about variety, discovering new books, and the ability to read a lot over the ability to read specific authors or stories.   So overall, I think if you are self-publishing and even if you don't like Amazon very much or don't plan to go exclusive, it's still in your best interest to publish your ebook with them, even if you are wide and intend to do all the other retailers just because Amazon really is the biggest ebook platform out there at the moment. #2: Now, the next self-publishing platform we're going to look at is Barnes & Noble Press, which as the name implies, belongs to Barnes & Noble. The Pros: some people are never, ever going to let go of their Nooks or they already have a large personal ebook library through the Nook so they feel locked into that platform. These readers are the majority of people buying ebooks through Barnes & Noble, but fortunately that group tends to read a lot. There's also a lot of trust in Barnes & Noble as a brand, and that inspires people to continue buying from them.   In fact, for a while in the indie author space at the end of the 2010s and the start of the 2020s, it was a regular prediction that Barnes & Noble was going to go out of business soon, but then the company was bought by a private equity firm, and while private equity firms often have a deserved bad reputation for stripping a company of assets and then selling it off at a bargain basement price (such as the fate of Red Lobster), that does not seem to be the case of what happened with Barnes & Noble and the company really has been strengthening in recent years. So they may be here to stay for a while.   The downsides of publishing with Barnes & Noble Press is that Barnes & Noble is relatively a minor player in the ebook market, though usually in the top four of most indie author ebook sales if they're wide. They have shifted their focus to selling print books instead of Nook devices, especially in the retail space.   Do they offer a subscription service? They do not. However, nothing about Barnes & Noble requires exclusivity, which is nice, and the royalty structure is pretty good. It's 70% over all titles over $0.99. So if you want, you could price your ebook at $0.99 or $19.99 and still make 70%, which you couldn't do with those prices on Amazon.     #3: The next self-publishing platform we'll look at is Kobo Writing Life, which is the ebook platform to publish on Kobo, which is owned by Rakuten. Pros: Kobo is strong in the international market and will help you to reach readers in many countries. Based on my sales data, in Canada and Australia, Kobo is significantly bigger than Amazon for ebook sales. Kobo has also had a surge of recent media attention in the US as people seek out alternatives to Amazon and Kindle devices.   The Con of Kobo, and this is a fairly small one, is that their US market share is still fairly small compared to Amazon or Barnes & Noble or some of the others. But as I mentioned, they're a lot stronger in Canada and Australia, and they do reach a lot of different countries, more than Amazon does.   Does Kobo have a subscription service? Yes, Kobo Plus. Kobo Plus is significantly less expensive than Kindle Unlimited, and there's an additional tier that allows you to add audiobook content to the plan. The library isn't quite as extensive as KU though, though. I should note that in the years since Kobo has been introduced, I'd say about half of my revenue from Kobo (sometimes 60% of my revenue from Kobo) comes from Kobo Plus and not from direct ebook sales. So it's getting to the point where the majority of their ebook revenue I suspect, is coming from Kobo Plus and not direct Kobo sales.   Do they require exclusivity? No, which is another strong selling point for Kobo Plus. For their royalty structure, ebooks over $2.99, you get 70% and any books over below $2.99, you get 45%, which is a more generous term than Amazon in terms of the royalty rate for below $2.99 and above $9.99.   So what do I do? I currently use it as one of the platforms for my ebooks. It's been a pretty strong seller for me consistently over the years, and every Kobo book that I have is also available in Kobo Plus, which probably explains the revenue split I was talking about earlier. #4: The next platform we'll look at is Draft2Digital/Smashwords, which we'll do as one because Draft2Digital and Smashwords are in the process of merging. Draft2Digital is technically what's called an aggregator, where you upload your book and then they can publish on a variety of different platforms for you, and in exchange, they take a small cut of the sales. Draft2Digital is, in my opinion, probably the most effective way to get your ebooks through Apple and Smashwords. Apple does have its own direct uploading service, but I've never used it because there are a bit too many hoops to jump through.   Draft2Digital does, as I mentioned, have a way to publish on multiple storefronts at once while managing uploads and sales reporting through just one interface. They're not a storefront in and of themselves, although since Draft2Digital does own Smashwords, Smashwords essentially acts as their storefront for them. Although Draft2Digital lists Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble as an option, most authors will upload to these sites separately, and in fact, that's what I do for myself.   