This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Sissy Mecca record live from SPS Live in London, surrounded by more than 500 authors from around the world. They share the atmosphere from the conference floor, discuss some of the standout sessions, and chat with special guests including volunteer coordinator Adrian Wills, Draft2Digital's Dan Wood, and Doug Pratt and Nick Harvey from the Two Indie Authors podcast. Topics include fandom building, direct sales, the future impact of AI on publishing, conference networking, and the power of community within the indie author world.

Key Talking Points

Behind-the-scenes insights into running SPS Live
The vital role volunteers play in creating a successful conference experience
Building author fandom and reader loyalty beyond the ebook
Lessons from Damon Courtney's "Taylor Swift Method" presentation
Why direct sales and special editions continue to grow in importance
The value of author conferences for networking and learning
How the indie publishing landscape is changing through AI
Why authors need to understand AI, even if they choose not to use it
The increasing importance of reader relationships and community building
Dan Wood's perspective on industry trends and adapting to change
A conversation with Nick Harvey and Doug Pratt about podcasting and the indie author community
The unique atmosphere and energy of SPS Live compared to other industry events

Links & Resources Mentioned

ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com
Draft2Digital: https://www.draft2digital.com
BookFunnel: https://bookfunnel.com
The Two Indie Authors Podcast
Vellum: https://vellum.pub
SPS Live: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive