Publishing is an adventure, one Jeanette Strode and James Hunter tackle together—just like the characters do in their LitRPG books. Now, thanks to their publishing house, the couple has helped more than thirty other authors start their adventures too.
Adam Beswick, who writes under the pen name A.P Beswick, has found success through direct sales and consistent use of social media marketing and live streams to sell his work. It’s paid off—in the size of his business, which now warrants a warehouse just for his books, and in profits, with one live stream bringing him £3,500 in a single night.
Read their stories in the spring 2026 issue of Indie Author Magazine, our first quarterly print issue.
In This Issue:
Reaching New Readers
- Find out how you can make your ebooks and other aspects of your business more inclusive, including regulations to know and the tools you can use to make it easier.
- Audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular among readers, but hiring professional narrators can be costly. For authors with a tighter budget or a smaller audience, learn DIY options that can make production more affordable.
- Newsletter swaps are one of the most effective, low‑cost ways to reach new readers. Learn ten tips to find partners, present compelling recommendations, and build long‑term relationships that benefit you and your readers.
Tools & Resources
- Explore our calendar of virtual and in-person events and conferences you won’t want to miss in 2026.
- A first look at StorytellerOS: IAM publisher Chelle Honiker’s latest project is designed to be the indie author’s operating system, integrating top publishing tools for every stage of the business into one platform.
- Prefer to listen to background noise while you work? MyNoise.net’s library of ambient sound mixes and background music is fully customizable and curated to help with focus, creativity, and stress relief, including for neurodivergent people and those with hearing loss.
- Monthly toolkit: Indie Author Training walks audiences through the AutoCrit editing software and talks with Dr. Marla J. Albertie about designing a writing career that fits.
Keeping up with the Industry
- Draft2Digital CEO Kris Austin shares how AI-generated content is truly affecting the industry from the distributor’s perspective.
- Authors in the US are granted a level of copyright protection automatically under federal law. But that may not be enough to protect your book in court. Learn what you can do to ensure others can’t take advantage of the work that is rightfully yours.
- ALLi Exclusive: The Alliance of Independent Authors shares what their Advisors expect will shape the industry going forward: finding new audiences, exploring new publishing outlets, and expanding into new mediums.
This issue brings together news from the publishing world, insights from top names in the industry, and growth strategies to help you build a stronger, savvier, and more sustainable author business in 2026.
Lady Shadow and the Pirate Hunter: Jeanette Strode and James Hunter on Defining Their Roles and Publishing LitRPG
Publishing is an adventure, one Jeanette Strode and James Hunter tackle together—just like the characters do in their LitRPG books. Now, thanks to their publishing house, the couple has helped more than thirty other authors start their adventures too.
Jenn Lessmann
How Adam Beswick Turned Six Figures into More than a Fantasy
The Fantasy author has used social media marketing and weekly TikTok live streams to boost his direct sales. It’s paid off—in the size of his business, which now publishes and supports other authors, and in profits, with one live stream bringing him £3,500 in a single night.
David Viergutz
ALLi Exclusive: Advisors Share Their Thoughts on What’s Coming for Authors in 2026
On the cusp of a new year, the Alliance of Independent Authors shares what their Advisors expect will shape the industry going forward: finding new audiences, exploring new publishing outlets, and expanding into new mediums.
The Alliance of Independent Authors
Get Your Calendar Ready—Stand-Out Indie Author Conferences Scheduled for 2026
2025 was filled with author conferences that invited indie authors to elevate their careers. Read what 2026 has on the books for indies at every stage, including where and when they’ll take place, how much they’ll cost, and where to go to reserve your tickets.
Robyn Sarty
Author Inklings: New Beginnings
In the first of a new series, IAM columnist Susan Odev embarks on a yearlong endeavor in her author business and invites authors at every stage to follow along in their own careers.
Susan Odev
When Copyright Isn’t Enough: Why Authors Should Consider Registering Their Work with the US Copyright Office
Authors in the US are granted a level of copyright protection automatically under federal law. But that may not be enough to protect your book in court. Learn what you can do to ensure others can’t take advantage of the work that is rightfully yours.
Des Smith-Daughety
Finding Your Voice: Options for Do-It-Yourself Audiobook Production
Audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular among readers, but hiring professional narrators can be costly. For authors with a tighter budget or a smaller audience, these DIY options can make production more affordable.
Jenn Lessmann
Draft2Digital CEO Details How AI Is Actually Affecting the Industry
Although AI-generated content poses a challenge in the nonfiction sphere, it’s one distributors have seen before—and fiction authors, whether they’re using the tools or worried about their influence, can rest easy, Kris Austin says.
Chelle Honiker
Beyond Alt Text: Why Your Ebooks Should Be Made Accessible—and How to Do It
This past May, Kindle Direct Publishing introduced a question about alt text to its ebook setup page. Here are other steps you can take to make your ebooks more accessible for readers and why it matters.
Jennifer Mitchell
StorytellerOS Brings Writing, Marketing, Sales Tracking, Publishing Workflows into One Workspace
IAM publisher Chelle Honiker’s latest project is designed to be the indie author’s operating system, integrating top publishing tools for every stage of the business into one platform.
Jenn Lessmann
Ten Tips for Newsletter Swaps in 2026
Newsletter swaps are one of the most effective, low‑cost ways to reach new readers. Here’s how to find partners, present compelling recommendations, and build long‑term relationships that benefit you and your readers.
Gayle Leeson
Ask a Book Coach: Sharing a Character’s Past Without Interrupting the Present
How do you include character backstory without stopping the flow of the story? Book coach Rona Gofstein offers her advice on keeping the balance between a character’s past and their present on the page.
Rona Gofstein
MyNoise.Net Creates Soundscapes that Set the Mood
The library of ambient sound mixes and background music is fully customizable and curated to help with focus, creativity, and stress relief, including for neurodivergent people and those with hearing loss.
Jackie Dana
