# Indie Author Magazine

> Monthly print, digital, and audio magazine for self-published authors covering marketing, design, distribution, business strategy, and AI tools.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities/indie-author-magazine
Website: https://indieauthormagazine.com
Category: Author Communities (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/communities)
Pricing: paid — $6–$20/monthly
AI-powered: no
Tags: magazine, education, business, marketing, distribution, podcast, training, monthly
Last verified: 2026-06-18
Best For: Business-oriented indie authors who want in-depth themed coverage of marketing, distribution, and AI tools — free podcast for audio learners
Community Type: education
Genre Focus: general
Member Count: Subscriber community
Platform: website

Indie Author Magazine launched in 2020 when publisher Chelle Honiker organized a Zoom group of 22 authors during the pandemic lockdowns. That community of writers became the editorial foundation of a professional monthly publication now available in print, digital (ePub + PDF), ebook, and audio formats. Each issue centers on a named expert or theme, covering the practical business side of self-publishing: cover design, outlining methods, distribution strategies, reader-direct marketing, AI tools, and business mindset.

## Subscription Tiers

- **Free (90-day delay):** Every article eventually becomes free — but non-subscribers wait 90 days after the issue releases to read it.
- **Digital ($5.99/month or $59.99/year):** Immediate access to the current issue, full back-issue archive in ePub and PDF, subscriber-only webinars, and discounts from Reedsy, BookFunnel, and other vendors. (The annual digital price was lowered from $79.90 to $59.99.)
- **Print + Digital Premium ($9.99/month or $199.99/year):** Everything in Digital, plus the printed magazine mailed **quarterly**, an enhanced Direct2Readers book listing, a quarterly Storyteller Showcase feature, and an AuthorAutomations.Social subscription.
- **Standalone Monthly Print ($19.99/month):** A physical magazine mailed every month (with digital access) sold separately through the shop — for readers who want print delivered monthly rather than quarterly.
- **Podcast (free):** "Indie Annie" reads each issue's articles aloud — a no-cost option for auditory learners on all major podcast platforms.

## What You Get

- **Themed Monthly Issues:** Each issue features a named author, industry expert, or specific topic (past issues have featured Joanna Penn, Becca Syme, and Darcy Pattison). Content goes deeper than blog-post length — full articles with practical application focus.
- **Indie Author Training:** Course marketplace and live webinar series from industry service providers, separate from the magazine subscription.
- **Direct2Readers:** Honiker's reader-discovery platform connecting authors with readers for new book launches and exclusive offers.
- **Storyteller Showcase:** Reader-facing discovery magazine where authors can buy a $100 classified-style listing to reach readers and industry professionals.
- **Subscriber Forums:** Private community access for paying subscribers to discuss issues and connect with other authors.

## Who It's For

- **Business-Oriented Authors:** Writers who want to understand the full self-publishing ecosystem — not just how to write, but how to publish profitably. Each issue addresses production, distribution, marketing, and financial strategy together.
- **Audio and On-the-Go Learners:** The free podcast delivers the full issue content without a subscription commitment.
- **Conference-Goers:** Subscribers receive discounts on Author Nation, Reedsy events, and other industry conferences, which can partially offset subscription cost.

**Pricing:** $5.99/month or $59.99/year (digital) | $9.99/month or $199.99/year (Print + Digital Premium, quarterly print) | $19.99/month (standalone monthly print). Podcast is free.

## Strengths

- **Depth Over Breadth:** Themed issues provide sustained coverage of a single topic rather than scattered tips. An issue on AI tools, for example, covers multiple platforms, implementation tactics, and business implications together.
- **Multiple Formats:** Print, digital, ebook, audio, and app access makes the content genuinely accessible across learning preferences.
- **Community Origin:** The pandemic Zoom origin story is not just backstory — editorial decisions reflect a community of working authors rather than a media company's marketing agenda.

## Limitations

- **No Ongoing Community Platform:** Unlike Scribophile or 20Books to 50K, Indie Author Magazine is primarily a publication, not an interactive community. Subscriber forums are available but are not the core offering.
- **Print Cost:** The Print + Digital Premium tier ($9.99/month or $199.99/year) only mails a physical issue quarterly; monthly print delivery costs $19.99/month ($240/year) through the shop. Print makes sense only for readers who strongly prefer physical magazines.
- **90-Day Delay:** The free tier requires patience — a September issue won't be freely available until December, limiting its currency for fast-moving topics like AI tools.

## Alternatives

Jane Friedman's newsletter and blog (free) and The Creative Penn (free and paid) offer comparable education depth for authors who prefer written resources without a subscription. For a broader community experience alongside education, the SPF Community (selfpublishingformula.com) includes a podcast, Facebook group, and courses.