The Pros of Draft2Digital is that it's a definite time savings using Draft2Digital to publish across multiple platforms, especially with platforms like Apple that are more difficult or time consuming to learn. This is also a convenient way to make your work accessible to library platforms like Overdrive/Libby, Hoopla, and Bibliotheca, if that is important to you. Library sales have never been a huge priority of mine, but I've never been opposed to them either, so I usually just flip those switches on and then don't think about it again.   The Cons for Draft2Digital are that there was a period after the Smashwords migration where they received complaints about customer service and difficulty in setting up tax information, though I think that is mostly ironed out now.   One potential hazard for Draft2Digital with a very specific subset of writers is that if you are a writer of, shall we say, very hard erotica, the sort that ends up in very restricted categories on most stores, you will probably have trouble publishing through Draft2Digital. This is not, however, a problem that's unique to Draft2Digital. Amazon has what is called the “erotica dungeon”, where if you publish certain kinds of, like we said, very harsh erotica, your book isn't searchable on the Amazon store. You can link to it directly, but it will never show up on any search results. Kobo in particular has had problems with erotica.   Back in the 2010s, Kobo was also distributing ebooks to some British retailers, and these British retailers suddenly got upset when they noticed that these kinds of hard erotica were showing up on their store pages, which was not a good look for the company. And so there was a kerfuffle until that was all sorted out. My frank opinion with that is if you are writing these kinds of erotica, the big stores and Draft2Digital will never be on your side, and so you are better off pursuing a sort of a Patreon/running your own store on Shopify or Payhip strategy, but that is a bit of a digression.   So in terms of royalties, Draft2Digital takes 10% of the book's retail price per copy sold, which is in addition to whatever amount is taken by the specific storefront. So you are paying a bit of money in exchange for convenience for just uploading your book to Draft2Digital and having it push out the book to all the different stores for you.   What I do is I use Draft2Digital for Apple mainly because for a while I was using Smashwords, but Smashwords in the 2010s was a bit more persnickety than is now, and you needed to prepare a specially formatted doc file to publish on Smashwords and sometimes getting it through the Smashwords processing onto Apple was a bit of a pain. Draft2Digital took epub files, which are much easier to work with, and after a while I switched over all my Apple publishing to Draft2Digital entirely. So that's why I use Draft2Digital for Apple and for various library services that tend to be a minor amount of sales. Because of the difficulties on publishing direct to Apple, I do find that that 10% is good trade off in terms of selling books on Apple for me.   #5: Now onto Google Play's ebook self-publishing platform, which is, I think its full name is the Google Books Partner Center, which lets you publish books to the Google Play Store for sale on Android devices.   The Pros are that for writers interested in the international market, Google Play is another strong choice for a platform since the international mobile device market is very Android heavy. The iPhone (Apple) tends to be concentrated mainly in the US and a few of the wealthier countries like the UK and Canada, but Android has a much more international reach in general than the iPhone. Google Play also has some interesting promotional options for ebooks, such as offering the buyer a chance to subscribe to a specific series.   The cons are that some authors report that their sales reporting doesn't always consistently generate reports, and others are annoyed that it only generates a CSV file, (which isn't that much of a hardship for people who are familiar with Excel).   For myself, I found that there is a bit of a reporting lag on Google Play where it will sometimes take as long as five or six days for sales to show up on the dashboard, though usually it's only a delay of two days, though sometimes during the month you'll get these bigger lags and sometimes processing new material on the Google Play Store can be slow, and it can sometimes take two to three days for things to appear, though it usually gets worked out in the end. Does Google Play have a subscription service? It does not, nor does it require exclusivity, which is another point in its favor. And the royalties, the data is quite nice here. It is 70% for all price points in the countries listed on their support page, which only excludes a handful of countries like India, South Korea, and Japan (because of currency conversion regions or other local laws).   So those are the ebook publishing platforms that I currently use, and because I use them myself, I would recommend them. Hopefully that is helpful to you as you are looking for places to self-publish your book as you set out to become an indie author.   So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the backup episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.  

