Featherstone 
ALLi’s New Book Store: Global visibility for indie authors and fresh reads for book lovers
The Alliance of Independent Authors, the global membership organisation for self-publishing authors and authorpreneurs (and the team that bring you the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast and so much more) have announced the launch of the Indie Author Bookstore.
The Indie Author Bookstore is a new site offering global visibility for member’s books and author members can feature their books and link to the best sales outlets for them (free!). I’ve already popped three of my books in there.
As ALLi’s non-fiction advisor and one of the ALLi podcast crew (alongside Sasha Black, Joanna Penn, Orna Ross, Howard Lovy, Michael La Ronn, Dan Holloway and Joe Solari) I’ve watched this site shape behind the scenes from an idea to actual reality and it’s another great service ALLi is offering authors – and it’s free with membership.
What does the Indie Author Bookstore mean for readers?
It’s a way to find books of all genres, discover new writers, explore niches and support independent creators. There are many extraordinary independent books out there that are rigorous, creative, familiar through to trail blazing and beautifully produced…and now you can browse them easily to find your next read.
What does the Indie Author Bookstore mean for librarians, festival programmers, rights buyers and reviewers?
You can now find indie books in one easy place rather than scattered across multiple platforms and websites. This is a great way for you to discover fresh voices for your audiences in genres ranging from fantasy to interactive fiction, erotica to experimental, cosy mystery to YA. Plus poetry and all areas of non-fiction including books on creative practice, caregiving, climate and nature, arts and craft, memoir, business, cookbooks, true crime, history and more.
What does the Indie Author Bookstore mean for authors?
For ALLi members it provides a global online discovery space where you can feature your book and link to the best places for people to buy it, whether that be major bookstores, online sites or direct from yourself. It gives you and your books another presence on the web and that matters.
The site doesn’t replace retailers or centralise control and it doesn’t dictate how authors sell as you get to choose your own purchase links whether that’s to a major retailer or direct from your own website. It doesn’t guarantee sales, but it does create another front door and visibility for your book or books.
If you’re publishing from Australia, you’ll know how easy it can feel to be geographically removed from the bigger book buying populations in the Northern Hemisphere, so sites like this that increase discoverability – wherever you sell, however you sell – matter. Visibility compounds. The more places your work can be found, the greater the chance of the right person or algorithm coming across it.
For many authors, especially younger authors, independent-publishing is now the strategic first choice, especially as self-published authors on the whole make more income than traditionally-published authors, so there are some great books coming through too.
When a sector matures, it builds infrastructure, and that’s what ALLi is doing here, not in a super flash techie way, but a functional and flexible way for the benefit of indie authors and readers who care about supporting independent creatives.
Anyway, if you’re already an ALLi member, it’s likely worth listing your books if you haven’t already done so, and if you’re not an ALLi, member yet, it’s a great time to join.
According to ALLi and industry research:
- Self-published authors often earn more than traditionally published authors, underscoring the creative and financial potential of independent publishing. (ALLi)
- Self-publishing is increasingly Plan A for authors, with fewer than 50% of authors under 45 now wanting their next book traditionally published, meaning a majority actively prefer the self-publishing route. (Authors Guild)
Key links:
Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast