Indie authors in the publishing industry often wear the “independent” badge proudly—but this weekend marks the annual celebration of a different sort of indie in the book world. Independent Bookstore Day, held the last Saturday of April, encourages literature lovers to support local bookstores and independent booksellers online and in-store, often with discounts, prizes, live readings, and author events.
This year, the celebration coincides with the end of National Library Week and Disability Book Week, which seek to spotlight other corners of publishing. You can read more about Disability Book Week from the event’s founder, Mary Mecham, in this Q&A from our April 2024 issue.
Nicole Schroeder
These events can all become great opportunities for authors to sell their own books, either at independent bookstores hosting events or as part of group promos or sales on sites like Smashwords or Bookshop.org. IAM has a host of articles on its website about how authors can promote their work at in-person events and bring their physical books into brick-and-mortar stores. You can read one from the November 2024 issue below.
Paul Ardoin
Whether you choose to sell your books or buy some for yourself this weekend—most writers are readers, after all—consider taking the opportunity to celebrate books alongside your readers. Your support may just help an “indie” of a different sort.
This Week's Indie Author Magazine Articles
Whether you publish to either site, if you’re part of any indie author or publishing communities, you likely heard about the policy changes announced by Draft2Digital and Barnes & Noble Press last week. The updates to both sites, which included new fees for Draft2Digital users and new title limitations and pricing requirements to Barnes & Noble Press accounts, are part of an effort to deter spam accounts from attempting to publish low-quality books and to protect indie authors’ integrity, according to the platforms. They also spurred plenty of conversation and questions among authors, some of whom were frustrated by the changes.
This week, IAM took a closer look at these changes to break down what they mean for your business and for the industry as a whole, as well as how other indie authors are approaching the platforms going forward.
Nicole Schroeder
As the summer travel season approaches, more authors are getting ready for their own adventures: vacations, author conferences, writing retreats, and more. These don’t have to mean a break from your story, however. In this week’s Mindset article, IAM staff writer Heather Clement Davis reminds authors that no matter where they’re headed or which genre they write, exploration can be a chance to inspire their writing and research real-world details that will pull readers even deeper into their book’s pages.
Heather Clement Davis
Teachings from Indie Author Training
Upcoming Webinar (April 29, 12 p.m. EDT): “Simplify and get control of your author life"
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More Indie Publishing News
Here’s a look beyond our pages at the latest headlines and happenings in the publishing world.
Spoken and Author Nation Announce Winners for “Your Story,” an Audiobook Contest that Celebrates the Story Behind the Story
"Your Story," a first-of-its-kind audiobook storytelling competition, celebrates not only great writing and audio but also the heart, purpose, and personal journey behind it. Spoken, in collaboration with Author Nation, curated “Your Story” to give indie authors a platform to reach new audiences and a chance to be celebrated not only for their craft, but also for the personal “why” behind each story.
A panel of judges selected twelve finalists, recognizing an outstanding group of writers whose work spans Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Memoir, Romance, Spirituality, Drama, Literary Fiction, and Mystery. The finalists’ works were featured on Spoken’s YouTube channel and introduced with cinematic book teasers and motion book covers. Readers streamed their stories and cast scores to decide the grand prize winner, which was announced at the Winner Webinar on April 15. (See more here.)
Australian author Philip Keys claimed the grand prize for The Accidental Teacher. His submission is an excerpt from his memoir, which reflects a lifelong desire to be understood that shaped his path from personal struggle to becoming a teacher of teachers devoted to communication and connection. In addition to a free one-year subscription to Spoken, Keys received a list of prizes, including a free ticket to Author Nation 2026, a VIP ticket to Reader Nation, and a cinematic book trailer created by Spoken.
Antoinette Klimek, author of Mother Tongue, won “Best Personal Story” for her moving exploration of identity and heritage. G.E. Perlin was awarded “Best Performance” for Silent; The Listeners, an immersive and haunting audio experience. Author AM Scott received a one-hour free consultation with brand expert Isabelle Knight of Build Your Author Brand.
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the entries yet, they’re still available on Spoken’s website. The personal stories are featured at the end of each work, adding a unique layer to the reader experience and a deeper connection to the author. A list of honorable mentions are also featured on Spoken’s YouTube channel.
Spoken Vice President of Author Relations Stacy Smith Rogers commented on the contest, “Each author who participated in ‘Your Story’ contributed to a shared, deeply human experience, using technology to celebrate their work and connect with others. This contest was a great reminder that storytelling is about being seen and understood as humans, even when the voices telling those stories are digital.”
To read more about the contest, check out Spoken’s recent article that highlights the full experience.
(Story provided by Spoken)
Anything we’ve missed that you think we should cover? Any topics or questions you’d like our team to explore? Let us know at feedback@indieauthormagazine.com. Your suggestion may just make it into an upcoming article.