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Joe Solari explains how attending live events changed the course of his career and why in-person conferences still matter. He discusses how to choose the right event, prepare effectively, and build lasting connections that support a profitable publishing business. 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. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. 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 his private clients, who collectively achieved gross royalties of twenty-two million in 2023, with an average pre-tax profit of 44%. This remarkable success results from implementing disciplined business strategies and maintaining an unwavering dedication to enhancing the customer experience.

Notes from James:Let's be honest: most people who write a book never make money from it. Why? Because they stop at the last page. I want you to go further. In this episode, I show you how I turned my books into speaking gigs, consulting work, investment deals, and more. You don't need a big publisher or a massive budget—just the right strategy.Episode Descriptions:In Part 4 of my 30-day writing series, I tackle one of the biggest questions aspiring authors face: Should you self-publish or go the traditional route? I've done both—some of my books were published by big-name houses, others I put out myself. This episode breaks down the pros, cons, and misconceptions of each approach—and how to make the smartest decision for your goals.You'll also learn exactly what to do after the writing is done. I cover how to market your book, build buzz, land media, grow your audience, and ultimately make your book work for you—financially, professionally, and personally.Whether you're writing your first book or your fifth, this episode lays out the modern publishing roadmap and how to turn your words into real-world results.What You'll Learn:The truth about traditional publishing—what it offers and what it takes awayWhy self-publishing can earn you more money and give you more controlWhat agents, publishers, and bookstore placement actually mean todayHow bestseller lists really work (and why most are just marketing tools)Exactly how to market your book after it's published: newsletters, podcasts, and moreHow to build momentum before your book even comes outTimestamps00:00 Traditional vs. Self-Publishing: The Debate Begins00:41 The Evolution of Self-Publishing01:10 Benefits of Traditional Publishing03:17 Challenges with Traditional Publishing06:58 The Power of Self-Publishing15:09 Steps to Professionally Self-Publish16:34 The Importance of Audiobooks21:15 Marketing Your Book: An Overview21:53 Building and Utilizing an Email List24:48 Leveraging Online Platforms for Book Promotion27:08 The Power of Podcasts and Public Speaking32:31 Maximizing Social Media for Book Sales38:47 Final Thoughts on Book MarketingP.S. Want to go deeper? Check out my full course on Udemy or visit chooseyourselfacademy.com: How to Write and Publish a Book in 30 Days – available now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway covers an incident in which the Chicago Sun-Times recommended AI-invented books by real authors, and a troubling test in which Anthropic's AI, Claude 4.0, threatened a user with blackmail. He also reports that Spotify has seen a rise in iOS subscriptions following the Apple ruling on in-app purchases, and shares the latest from ongoing AI copyright debates in the UK and EU, where authors and creators continue pushing back against efforts to weaken protections. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. 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. 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.

In this eye-opening episode of Talking Book Publishing, hosts Kathleen and Adanna sit down with Ross Rojek, editor and publisher of City Book Review, to explore the inner workings of the book review industry. Ross shares the journey of launching City Book Review in Sacramento in 2008 and evolving it into a network of review sites across eight U.S. cities, plus a special platform for young reviewers, Kids Book Buzz. With candor and humor, he explains the real work behind publishing honest book reviews, from managing hundreds of reviewers to handling over 1,500 book submissions a month.Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at the review selection process, the distinction between editorial and reader reviews, and why professional presentation is essential. Ross also offers invaluable advice to authors—especially indie and self-published ones—about treating their writing as a business. From marketing tips to understanding what makes a book stand out to reviewers and libraries, this episode is packed with practical insights for anyone in the literary world.We'd like to hear from you. If you have topics or speakers you'd like us to interview, please email us at podcast@talkingbookpublishing.today and join the conversation in the comments on our Instagram @writerspubsnet.

Understanding reader habits can help independent publishers and author-publishers improve their book marketing strategies, hopefully boosting book sales. With over 550,000 readers on the popular digital review copy platform NetGalley, their team has collected invaluable data about reader's preferences, so NetGalley's Customer Success Manager Katie Versluis and Social Media Manager Hallie Fields join “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss where readers say they discover books, the social media platforms that readers tend to share their book recommendations on the most, tips for how publishers can garner reviews, and much more.PARTICIPANTSKatie Versluis is a customer success manager at NetGalley. She works closely with authors and publishers of all shapes and sizes, helping their books reach the hands of passionate book advocates and industry professionals. She is a graduate of Brock University and Humber College's Creative Book Publishing Program.Hallie Fields is the Social Media Manager at NetGalley, a service that helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. Hallie specializes in fostering community and connecting with NetGalley members, including reviewers, booksellers, librarians, educators, media/journalists, and other book trade professionals. She is a former librarian and a graduate of UNC-Greensboro's Library and Information Science MLIS program.Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He's also passionate about indie publishing, because he's an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.LINKSLearn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/Learn more about the IBPA NetGalley Program at https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/netgalleyFollow IBPA on:Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonlineX – https://twitter.com/ibpaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Season 3, Episode 16: Published author Tammy Osburn Oveross does not live in Melissa, Texas. She doesn't work in Melissa either. But she is the perfect guest for this episode of The Front Porch, because her roots run deep in this community, and Tammy Oveross loves family, history and legacy. During our conversation, Tammy shares stories of her family in Melissa, and she discusses her first published children's book, Cucumbers to Pickles. She'll also explain why family history is so important to her. #frontporchLinks:Cucumbers to Pickles: AmazonPodcast: Parris Hill Farm and Ranch: Listen Now City of Melissa: WebsiteMusic: https://www.purple-planet.com

293. Writing for Impact: Shazad Carbaidwala on Creativity and Helping Others In this episode of Creative Chats, Mike Brennan interviews Shazad Carbaidwala, who shares his journey from a childhood filled with creativity and athletics to becoming an author and mentor. Shazad discusses the importance of personal branding, the role of mentorship in his life, and the challenges he faced while writing his books. He emphasizes the impact of his work on others, particularly through his recent children's book, and reflects on his aspirations to continue helping people through his experiences and stories.   3 Key Takeaways:

