May Self-Publishing Update from ALLi: Latest News, Advice, and Exclusive Events

Hello Reader,

Welcome to your regular self-publishing update, bringing you the latest from the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and the Self-Publishing Advice Center.

Could you benefit from the latest member exclusives on our SelfPubConnect ALLi Member Forum, including access to our upcoming live member-only webinars with IngramSpark and Book Award Pro, opportunities to be featured in our blog, recommendations for the top tools and services for indie authors, and this week's hot topic on building relationships with readers and other authors?

You can also ask for advice on any self-publishing topic you're struggling with, access all past webinar replays, and more.

Interested? Join us!

Latest Issue of ***The Indie Author*, ALLi's Member Magazine, Out Now**

Our May issue of The Indie Author, our member magazine, is now available to purchase (or free to members).

Our cover star this month is Damon Courtney, founder of BookFunnel and a leading voice in the direct sales revolution. In a candid conversation with TIA editor-in-chief Roz Morris, Damon shares how indie authors can reclaim control of their publishing careers—by building sustainable, reader-first sales models that prioritize audience connection, income, and creative freedom.

Also in this issue: we explore the growing conversation around content warnings—should you use them, and how do you decide what’s appropriate for your readers? We dig into book pricing strategies that protect your profits, reveal how live video is becoming a key reader engagement tool, and offer support for when burnout hits, with practical ways to reignite your creative spark.

Plus: the latest in self-publishing news, highlights from the ALLi blog and podcast, inspiring member milestones, and a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming next in the indie author movement.

Purchase your copy here.

2025 Self-Publishing Services Directory (online & free)

The 2025 Self-Publishing Services Directory is now available to all for free (members have the option to download via the member zone).

The Self-Publishing Services Directory is our showcase of ALLi Partner Members: vetted author services that comply with ALLi standards of ethics and excellence.

Read it online, here.

Save the Date!

Self-Publishing Advice Conference 2025
17th–19th October (Final date & time TBC)

Indie authors, mark your calendars! Our annual online Self-Publishing Advice Conference is returning this October—and you won’t want to miss it.

We’ll have full details later in the year, but for now, keep the weekend of 17th-19th October 2025 free in your calendar.

Expert insights. Implementable strategies. Stay tuned for more!

Meantime, I hope you find lots of articles of interest in the links below. As ever, we've lots of advice and inspiration... scroll to see the articles and podcast sessions that most interest you.

I hope to see you at a member event in the near future.

Until next time,

Happy writing and publishing!

Orna

Next Live Member Event: Marketing Across Genres: Promoting Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry The Indie Way with Orna Ross

What sells a novel won't sell a how-to guide, and what works for poetry often defies conventional marketing wisdom altogether. In this ALLi Member Webinar, we're diving into genre-specific strategies. Whether you're publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry—or, like Orna, all three—this session will help you craft a marketing and promotion plan that fits your work and your values. Drawing from ALLi’s latest guides on book marketing and promotion, we'll explore practical, proven approaches and take an honest look at what it really takes to find readers and sell books in today’s publishing landscape.

When: Thursday, May 22nd at 10am Los Angeles, 12pm Chicago, 1pm New York, 6pm London.

Where: ALLi Member Forum.

Join ALLi and bring along your questions! A replay will be available for those who can't attend live.