ALLi Media Releases

12.01.2026

Alliance of Independent Authors Launches Indie Author Lab in association with The London Book Fair, a New In-Person Learning Experience for Indie Authors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Monday, January 12th, 2026 | LONDON, UK — The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has announced the launch of Indie Author Lab in association with The London Book Fair, a brand-new, in-person learning and mentoring event created specifically for independent authors. Taking place on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at Kensington Town Hall, the event will run alongside London Book Fair week and marks ALLi’s first dedicated live experience of this kind.

Designed for depth, focus, and meaningful connection, Indie Author Lab brings together indie authors for a full day of practical learning, small-group mentoring, and community-led support. The event builds on ALLi’s long-running, annual online Self-Publishing Advice Conference, while offering a more immersive, hands-on format.

A Practical, Author-Centred Format

Indie Author Lab is structured around themed expert tables, each focused on a specific area of self-publishing or a common author challenge, from craft and editing to marketing, distribution, rights, and long-term career sustainability. Attendees will rotate through expert-led table sessions, ensuring focused discussion and tailored guidance.

Read the full release here.

26.09.2025

Self-Publishing Advice Conference 2025: The Premier Online Conference for Indie Authors Returns This October

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Friday, September 26, 2025, LONDON, UK — The Self-Publishing Advice Conference (SelfPubCon), the global online event dedicated to empowering independent authors, returns next month with an exciting new format and future-focused theme. Taking place live online from October 18–19, 2025, the conference is free to attend and promises two full days of expert-led sessions, practical advice, and inspiring insights for indie authors at every stage of their publishing journey.

Reimagined Format, Greater Engagement

In response to community feedback, SelfPubCon 2025 has moved away from its traditional 24-hour marathon format. This year’s event will run across two days, Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 9pm London / 8am to 4pm New York, with curated sessions spaced to allow for networking, live discussion, and community connection.

“SelfPubCon has always been about more than just learning new strategies. It’s a place for indie authors to connect, share, and grow together. This year, with our new two-day format, we’re giving attendees even more space to engage with speakers and each other.”— Kayleigh Brindley, SelfPubCon Manager

Read the full release here.

25.09.2025

ALLi Welcomes Anthropic Settlement Clarification as “Doubly Good News” for Indie Authors, Urges Recognition of Self-Publishers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Thursday, September 25, 2025, LONDON, UK — The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), the global nonprofit association for self-publishing authors, today welcomed the latest clarification in the $1.5 billion Anthropic copyright settlement—while stressing the need for explicit recognition of author-publishers in AI licensing and deals between Big Tech and publishing.

 This week, plaintiffs in the $1.5 billion case against Anthropic offered additional details on how payouts to rights holders will be distributed. The proposed framework introduces a default—but not mandatory—50/50 split between authors and publishers, while allowing for alternative contractual arrangements where evidence is provided.

While welcoming the progress, ALLi called attention to the lack of recognition by the courts and tech companies of self-publishing authors, who shoulder both creative and financial risk.

Orna Ross, novelist, poet, and founder-director of ALLi, said:

Read the full release here.

04.10.2024

Self-Publishing Advice Conference 2024 (#SelfPubCon24) Returns with ‘Author Publishing for Profit’ and Best Book Blurb Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Friday, October 4, 2024, LONDON, UK — The Self-Publishing Advice Conference 2024 (#SelfPubCon24), a 24-hour global online event in association with the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), is back this October 19th & 20th with a powerful focus on Publishing for Profit. This year’s event is set to deliver expert insights and actionable strategies that will help indie authors turn their creative work into a profitable business.

The conference will be packed with invaluable advice from industry leaders, including ALLi Director, Orna Ross, Russell Nohelty, Dale L. Roberts, Penny Sansevieri, Ricardo Fayet, Monica Leonelle, and many more. These sessions will empower authors at every stage of their journey to create better books, maximize profits, and expand their reach.

“This year, we asked our members what they most wanted from the conference, and the answer was clear: how to make more money from their booksales” said Kayleigh Brindley, Self-Publishing Advice Conference Manager. “We’ve put together an exciting line-up of sessions designed to inspire and equip indie authors all over the world with the skills they need to succeed.”

#SelfPubCon24 is generously sponsored by Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, Digital Authors Toolkit, Publish Drive, Bowker, Rubery Book Award, Reedsy, Gatekeeper Press, PublishAuthority, and BooksGoSocial.