Do you start writing fervently but get lost in the murky middle? Or have you ever had an idea for a story but you're not sure where to start? And sitting down to write a massive number of words feels intimidating?In today's episode, learn how discovery drafts can help you capture your story idea much more quickly—and provide flexibility for pantsers. Topics discussed in this episode: Two case storiesWhat is a discovery draft?What goes into a discovery draft?Many benefitsStructuring your discovery draftDevelopmental edits vs manuscript evaluationsJoin writing sprints and get my promptsResources discussed: Document navigation with styles: https://youtu.be/qjbMeZBrrOA Different types of editors: https://erinptcanning.com/book-coaches-and-editors-whats-the-difference/Send us a textLOOKING FOR WRITING SUPPORT & FRIENDS? Join my Patreon to access my Discord writing group, get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more: https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!Thriller author N.L. Blandford isn't afraid to go dark—like, murder scene dark—and she absolutely loves it.In this episode, she talks about writing gritty thrillers with complex villains you'll root for and recoil from. Natasha never planned to become an author. She just wanted to cross “write a book” off her bucket list. Now she's five books in, spanning multiple series, and shows no signs of slowing down.We talk about:Why she never plots in advance (hint: her characters have strong opinions)Her secret weapon for book sales (spoiler: it's not bookstores)Why she chose to publish “wide” to support Canadian platforms like KoboWhat she's loving and learning while writing a new series about a fictional mob family in Nova ScotiaWhy “show vs. tell” trips up so many new writers (and how she works through it)

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Matty Dalrymple talks with Kristen Tate of the Blue Garret editing service, a seasoned freelance editor, about the intricacies of editorial services and how authors can effectively engage with editors. The conversation provides insights into the editing process, the role of trust in the author-editor relationship, and how to navigate the often complex landscape of editorial pricing and contracts. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. 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 Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. About the Guest Kristen Tate has been a freelance editor for more than a decade, guiding authors from rough drafts to polished books. She holds a PhD in English from Columbia University, where she focused on publishing history, and is the author of Novel Study: Decoding the Secrets and Structures of Contemporary Fiction. Kristen also publishes a regular newsletter offering craft advice and encouragement for writers. Her editing business, Blue Garret, is an ALLi Partner member. You can find Kristen at thebluegarret.com, on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro   (00:00:45) - Introducing Nat Eliason   (00:01:27) - Nat's Diverse Career and Writing Journey   (00:01:47) - The Transition from Nonfiction to Fiction   (00:02:13) - The Seven Act Structure and Writing Process   (00:02:44) - Publishing with Scribe and Launching Husk   (00:03:24) - The Rewards and Challenges of Writing   (00:04:29) - Building an Audience and Marketing Strategies   (00:06:54) - Balancing Writing with Other Ventures   (00:09:09) - The Reality of a Writing Career   (00:10:49) - The Importance of Consistency and Commitment   (00:22:37) - Navigating Traditional and Self-Publishing   (00:23:05) - The Journey to Becoming an Author   (00:40:56) - Exploring the Shift from Nonfiction to Fiction   (00:41:40) - The Joy of Storytelling in Fiction   (00:44:00) - Challenges and Rewards of Writing Fiction   (00:47:44) - Outlining and Structuring Fictional Works   (00:57:38) - Marketing and Selling Self-Published Books   (01:10:38) - The Future of an Author's Career   (01:18:18) - Conclusion and Recommendations   Links: Nat on X Nat's Website Crypto Confidential Husk To support the costs of producing this podcast:  >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/  >> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/ >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage  >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter >> Text the podcast to a friend >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners! Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship   There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant   You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.     Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That's a fine way to start.  Quotes from Nat: “Writing is the one thing I love doing enough to commit to for the next 30 years.” “Traditional publishing taught me how to make a really good book, but I wouldn't do it again.” “Holding your book for the first time—and shipping it yourself to your first readers—is pure magic.” “The best marketing for your book is writing the next one—that's the fiction game.” “I used to chase whatever was interesting… now I'm building something I want to last 30 years.” “Fiction lets me explore big ideas without pretending to be an expert.” “The self-pub stigma is fading… especially when the book looks and reads like a trad pub hit.” “Characters start doing things I didn't plan—then I realize, oh, that's why they're here.” “There's no product in the world like a book—you can sell the same file for 50 years.” “My dream is to have a warehouse full of books I wrote. That's the romantic version of success.”

