# The Indy Author Podcast

> Weekly long-form interviews covering writing craft and indie publishing business in equal measure — 337+ episodes since 2016, named a Writer's Digest top website five years running.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/podcasts/the-indy-author-podcast
Website: https://www.theindyauthor.com/
Category: Podcasts (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/podcasts)
Pricing: free — $0
AI-powered: no
Tags: craft, interviews, indie-publishing, business, writing-technique, marketing, author-platform
Last verified: 2026-05-14
Best For: Authors who want long-form interviews covering both writing craft and indie business in equal depth
Episode Count: 337
Frequency: weekly
Host: Matty Dalrymple
Topic: writing-craft, marketing

The Indy Author Podcast has delivered weekly long-form interviews since May 2016, covering writing craft and publishing business with unusual balance — neither side dominates. Host Matty Dalrymple (pronounced DAL-rim-ple) publishes suspense thrillers under William Kingsfield Publishers, writes nonfiction for authors, contributes articles to *Writer's Digest*, and holds memberships in International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the Alliance of Independent Authors. That dual credential — working fiction author and publishing educator — shapes how the podcast handles both craft and business topics.

Writer's Digest has named TheIndyAuthor.com one of its "101 Best Websites for Writers" for five consecutive years (2022–2026), a distinction earned across hundreds of episodes.

## What You Get

- **Craft interviews:** Conversations with novelists, editors, and writing instructors on story structure, POV, character, dialogue, and genre conventions
- **Business interviews:** Coverage of publishing strategy, platform building, marketing, author newsletters, short fiction markets, and reader engagement
- **Collaboration episodes:** Dedicated coverage of coauthoring partnerships and how to structure and manage shared-book projects
- **Conference reporting:** Matty regularly attends and covers writing events, bringing insights from ALLi summits and genre-specific conferences
- **Nonfiction companions:** The podcast connects to Matty's author-focused nonfiction books, giving listeners deeper resources on specific topics

## Who It's For

- **Authors who want both craft and business:** Rather than choosing between a writing-craft podcast and a publishing-business podcast, The Indy Author covers both without skewing either direction
- **Newer indie authors building foundations:** The breadth of topics from first draft to career sustainability makes it useful for authors still assembling their complete framework
- **Genre fiction authors:** Matty's thriller and suspense background shapes guest selection — a higher proportion of genre fiction authors appear compared to literary or nonfiction guests

**Pricing:** Free. Support via Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee for listeners who want to contribute.

## Strengths

- **Consistent quality over ten years:** 337 episodes since May 2016 with a 4.9/5 Apple Podcasts rating reflects sustained editorial care, not early enthusiasm that fades
- **Writer's Digest recognition:** Five consecutive years as a top writer's website signals industry credibility beyond self-promotion — independent editorial recognition is a meaningful quality signal
- **Well-prepared interviewer:** Reviewers consistently note Matty's preparation and ability to push past surface-level answers — she reads guests' work before interviewing them
- **Genre fiction emphasis:** The depth of craft coverage for commercial fiction (pacing, structure, reveals, ensemble casts) is stronger than most indie author shows that prioritize marketing over writing

## Limitations

- **Smaller audience:** 30 Apple Podcasts ratings (4.9/5) indicates a dedicated but smaller listener base than shows like Novel Marketing or Self Publishing Show
- **Breadth over depth:** The combination of craft and business means neither topic gets as concentrated treatment as specialty podcasts — K.M. Weiland's *Helping Writers Become Authors* goes deeper on craft; *Self Publishing Formula* goes deeper on ads and revenue
- **Long-form investment:** Episodes run 40–75 minutes; the interview format rewards patient listeners but isn't designed for quick tactical learning

## Alternatives

For dedicated craft focus, K.M. Weiland's *Helping Writers Become Authors* covers story structure with greater depth. For dedicated business and marketing focus, *The Self Publishing Show* and *Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast* provide more concentrated tactical content.