Read the full release here.

23.02.2024

Engage with the Future of Publishing with the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) at the London Book Fair 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, February 23, 2024, LONDON, UK — The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is pleased to announce its extensive participation at the London Book Fair 2024, where it will host a series of pivotal events and talks, and welcomes the introduction of the new, ground-breaking Self-Publishing Zone.

The London Book Fair (LBF) is where the global publishing community unites to develop relationships, gain insights, and define the future of creative content. ALLi’s presence at Stand 1F51, at the heart of the new Self-Publishing Zone, speaks to the innovative strides taken by independent authors in recent years.

At LBF, indie authors can now network, find inspirations and insights, and catch up with the latest in publishing tools, services, and strategies that empower author-publishing.

Orna Ross, Director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, said: “Self-publishing is no longer ‘plan B’ but rather many authors’ first choice as a route to market, offering more income, impact, and creative independence. Yes, there are challenges, but the success of so many independent authors shows that they are far from insurmountable.”

Read the full release here.

06.09.2023

The Self-Publishing Advice Conference Returns with More Opportunities for Indie Authors to Succeed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, September 6, 2023, London, UK: The Self-Publishing Advice Conference (SelfPubCon) in association with the Alliance of Independent Authors on 21st-22nd October 2023, with a new theme and exciting opportunities for indie authors to learn, connect, and grow their self-publishing careers.

Each October, SelfPubCon offers 24 self-publishing presentations and panels across 24 hours, attracting top industry speakers like Joanna Penn, Jane Friedman, Dave Cohen, Anna Featherstone, Michael La Ronn, Russell Nohelty, Mark Dawson, Rachel McLean, and many more.

This year’s theme “Success Mindset for Indie Authors” is aimed at helping authors develop the mindset, strategies, and skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive self-publishing landscape.

In addition to insightful sessions, attendees will also benefit from new networking opportunities facilitated by a dedicated chat room alongside live workshop sessions, and a brand-new writing competition with big prizes on offer for four winners.

Read the full release here.

17.04.2023

Alliance of Independent Authors Survey Reveals that Self-Publishing Authors Earn More Than Writers with Publishers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 17, 2023, London, UK: Report launching at The London Book Fair shows self-published author incomes are growing year on year. 

A new survey reveals that authors who bypass traditional publishing channels see increased incomes from their writing and publishing year on year, against a background of authors with third-party publishers seeing a fall in earnings.

The world’s first independent, international survey of the incomes of self-published (“indie”) authors, commissioned by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), found that the median revenue in 2022 was US$12,749. Most significantly, average incomes of self-published authors were rising, with a 53% increase in 2022 over the previous year.

“ALLi has always believed that as well as enjoying more creative freedom, authors also enjoy greater commercial rewards from self-publishing,” said Orna Ross, ALLi Director. “Now that the results of this survey confirm that belief, we want to make sure all authors know that reports to the contrary are wrong. Writers can make a living as an author, if they do the work it takes to acquire good publishing skills, alongside good writing skills. Other indie authors are here to offer support at ALLi, and throughout the self-publishing community.”

In follow-up research, ALLi has commissioned the UK Copyright & Creative Economy Centre, CREATe, to expand analysis of the findings, particularly in relation to key demographic groups and factors that contribute to higher incomes. (Project sponsored by author education company Self-Publishing Formula.)

Read the full release here.

21.03.2023

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) Returns to the London Book Fair with Four Live Events for Indie Authors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, March 21, 2023, London, UK:

Following last year’s 10th anniversary celebrations, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) will provide four live events for self-publishing authors at this year’s London Book Fair (18-20 April). 

The London Book Fair (LBF) is a global marketplace for story creators and the publishing industry’s “essential spring chapter”.

ALLi launched at the 2012 London Book Fair, our director Orna Ross is a member of the LBF advisory board, representing the interests of independent authors, and ALLi returns yearly to present the latest self-publishing trends and advice.

Orna Ross, ALLi Director, commented, “LBF is always a highlight of ALLi’s live calendar, and this year is no exception. We’ll present panel sessions at the fair’s Author HQ and The Writer’s Summit, attend the prize giving ceremony of The Selfie Awards, and enjoy our annual networking party for independent authors at the fair, thanks to party sponsors Amazon KDP.”

ALLi will host panel sessions at the Author HQ and Writers’ Summit, as follows:

Read the full release here.