In today's indie author news update, we're diving into the latest feature rollouts from IngramSpark, an exciting new marketing tool from Barnes & Noble Press, and a handful of cutting-edge book promotion services you'll want to check out. We're also covering updates from Apple Books, a powerful book structure fix from Fictionary, and wrapping up with a huge giveaway opportunity you don't want to miss. Tune in and find out what's new and what's hot in self-publishing! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord  Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: IngramSpark - https://ingramspark.com - IngramSpark May 2025 Newsletter - https://www.ingramspark.com/newsletter-may2025 Barnes & Noble Press: A Free Book Marketing Tool for Self-Published Authors - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/book-marketing-tool-for-self-published-authors/ Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com Spoken.Press - https://spoken.press Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link) Gemsy.io - https://DaleLinks.com/Gemsy (affiliate link) The Wide Author's Playbook: Unlocking Your Book's Potential - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bHywZKmPSPmp6NBHe9UbMQ#/registration  Kindlepreneur: Cracking the Code to Amazon Book Sales - https://my.demio.com/ref/kIMXsb6k4Itz2WNI  30 Books in 30 Days Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books Grand Prize Day – Win Big in Our Author Giveaway! - https://www.youtube.com/live/QRc1jsvUHx4?si=0VVvEDyM9BhNbASA Fix Your Story's Structure with These 5 Key Scenes | Kristina Stanley of Fictionary - https://www.youtube.com/live/szsfwHKLTpA?si=UK3Ib0e0NUFjOF02  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports that Audible has launched a major AI narration program featuring 100 synthetic voices, with options for both publishers and indie authors. He also covers upcoming changes to KDP Print royalties and costs, a 10,000-signature petition from European creators calling for stronger AI copyright protections, and news that the UK government has rejected a proposed AI transparency amendment. He closes with the latest developments in the Apple–Epic Games legal case, which could affect in-app book and audiobook sales. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. 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. 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.

Today, Ellie Dix and Isaac Vega take a deep dive into what it means to self publish, both the struggles and the benefits. Touching on collaborating with others on projects, along with devoting your time and energy into being a publisher. 

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!In this no-fluff episode, publishing powerhouse Jane Friedman speaks to the aspects of writing and publishing that every aspiring author needs to hear about. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT: The myth of the full-time writer dream—and why your day job might be your secret weaponHow to build an author platform without selling your soul The hard truth about bookstore distribution and hybrid publishing How sponsorships can turn your author newsletter into a profitable platform—and why subscriptions might not be the moveWhat nobody tells you about post-publication anxiety (spoiler: publishing a book doesn't magically fix your inner critic)

On the Creative Self-Publishing stream of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn discuss creative confidence and the process of finding and sustaining an author voice. They talk about how life events, like grief or illness, can interrupt creativity, and how daily practices such as journaling or walking can help maintain a sense of continuity. The conversation also covers how recurring themes shape a writer's voice, how AI tools like voice cloning are changing audiobook production, and how authors can decide when and how to use these tools without losing their individual style. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Joanna Penn writes nonfiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller's “100 top people in publishing”. She also publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction and is greatly excited by the democratizing, empowering potential of author-publishing. For more information about Orna, visit her website.

Congratulations! You've finished writing your novel, and you've set your sights on self-publishing. But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "Where do I start?" If you're feeling overwhelmed by the self-publishing process, you're not alone. Most first-time authors don't realize just how many decisions the self-publishing process involves. From choosing file formats and pricing strategies to designing covers and optimizing metadata—every choice you make directly impacts your book's success in the marketplace.This is exactly why having a roadmap to follow before diving into self-publishing is so crucial. Just as you wouldn't build a house without blueprints, you shouldn't publish your novel without a clear plan of action. That's exactly what I'm providing in this episode—a comprehensive 10-step guide that will transform your manuscript into a professionally published book readers will discover and enjoy.You'll hear me talk about things like:[00:00] The critical mindset shift most first-time authors fail to make—and why adopting a publisher's mindset is key to your self-publishing success[00:00] How to build out your publishing team (including why skimping on professional editing is the costliest mistake you can make)[00:00] Why you should start building your author platform and growing your email list now—even if your book isn't entirely ready to publish just yet[00:00] How to decide which distribution channel is best for you and your book (and why this choice impacts everything from your marketing to sales)[00:00] How to develop a flexible pricing strategy that positions your novel correctly in the market while maximizing your revenue and/or reachWhether you've already set your sights on self-publishing or if you've been researching self-publishing only to feel more confused than ever, this episode will give you the clear, strategic roadmap you need to confidently self-publish your novel like a pro!

