Author scams are everywhere right now. Here’s what to watch for
If you’ve been in online publishing spaces for long, you’ve probably noticed something: The author scams are getting bolder. And more tricky. And more frequent. The …
KDP author copies and Prime shipping
In author groups on social media, every so often this question comes up: Why can’t I get Amazon Prime shipping for my author copies? Well, officially, …
Playing by the Rules: 6 affiliate link dos and don’ts in 2026
If you’re based in the United States, or if your site has visitors who are, you need to know US law for affiliate marketing. If you’re …
Foil or spot UV: BookVault cover setup for indie author special editions
In this 5-minute tutorial, I’ll walk you through the BookVault cover setup for using either foil or spot UV treatments—including the key differences you NEED to …
November writing challenges: 7 free events in 2025
Some authors already know they love a goal with some group accountability, and November writing challenges can be the perfect thing. I hear others talking about …
Special edition book printing: Stunning formatted edges
If you walk in a bookstore today, you’ll see some over-the-top-gorgeous books, especially in the romance and fantasy sections. Not just the foil titles we’ve seen …
Final book prep: A 10-minute Vellum book formatting checklist to save your sanity
“Did I miss anything?” Or, in other words, “How do I know my book format is ready to upload and I didn’t forget something dumb?” I’ve …
Vellum pro tip: The hidden Vellum feature “Format Next Paragraph”
Check out this hidden Vellum feature that formatters can use for unindented paragraph continuations! When you have a split paragraph and need the next sentence to …
Understanding Image Bleed: Simplifying setup for indie authors
If you’re working with images in your book manuscript—whether it’s a map, an illustration, or just a background—you’ve likely come across the term bleed. It’s one …
Troubleshooting in Vellum: common issues explained
Inside my new Indie Author Toolkit group, and elsewhere on Facebook, we get to deal with a lot of common issues, both inside Vellum and with …