14.03.2022

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is ten years old!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 14, 2022, London, UK:

This year’s London Book Fair (5-7 April) marks ALLi’s tenth anniversary. Founded in 2012, in its first decade the premier membership association for self-publishing authors has already grown into an organisation with tens of thousands of members and subscribers across seven continents and achieved many remarkable “firsts” and successes.

ALLi’s most recent achievements include:

• • Winning the Romantic Novelist Association’s Indie Champion Award 2021
  • Topping the US Writer’s Digest “100 Best Publishing Websites for Authors 2021”, with its multi-award-winning Self-Publishing Advice Center
  • Broadcasting more than 450,000 downloads of the Self-Publishing Advice Podcast

“Today we celebrate all our members and friends who’ve made this past decade extraordinary,” said Orna Ross. “ALLi has grown bigger than we ever have imagined ten years ago, and that’s because self-publishing has become such an important part of the wider publishing industry and is such an exciting and positive route to publication for so many authors. ALLi exists to foster excellence and ethics in self-publishing and to advocate for author independence and empowerment. Our growth over this past decade shows how much our thousands of members and tens of thousands of subscribers value those aims. We cannot wait to see what the next decade brings for authors… and ALLi”

Read the full release here.

29.10.2021

ALLi Wins Romantic Novelist Association (RNA)’s inaugural Indie Champion Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 29, 2021, London, UK:

The team at the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is pleased to share the news that our global association for self-publishing authors has won the Romantic Novelist Association (RNA)’s inaugural Indie Champion Award, at a London ceremony on 28th October 2021. 

The RNA awards celebrate persons, groups and organisations who champion the broad genre of romantic fiction in a positive way, with the Indie Champion award recognising a person, group, organisation, or company who has made an outstanding contribution to indie romance publishing.Orna Ross, Director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, commented, “It is my great pleasure to accept this Indie Champion award on behalf of the ALLi team, advisors and ambassadors — and of course our members, each one a proud champion of independence as they go about their work of self-publishing great books. I would like to thank the Romantic Novelists’ Association for this award and also for its openness to independent authors. Since the arrival of digital publishing technology over a decade ago, self-publishing romance authors have been at the forefront of innovation — so it is a great honour for us to receive this award from the most forward-thinking writers in publishing. Thank you. And long live the love!”

Read the full release here.

19.11.2020

ALLi Downgrades Amazon ACX to “Caution”

Rising concerns over income loss from Amazon Audible’s refund and exchange policies. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 19, 2020, London, UK:

The Alliance of Independent Authors has today downgraded its rating of Amazon ACX as a self-publishing service from “Approved“ (via “Pending” during investigation) to “Caution”, arising from concerns about income loss from Amazon Audible’s refund and exchange policies, and deteriorating customer service to authors and narrators.

ALLi now has reason to believe that Amazon Audible’s refund and return policies are resulting in unknown numbers of audiobook authors and narrators around the world being deprived of income.

“We urge ACX to introduce a more equitable payment model for writers and other audiobook creatives,” says Orna Ross, Director of the Alliance of Independent Authors. “Indie authors and narrators are highly appreciative of ACX’s innovative marketplace which allows authors and narrators to create and distribute audiobooks with ease. And of Audible, equally innovative in driving the recent audiobook revolution which has been so enriching for authors and audiobook listeners, especially those who find voice more accessible than text. But Amazon’s dominant position in the audiobook market cannot be used to deprive authors and other creators of their rightful share of earned income.”

Read the full release here.

10.09.2019

ALLi Launches First Rights Program for Indie Authors

Opening Up the Rights Industry Through Education and Coaching

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday September 10, 2019, Nashville, Tennesse, USA:

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), the global non-profit association for self-publishing authors, has announced an Indie Author Rights Program which will run across the next six months.

“The Indie Author Publishing Rights Program aims to open up the rights industry to indie authors through a publicly accessible education and coaching program,” said Orna Ross, founder and director of ALLi, speaking at Digital Book World 2019 in Nashville. “The aim is to help a group of indie authors get ready to properly pitch translation rights at London Book Fair 2020, with the hope those meetings and potential deals lead to the sale of translation rights.”

Read the full release here.

12.08.2019

ALLi Launches the First Self-Publishing Poetry Podcast

#AskALLi Video and Podcast Series Launch 2019-2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, August 12, 2019, London, UK: 

In another first for the London based authors organization, and as part of its 2019-2020 season of broadcasts, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is to launch the first Self-Publishing Poetry Podcast.