Amazon KDP just announced a major change to print royalties, and the publishing world is buzzing. In this week's self-publishing news, we cover the updated royalty rates, what it means for paperback authors, and how it may or may not tie into the rise of low-content and AI-generated books. We also look at a major court ruling that could finally open the door for easier mobile eBook sales, plus a new report from the U.S. Copyright Office on artificial intelligence and training data. If you care about book sales, author income, or where publishing is headed next, don't miss this week's Self-Publishing News. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: KDP: Print Royalty Rate and Paperback Printing Cost Changes FAQ - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GXFPA52P6ZJD2U3N?ref_=pe_93986420_1235824880 KDP Print Calculator - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200735480?ref_=pe_93986420_1235824880#royalty_calculator The Bottom Line - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/ US Copyright Office - Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 3 - https://www.copyright.gov/ai/Copyright-and-Artificial-Intelligence-Part-3-Generative-AI-Training-Report-Pre-Publication-Version.pdf?mc_cid=e9a1b9ab69&mc_eid=433332c881  Major Court Ruling Opens New Path for Mobile eBook Sales - https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/ruling-opens-path-for-mobile-ebook-sales/  Coauthoring Nonfiction: Strategies for Successful Collaboration - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7hV_IsqVQE6Ghv1HNl-Szg#/registration  Outstanding Creator Awards - https://www.outstandingcreator.com/winners--2025-spring-contest.html Wide Publishing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/WideBook Mastering Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP - https://www.youtube.com/live/_8rNH3SQJK4?si=HP2BB81XZTF9oX24 How to Win Book Awards Without Wasting Money | Outstanding Creator Awards - https://www.youtube.com/live/X-4w4OWnRgE?si=DkqBCns4G2emtoZq 30 Books Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, host Michael La Ronn discusses whether there are effective alternatives to Amazon and Meta ads for authors who want to reach readers but are reluctant to support those platforms. Other questions include: Is Nielsen's Enhanced Services an effective marketing tool for authors? Has anyone experienced product availability issues with BookVault? Do ALLi members get discounts on public liability insurance for book fairs? How do legal and tax issues differ for sole traders and limited companies in the US and UK? What's the best place within ALLi to find marketing support for a debut novel? Does ALLi offer a standard copyright page template or guidance? 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 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 The Member Q&A podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is ALLi's Outreach Manager. He is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings (now graduated!). You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com. Sacha Black is a bestselling and competition winning author, rebel podcaster, speaker and casual rule breaker. She writes fiction under a secret pen name and other books about the art of writing. When Sacha isn't writing, she runs ALLi's blog. She lives in England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. You can find her on her website, her podcast, and on Instagram.

Have you ever stumbled upon a book too weird to possibly exist? Chances are it was probably self-published. Join us as we explore the highs and lows of self-publishing, a lawless place not unlike the internet. This is Keeping TABS.

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explains how a major legal ruling against Apple is changing the landscape for in-app purchases, with Kindle, Patreon, and Spotify now enabling direct book sales on iOS. He also covers a call for cooperation between publishers and tech companies from the Association of American Publishers, and reports strong Q1 growth in audiobook subscriptions from Nordic platform Storytel. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. 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. 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.

Recently, BookVault—a company familiar to many of our U.S. and U.K. listeners—expanded its print-on-demand services to Australia. In this episode, ALLi's nonfiction advisor Anna Featherstone speaks with Alex Smith, BookVault's brand manager, to learn what the company offers, how it operates globally, and whether it might be a good fit for authors looking to diversify how they produce and distribute their books. In this episode, you'll learn: What BookVault is, which countries it currently serves, and how it compares to KDP, IngramSpark, and traditional book printers How special editions work—costs, timelines, trends, and possibilities The most common mistakes authors make with POD, and how to avoid them Why BookVault charges a setup fee—and how ALLi members can have it waived A crash course on bookbinding types: perfect bound, case bound, and saddle stitch Trends and innovations in indie publishing that have Alex excited about the future 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. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. 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 Alex Smith has been with Printondemand Worldwide, the parent company of BookVault, for more than seven years. During that time, he has gained extensive knowledge of the publishing industry. His experience positioned him to take a leading role in redeveloping the BookVault platform. Alex works closely with leading indie publishing entrepreneurs to ensure BookVault continues to deliver the innovative features authors and publishers need.

