Did you know?

Indie authors earn more than authors who are traditionally published. ALLi’s 2025 Indie Author Income Survey found that median self-published author income was $13,500, growing at a healthy 6% year-on-year whereas the typical traditionally published author earned only $6k–$8k and was trending down. (ALLi)

Here are 10 more facts about self-publishing today.

1. The Indie Author Bookstore is now live. In Spring 2026 the Alliance of Independent Authors launched the Indie Author Bookstore, an online showcase of thousands of indie-authored books, all gathered in one place. You can explore it here. 

2. Self-publishing is now Plan A. Fewer than 50% of authors under 45 now want their next book traditionally published—meaning a majority actively prefer the self-publishing route. (Authors Guild)

3. Indies are selling direct. 30% of authors are now selling direct, with a further 30% planning to in 2026. (ALLi and Written Word Media)

4. Author Sentiment. 93% of indie authors describe themselves as somewhat or extremely positive about self-publishing. (Kingston University)

5. Reverse gender pay gap: Self-published women earn ≈41% more than men, the mirror image of traditional publishing. (ALLi)

6. Diversity: LGBTQIA+ authors out-earn straight counterparts by ≈20% and are proportionally over-represented among Indies. (ALLi)

7. AI is growing as a marketing tool: Up to 45 percent of authors are using AI for marketing and research. Some 70 percent of users report a positive impact on their business. (ALLi and BookBub).

8. Libraries are growing: More than 15,000 US indie authors have been given entry to libraries thanks to the Indie Author Project. (Publishers Weekly)

9. Author offerings continue to expand: Indie authors are moving beyond e-books and POD, into multiple formats and services, from audiobooks and libraries to speaking at festivals. (ALLi)

10. Indie authors are prolific: The average number of books written by authors spending 50% of their time or more writing was 14. (ALLi)

Indie Authors Look to Libraries for Growth

Libraries are one of the biggest—and sometimes overlooked—sources of readers for indie authors.

Recent research from the Authors Guild found that 29% of all print and ebook reading comes from public libraries, making libraries a larger source of books than new purchases. By comparison, only 19% of books read in the previous month had been bought new, while 10% were bought second-hand and 6% came through paid subscription services such as Kindle Unlimited. The remaining books came from personal collections or were borrowed from other sources.

The picture is even stronger for audiobooks. The Authors Guild found that 37% of digital audiobooks were borrowed from libraries—slightly more than the 36% that were purchased or accessed through paid subscriptions. Written Word Media’s 2026 reader survey reinforces this trend, with 51% of audiobook listeners saying they borrow titles through Libby or Hoopla, ahead of the 48% who subscribe to Audible.

For self-published authors, this represents a significant opportunity. Libraries don’t just introduce books to individual readers—they help authors build visibility, generate word-of-mouth recommendations and reach people who may never have discovered their work otherwise. Since 2025, Kindle Unlimited authors have also been able to make their books available to libraries without breaking Amazon exclusivity, removing a barrier that previously deterred many authors.

Making books available to libraries is straightforward through distributors such as Draft2Digital, which supplies both ebooks and print editions to library wholesalers. Authors should also register for Public Lending Right (PLR) schemes where available, ensuring they receive payments when their books are borrowed.

The message from the data is clear: libraries are not a niche market. They are one of the world’s largest book discovery engines. For indie authors looking to expand their readership, increase long-term visibility and grow loyal fans, libraries deserve to be a central part of every publishing strategy.