As summer kicks off, most schools are celebrating the chance to take a break from learning—but there seems to be no shortage of classes, courses, and conferences in the next couple of months for indie authors.
A host of indie publishing events set to start in the coming weeks mean summer “school” is in session for authors wanting to improve their businesses or grow their readership. Inkers Con 2026, a ten-day digital conference for independent fiction authors, starts tomorrow, May 30. Tickets cost $249, but IAM readers can get $50 off through the final day of the conference with the code INDIE26. (Note: Indie Author Magazine may make a small commission from your purchase, at no extra cost to you.) Learn more about the conference, view this year’s speaker’s lineup, and get your tickets at https://inkerscon.com/2026-digital-conference.
Later, Self Publishing Show Live 2026 will bring authors to London’s South Bank June 11 and 12 to hear from speakers such as author Sacha Black, Reedsy co-founder Ricardo Fayet, and more. Find out more at https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive, and see other conferences and events planned for this summer in IAM’s 2026 events calendar.
Robyn Sarty
Authors don’t have to commit to days of sessions and conferences to improve their businesses. Several Indie Author Training webinars and courses are also on the calendar for the coming weeks—you can view those that are scheduled already at https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/schedule, and keep an eye out for more in the Indie Author Training section of future newsletters.
Are you sharpening your pencils and breaking out a new notebook yet? Before you gather the rest of your study materials, keep reading to add a few more articles and resources to your reading list.
This Week's Indie Author Magazine Articles
In an article on predicted author trends in 2026, Written Word Media called direct sales “the most valuable asset an author can own.” With authors facing challenges in discoverability with algorithm shifts on third-party platforms, and with those same platforms continuing to limit authors’ earning and marketing potential, more are turning to direct sales as a way to build their business and secure it for the future. In this week’s Monday Close-Up, IAM publisher Chelle Honiker shares ten tips for authors looking to create a direct sales storefront as a new sales avenue for their business—which platforms work best, which products to list first, and how to manage the site without it eating up your writing time.
Chelle Honiker
Teachings from Indie Author Training This Week
Webinar: “Circulate! Getting Your Books into Bookstores and Libraries”
Regardless if you’re pubbed traditionally or indie, getting your books into bookstores and libraries can still be a struggle. Circulate! walks you through the process of how bookstores and libraries acquire titles, how to obtain them as well as give you the tools you need to get your books seen. You’ll also learn how to write a cover letter and a sell sheet as well as how to approach libraries and bookstores.
You can watch the replay here: https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/talks/circulate-getting-your-books-into-bookstores/
More Indie Publishing News
Here’s a look beyond our pages at the latest headlines and happenings in the publishing world.
- What's the task you enjoy least in running your indie author business? Good news: IAM publisher and Author Automations creator Chelle Honiker probably knows how to automate it. Last week, Honiker sat down with hosts Douglas Pratt and Nick Harvey on the Two Authors’ Podcast to discuss how she’s automated various parts of her business, from sorting through her inbox to managing direct sales. She also shared a host of tips, strategies, and platforms other authors can use to do the same. You can listen to the episode here: https://thetwoauthorschatshow.podbean.com/e/automations-with-chelle-honiker. You can also find more insights and lessons on automating your author business at https://authorautomations.com.
- Novelists, Inc. (NINC) launched a YouTube series last week aimed at teaching the craft and business of writing and publishing professionally. The organization’s first video, hosted by USA TODAY best-selling author Rebecca Hefner, explored how authors can maximize audiobook earnings. The organization plans to publish a new video each week, according to a Facebook post, with upcoming topics including selling direct, the 2026 traditional publishing landscape, and what authors should know about copyrights and trademarks. Watch Hefner’s video and view future installments at https://www.youtube.com/@novelistsinc/videos.
- Last week, Spotify for Authors announced a new AI tool powered by ElevenLabs for producing and publishing audiobooks on its platform. The feature is currently set to beta-launch in June on an invite-only basis, according to an article by TechCrunch. At the same time, ElevenLabs announced the addition of two hundred thousand audiobooks and ebooks to the company’s ElevenReader site. The new titles are considered “premium” titles, according to an announcement by the company, and will be available to paying subscribers as part of the new ElevenReaders Ultra program, which costs $11 per month for 20 hours of listening. The app also offers a free tier for listeners.
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.