Scams are getting smarter—and authors are the new target. In this week's publishing news, we cover what to avoid, what to watch for, and the latest tools helping indie authors succeed. Plus, the U.S. Copyright Office just made your publishing life a lot easier. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: Spotify for Authors Terms of Use - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/spotify-for-authors-terms-and-conditions/ INAudio - https://www.inaudio.com/  U.S. Copyright Office Releases New Copyright Registration Toolkit - https://www.copyright.gov/newsnet/2025/1070.html Two to Avoid: Book Order Scams and Fake Reviews - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/05/09/two-to-avoid-book-order-scams-and-fake-reviews/  Getcovers: Top 10 Tools for Indie Authors 2025 - https://getcovers.com/blog/best-tools-for-indie-authors/ Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com/ Speech Transcription with parakeet - https://huggingface.co/spaces/nvidia/parakeet-tdt-0.6b-v2 ProseWrite - https://DaleLinks.com/ProseWrite (affiliate link) Bookvault Q&A Webinar - https://www.youtube.com/@Bookvault_app/streams  StoryOrigin: Creating With Eyes Wide Open: Author Life in a Capitalist World - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LcUd65SpR1mWS3WeiwajyQ#/registration  Authors Guild: Translation Contracts 101 - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mZn6cNY-RKK3AbCk9a3G_A#/registration  Dibbly Create: Scale Your KDP Business Fast: Publish Market-Ready Books in 30 Minutes - https://dibbly.com/join-free-webinar/?aff=DALE (affiliate link) Self-Publishing with ALLi: The Power of Relationships in Author Marketing - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-power-of-relationships/ Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) 30 Books in 30 Days Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books  Credit:  Authors Guild - https://authorsguild.org/  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explains major changes to Findaway Voices, which is splitting into two platforms: Spotify for Authors, focused on Spotify distribution, and a new platform called In Audio for all other outlets. He also highlights a new £75,000 novel prize open to unpublished writers, and reports on a HarperCollins survey showing a decline in parents reading to their children, with homework—not screen time—cited as the main barrier. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. 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. 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.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn your book idea into a published masterpiece? Or how to choose between traditional, self, or hybrid publishing? In this episode of Late Boomers, we chat with the incredible John Bond, a seasoned editor, publisher, and author. With over 500 books published and as the mastermind behind the Little Guides series, John shares his journey from a book-loving child to a publishing consultant helping authors shine.We dive into the nuts and bolts of getting published, from finding your motivation to understanding the market and choosing the right agent. John's insights on the evolving role of authors in marketing and the timeless debate of ebooks vs. paper books are not to be missed. Whether you're an aspiring author or just book-curious, this episode is packed with wisdom and encouragement to fuel your literary dreams.Tune in and let's embark on this publishing adventure together!John's BioJohn Bond has been in publishing for thirty plus years, first as an editor, book publisher, then Chief Content Officer, and now a Publishing Consultant at RiverwindsConsulting.com. He is the author of a series of books on writing with Bloomsbury Publishing/Rowman & Littlefield. His newest book is: The Little Guide to Getting Your Book Published: Simple Steps to Success. He is also the host of the YouTube channel “Publishing Defined.”Connect with JohnWebsite YoutubeLinkedInOther

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Dale L. Roberts talks with Danica Favorite, community manager at PublishDrive, about what truly makes an author brand effective. They dive into how the power of relationships in author marketing, avoid the most common branding mistakes, and take real control of your marketing. Danica shares how wide distribution and authentic community-building can help authors stand out—and sell more—by owning their unique narrative. Show Notes Danica Favorite Brave New Bookshelf Podcast PublishDrive ALLi Watchdog List Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Host Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale's inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 50 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale. Selected by Feedspot and LA Weekly as one of the best sources in self-publishing of 2022, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. You can find Dale on his website or YouTube.

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Something big is happening in the audiobook world—Spotify just changed how indie authors distribute their audiobooks, and it could impact your publishing future. In this week's Self-Publishing News, I'll break down what's happening with Findaway Voices and the brand-new company INAudio. Plus, updates from Laterpress, PublishDrive, and a new feature inside Dibbly Create that could change how you write your next book. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp   Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: Spotify Transitions Select Audiobook Distribution Services to INaudio - https://blog.findawayvoices.com/inaudio/ INAudio: A Message from our Founders - https://www.inaudio.com/article/a-message-from-our-founders  Laterpress - https://www.laterpress.com/ Laterpress: Monthly and Annual Subscriptions - https://www.laterpress.com/blog/monthly-and-annual-subscriptions  Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com/ Dibbly Create: Guided Book Flow - https://mailchi.mp/dibbly/new-feature-lets-you-build-your-book-in-under-an-hour-6743002  Dibbly Create - https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link) PublishDrive: General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): What Authors and Publishers Need to Know - https://help.publishdrive.com/general-product-safety-regulation-gpsr-what-authors-and-publishers-need-to-know PublishDrive - https://publishdrive.com/pricing.html?fpr=dale10 (affiliate link) * 50% off special ends Wednesday Book Brush: The ABCs of Amazon A+ Content - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YGCclpusSFWtHOJ8lC0uxQ#/registration Beyond the Blast: Book Marketing Tactics for Long-Term Success - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mjtluDCqRlGFR6N_y-hgPg#/registration 30 Books in 30 Days Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

In this panel discussion, two high-achieving Amazon KDP authors, Sacha Black and J.M. Dalgliesh, reveal the most effective strategies and tactics they've used to maximize profitability in self-publishing. From smart pricing and advertising to leveraging data, this session is packed with actionable advice on how to turn writing books into a profitable, sustainable business. Learn how to make the most of Amazon's tools and build a long-term, profitable publishing strategy that drives consistent income. This session is proudly sponsored by Amazon KDP. 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.

