There are many people who don’t make it in this industry. Many, if not most, fall by the wayside because they give up, not because they cannot succeed. Yes, I made it, but that is only because I refused to be beaten as I climbed the mountain. When I published my first book, it was […]
Dear Indie Annie, I really want to sell signed books, but I’m worried about shipping. The majority of my readers are in the US, but I am not. Would readers really be willing to pay extra shipping for signed books or special editions? Multinational Merchant Dear Multi, Do you mind, my sweet, if I shorten […]
Craig Martelle This career is a lesson in finding joy. How many write because they aren’t physically capable of other endeavors? It’s the best of all worlds. You get to make money doing what you dream. It’s an exceptional life, but not everyone makes it to the top. It’s a mountain, and the path narrows […]
How Authors Can Make the Most of the E-Book Distribution Service Michael La Ronn For many authors, helping readers download e-books purchased directly onto their preferred reading app eats away from valuable writing and marketing time. With so many responsibilities in running a writing business, tech support is a low priority. That’s where a tool […]
“Distribution” may sound technical and far from the creativity of writing. But distribution simply comes down to how you can get a book from your hands into those of your readers as easily and widely as possible. The Alliance of Independent Authors’ (ALLi’s) guiding policy for the most effective distribution plan is to be in […]
Ergonomic Workspaces Protect Your Health and Your Career’s Longevity Wendy Van Camp As authors, we navigate the landscape of our imagination, but at the helm of our adventures is an often-unacknowledged force: the ergonomics of our writing space. Even if it doesn’t seem to matter much in the short-term, the setup we choose can shape […]
Four Direct Sales Platforms to Match Your Business Needs Jenn Lessmann The “Rumours” are true. Indie authors can earn more revenue and drive better engagement through direct sales. And as indie authors increasingly look to expand their reach through wide publication, it makes sense to consider following Fleetwood Mac’s call to “go your own way.” […]
The Many Publishing Lives of Skye MacKinnon Never mind that Skye MacKinnon shares her Scotch heritage, teaching ability, and calm courage in the face of a changing world with J.K. Rowling’s Professor McGonagall. Or that MacKinnon’s cat never appeared during our interview, so spectacle-shaped markings around the cat’s eyes—like those on McGonagall’s feline form—cannot be […]
Although you’re reading this in January—or maybe even later into the new year—I’m writing this letter in December 2023. My family’s Christmas tree is still halfway decorated. I still have packages to ship, letters to mail, and several deadlines to meet for our staff before I sign out for the holidays. I may be clinging […]
Two Conferences Collide as 20Books Vegas Transitions to Author Nation During the second week of November, the largest group of independent authors, publishers, and industry professionals gathered at the Horseshoe casino hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the sixth iteration of the event in seven years, yet it had a much different air than […]
A Look Back at the NINC 2023 Conference At the TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida, September 20–24, 2023,the professional novelists organization dubbed Novelists Inc. (NINC) put on their annual conference laden with conversations about the modern publishing landscape. NINC is a professional writer’s networking organization designed to help manage an […]
The Nuance that’s Sometimes Lost in the Traditional or Indie Debate Tanya Nellestein Authors, take your corners! It’s the indie-versus-trad knock-out round. In the indie corner are the authors with complete creative control, slaves to no master, with the freedom to chart their own course. In the trad corner are the authors with editorial and […]
Wendy Van Camp Ever wanted to find a single virtual space where readers could chat, you could give presentations, and you could hold online book launches or other events? Welcome to Discord! Discord is a place of many “servers,” or communities. Each one offers threaded text conversation and the ability to talk in real time […]
Preview This Year’s Calendar of Events for Indie Authors Robyn Sarty One of the highs of being an indie author is connecting with like-minded people, and the best places to do that are conferences and retreats. From broad-scope conferences covering everything from craft to marketing to smaller retreats, the industry has a range of events […]
Exploring the History Behind Three Common English Sayings As writers, we love to play with words. We twirl them around on our tongues and pop them out in various ways. Sometimes we cajole; other times we inspire or inform. We create jokes to entertain or puns that bring on groans. Occasionally, we use phrases we […]
Hello! I’m Indie Annie, and I would love to send you a copy of this month’s issue of Indie Author Magazine. Just join our email list and I’ll drop it in your inbox!
