Matty Dalrymple talks with Melissa Addey about THE BIG INDIE AUTHOR DATA DROP 2024, including author income data; whether trad pub income is spikier than indie pub income; the growth of libraries; the continuing popularity of paperback; selling direct; trends in KU; the power of the backlist; behavioral aspects of indie authors (it's not what I would have expected!); the fact that indie and trad is not an either / or decision; and the importance of seeing the bigger picture (not just the shiny objects).
If one of those topics piques your interest, you can easily jump to that section of the interview by clicking on the flagged timestamps below.
0:00 Meet Melissa Addey
00:47 The dearth of data related to indie publishing
01:49 Author income data
04:59 Is trad pub income spikier than indie pub income?
08:52 Most illuminating commercial insights
09:05 Growth of libraries
09:49 Readers want stories with diverse characters
10:21 Gen Zs are readers
11:48 The continuing popularity of paperback
13:24 Selling direct
15:37 Acting on the data
16:30 Behavioral aspects of indie authors (it's not what I would have expected!)
18:06 Indie authors are positive about indie publishing
20:25 Indie and trad is no longer an either / or
22:51 Trends in KU
23:45 The power of the backlist
28:20 The power of a solid foundation
31:09 Acting on the data
33:36 Seeing the bigger picture (not just the shiny objects)
Show notes (including summary and transcript) at www.theindyauthor.com/podcast... and search for "238"
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Melissa Addey is The Alliance of Independent Authors Campaigns Manager, focusing on ethics and excellence in self-publishing, as well as an author of historical fiction set in China, Morocco, and Ancient Rome.
Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer’s Digest" magazine. As of May 2024, she serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.