Is it OK to change your comic after you've already sent it to your audience? The guys also tackle tariffs, ISBNs, bar codes, and offering comics to charity organizations.Today's showMaking a change to a comic after it's "out there"Susan MacTaggart's personal affirmationUPDATE: Tariffs on books??ISBNs and bar codes for self-published booksComics for CharitySummaryIn this conversation, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar explore the nuances of humor writing, the importance of building an audience on new platforms, and the challenges of editing long-form comics. They discuss the creative process, social-media presence's significance, and tariffs' implications on publishing. The dialogue emphasizes the need for flexibility in creative work and the importance of adapting to changes in the industry. In the mid-show update, they discuss the complexities of navigating tariffs and customs in the publishing industry, particularly for self-publishers. They emphasize the importance of planning for potential costs, such as tariffs, when launching Kickstarter campaigns. The conversation then shifts to the necessity of ISBNs and barcodes for self-published works, highlighting their role in making books trackable and sellable. Finally, they explore how cartoonists can contribute to charitable causes through their work, encouraging creators to produce comics that align with their values and to share them independently without burdening charities.TakeawaysYou never know if your humor resonates until years later.Building an audience on new platforms is crucial.Reflecting on past work can reveal unexpected humor.Editing is a natural part of the creative process.Mistakes can be corrected easily before print.Social media can serve as a distributed editing tool.It's important to be happy with your work in the long run.Tariffs can impact the publishing industry significantly.Trust in the system can be a challenge for creators.Engaging with attentive fans can create strong connections.Assume the worst when planning for tariffs in publishing.Include potential tariffs in your Kickstarter budget.ISBNs and barcodes are essential for self-published books.ISBNs help track books in the international registry.Barcodes are necessary for selling through retailers.Charities may not need unsolicited comics due to their workload.Creators can impact causes without direct charity involvement.Comics can be a powerful tool for social change.Plan independently to avoid complications with charities.Charities are skilled at asking for the resources they need. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Major updates are shaking up the self-publishing world this week! A popular author tool just expanded its reach, a new feature could help you earn more from your book sales, and indie authors now have a surprising new way to boost their global discoverability. Plus, one important deadline is coming fast—you don't want to miss it. Let's dive in! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord heck out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: IngramSpark: Share & Sell Your Book - https://www.ingramspark.com/sell-my-book Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link)  PublishDrive Celebrates 10 Years with 50% off all plans - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link)  PublishDrive: Exclusive copyrights - requirements and protection of intellectual works from future theft - https://streamyard.com/watch/PdF22kV9MRPn 30 Books in 30 Days - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books Author Nation (early bird ends on May 1) - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) Author Nation 2025: Last Chance for Early Bird! - https://www.youtube.com/live/gRjaAi4WDuU?si=encEBnGbKpMo6xfp Book Launch Panel with Teddy Smith - https://subscribepage.io/booklaunchpanelshow  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

What does it really take to scale from six figures as a young entrepreneur to running an eight-figure business—and how do the lessons learned at YEAA can shape that journey?   In today's episode of the Leaders Across America Podcast, Steve Acorn welcomes Chandler Bolt, a successful entrepreneur and proud alumnus of the Young Entrepreneurs Across America program. Chandler shares how his early experiences knocking doors, hiring crews, and learning to follow proven systems became the foundation for building Selfpublishing.com, an industry-leading company helping thousands of authors around the world.   Chandler opens up about his journey from a rookie branch manager to Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, including the milestones, challenges, leadership lessons, and growth strategies that fueled his remarkable success. This episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom on persistence, goal setting, scaling a business, and why mastering the basics during the YEAA program can set you up for life.   If you've enjoyed this episode of the Leaders Across America podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!   Enjoy! In This Episode You'll Learn: Why the fundamentals you master during the YEAA program set the foundation for long-term success How Chandler turned early sales experience into a global brand serving thousands of customers The difference between chasing growth versus building sustainable, profitable businesses How to use goal setting and daily focus to consistently drive results Why resilience and extreme ownership are non-negotiable for future leaders The power of sticking with proven systems instead of reinventing the wheel How YEAA's lessons prepared Chandler to lead, scale, and thrive in business And much more…   Resources: YEAA Website Leaders Across America Chandler's LinkedIn Selfpublishing.com  7-Figure Principles  74 Chandler Bolt | 34 Million In Sales After YEAA Program Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win