ALLi’s new 2019/2020 broadcast lineup offers weekly Facebook live videos and bi-weekly audio podcasts, and reflects the two most notable trends in self-publishing today: the rise in poetry as a commercial genre; and the rise in audio consumption, through both podcasting and audiobooks.

Read the full release here.

11.06.19

APWG Report on Author Earnings Misses the Mark

Report Sends Wrong Message to Writers and Misses the Opportunity in Self-Publishing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, June 11, 2019, London, UK: There’s a revolution underway in the publishing industry. Independent authors are writing, publishing, licensing rights, and earning significant incomes in one or more business models. But the All-Party Writers Group’s (APWG) report released today remains stuck in the age-old earnings battle between trade publishers and their content providers.

“Until author organizations embrace the fact that the global publishing landscape has changed and authors are often better off when they self-publish,” says Orna Ross, founder and director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, “authors will continue to grapple with sub-par earnings.”

Read the full release here.

13.03.2019

ALLi Members Win and Place in Inaugural Award for Self-Published Authors

Jane Davis, member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and author of Smash all the Windows, was announced at London Book Fair (LBF) late Tuesday as the winner of the top prize in a new award to recognize the best work of fiction self-published in the UK in 2018.

“We congratulate Jane Davis for this well-deserved recognition of much more than having written and published an excellent book,” says Orna Ross, founder and director of ALLi. “It’s also an acknowledgement that indie authors are producing work of unquestionable merit and must master the double challenge of writing a great book and also publishing it.”

Read the full release here.

03.03.2019

Indie Authors & Poets Break Through at The London Book Fair

Independent authors will make a big appearance at the 2019 London Book Fair (LBF). Members of ALLi, the Alliance of Independent Authors, are flying in from all over the world to take part in one of the year’s largest global publishing events.

“ALLi launched at the London Book Fair seven years ago,” says Orna Ross, founder and director of the Alliance of Independent Authors. “And this year, the program for both the beginner and experienced author-publisher has expanded.”

Read the full release here.

30.01.2019

Retirement? Not for Indie Authors

Independent authors have no plans to “retire” or stop writing and publishing as they age. However, according to the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), all authors need to pay more attention to intellectual property and estate planning. And the long-term management of publishing and other creative assets is particularly pressing for self-publishing authors.

A survey conducted informally by ALLi through one of its member forums (of more than 1600 independent authors working in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and the EU), revealed that the overwhelming majority have no plans to retire from their writing.

“I decided to retire from running a little publishing company when I was 75,” says Tony Whelpton, author of literary fiction. “I published my own first novel at the age of 79 and am well underway with my eighth. I am 86 and I intend to carry on until I drop.”

Read the full release here.

30.09.2018

Alliance of Independent Authors Applauds Digital Book World for Opening Up to Indie Authors

Nashville, TN, September 30 – This is the future, now. ALLi, the Alliance of Independent Authors, is celebrating the new wave of publishing represented by the Digital Book World (DBW) conference in Nashville, Tennessee, October 2-4, 2018. ALLi applauds the move of DBW from old to new publishing, from the establishment to the fringe, and from NYC to Nashville.

“We love that it’s a conference which has flung the door open to publishers of every sort and size, from trade publishers to Amazon and Ingram and PublishDrive, to micro indie-publishers and self-publishing authors,” says Orna Ross, founder and director of ALLi.

ALLi’s theme for the conference is: True Independence for Authors Is Commercial and Creative Independence.

Read the full release here.

Oct 2015: ALLiance of Independent Authors launch latest ALLi Self-publishing Service Directory

“The latest ALLi Self-publishing Directory, launched at the Frankfurt Book Fair, is the essential guide to the industry for both beginner and published author alike” Read More

July 2015: Orna Ross launches Secret Rose in tribute to #Yeats2015

“The Secret Rose is WB Yeats short story collection published in 1897, Her Secret Rose is the new novel from Orna Ross, and now both are combined in a unique book for #Yeats2015.” Read More

 

July 2015: Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) explains the legal essentials for indie authors

“ALLi Director Orna Ross joins forces with author and lawyer Helen Sedwick to discuss copyright, contracts and scams.” Read More

 

Jan 2015: Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) to globally extend IndieReCon 2015

“ALLi will join forces with IndieReCon in 2015, offering a global conference aimed at providing the best advice and education for independent-minded authors across the world, particularly those with an interest in self-publishing.” Read More

 

Dec 2014: Subsidiary Rights for Self-Publishers: ALLi and Toby Mundy Associates unveil a ground-breaking partnership

“The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and the agency Toby Mundy Associates (TMA) have come together to create a unique subsidiary rights service for independent (‘self-published’) authors. From 1 January 2015, TMA will begin selling translation and other subsidiary rights for eligible ALLi members”. Read More

 

Nov 2014: Alliance of Independent Authors debuts Ethical Author Code at Futurebook Big Ideas Panel

“One of our cornerstones is to encourage all sectors of the self-publishing world – from aspiring author-publishers to global service providers – to aim for the highest standards of ethics and excellence and this directory is an important step towards realising that goal”. Read More

 

Oct 2014: ALLi’s Self Publishing Directory Launches at Frankfurt Book Fair 2014

“One of our cornerstones is to encourage all sectors of the self-publishing world – from aspiring author-publishers to global service providers – to aim for the highest standards of ethics and excellence and this directory is an important step towards realising that goal”. Read More

 

Aug 2014: ALLi announces new Self Publishing Directory

“ALLi is committed to ensuring our Partner Members offer something of tangible value to authors. The directory acts as a showcase for trustworthy services. Combined with the insight and advice from our Author Members and Advisors, this will be a great way for authors to explore and connect with committed publishing professionals”;Read More

 

May 2014: ALLi launches Choosing A Self Publishing Service

“Many authors feel paralysed by choice when faced with the array of self-publishing alternatives before them. Our watchdog team has done the hard work of research and comparison, so we can point a clear pathway through the rapidly changing, and often confusing, landscape of author services.”Read more

May 2014: ALLi unveils packed BEA schedule

“All in all it’s going to be an exciting BEA for ALLi. We’re looking forward to getting together, networking, learning, and advising the publishing world about the benefits and delights of self-publishing. ”Read more

 

April 2014: ALLi and Kobo announce OUTIA launch

“Kobo is eager to work with ALLi on the Open Up to Indie Authors program and publication, thereby continuing to assist authors with navigating the critical yet often complex layers, relationships and processes surrounding the book industry.”Read more

 

March 2014: ALLi Teams With Royal Society of Literature at TLC Conference

“The Writing in a Digital Age conference… is a unique event in the writing calendar. ALLi is proud to be an associate of a conference that offers such a broad and diverse view of the current publishing landscape.””Read more

 

March 2014: ALLi welcomes Author Solutions action

“We very much commend this move by The Bookseller and applaud the campaigning work of David Gaughran and Victoria Strauss in particular, as well as the many others in the author-publishing community who tirelessly work for a fair deal for writers”Read more

 

February 2014: ALLi offers London Book Fair discounts

“Issues we’ll be covering range from rights management and copyright through to the best platforms for self-publishing, panel discussions, top author publishing tips, alongside anniversary celebrations, book launches and our first ever indie author fringe fest.”Read more

 

February 2014: ALLi announces Spring Events

“We pride ourselves on the range and value of the discounts we offer our members and the book fair discounts are always popular. It helps budget conscious writers take advantage of the increasing opportunities at such fairs.”Read more

 

February 2014: ALLi explores Film Rights for members

“The TV and film world are waking up to the potential of self-published novels and stories and we are very pleased to be bringing this new service to our members.”Read more

 

February 2014: ALLI secures Kobo as OUTI Sponsors

“Being able to draw on Kobo’s extensive network of local and regional partners will make Opening Up to Indie Authors a truly global launch, with author-publishers all over the world reaching out to their local bookstores at the same time — another publishing first.”Read more

 

January 2014: ALLi and IPR team up on selling rights

“ALLi is always investigating ways to help its members sell more books and sell rights. IPR are doing very interesting work in this arena and we are happy to explore the possibilities for rights sales with them on behalf of our members.”Read more

 

January 2014: ALLi influences Fiction Uncovered award

“The annual summer promotion which has been dubbed the ‘Mercury Prize’ for UK writers, Fiction Uncovered aims to bring ‘under-discovered’ writers to a wider audience. Working in association with ALLi, the promotion is now accepting author-published work for the first time.”Read more

 

December 2013: ALLi announces IngramSpark discounts

“ALLi is delighted to be working closely with Ingram to help deliver the best possible service for indie authors as publishing and trading conditions change.”