Indie Book Love

Image by Karthik Sridasyam via Unsplash.

I was thrilled to learn this week that I’ve been selected as a finalist for Kirkus’s Inaugural Indie Book Awards, one of its six finalists in the romance category. After a pushing through a particularly tedious stretch of editing, I was delighted by the unexpected glitter thrown my way. I’m grateful for the recognition, but I’m also grateful to be an indie author right now.

Opportunities for indie authors continue to expand, and it’s never been easier for any author to connect with readers. The publishing industry increasingly celebrates every author’s unique (messy, unscripted, crazy-making, wondrous) path to publication. Bottom line: as an indie author, the response I receive most often is supportive and inclusive.

I’ve also never prioritized reading books by indie authors the way I do now, and my reading life is richer for it. To keep this week’s indie book love momentum going, I’m sharing some of the reasons I value indie books as a reader. If you don’t have many indie books on your nightstand, read on!

I bet I can entice you to give an indie author the chance to provide your next favorite read. Here goes!

• Be the first

As a teen, I wasn’t familiar enough with the publishing industry to focus on reading books by indie authors. But I did love discovering music by indie artists. I vividly recall finding emerging artists, sharing names and CDs (remember those?) with friends, and feeling that strong, proprietary sense that a new song was all mine.

I loved the moment of first blush. I remember savoring that stretch of time before the rest of the world took note of an artist’s talent, when I would memorize lyrics no one else knew yet and pass an artist’s name along to a trusted few like a secret.

And that egoic high of recommending the band first? I don’t think that ever gets old.

Now, I do the same digging and savoring and excitedly recommending with books. Though I (of course!) love traditionally published books, I view my bookshelf as an expansive creation of my own making. It’s like Mary Poppins’s magic carpet bag. And like Mary, I always can find a way to make room. I do love reading those bestselling, blockbuster books with everyone else, but I won’t limit my bookshelf to the books everyone recognizes.

I’ll always believe there’s merit in giving a less hyped book its chance to shine.

Because an indie book often hasn’t saturated the conversation like its buzzy counterparts, it has the capacity to offer unexpected surprises. Maybe your family, your friends, your book club, and your colleagues haven’t read it yet. If you’re the first to crack its spine, you’re that rare gem: a totally neutral, unbiased reader.

If you don’t love it, you’ve had the adventure of exploring uncharted territory. But if you do, you can be the first to spread the word.

• Break out of the Box

Many indie authors find a home for their work outside of traditional publishing because their work doesn’t fit neatly into existing categories. While products that innovate can be beneficial in any industry, sometimes a concept goes slightly too far. If a book pushes too many boundaries, it can appear less marketable.

My own book, Summer Triangle, contains songs, mythic references, and other nontraditional quirks. Though I love beach reads, I intentionally challenged the contours of what a beach read could be. I valued my publisher, Atmosphere Press, for its team’s capacity to hold the vision I had for it.

While my publisher elevated my book, its essence remained the same.

I’ve connected with many authors who value the sense of creative control that the indie landscape offers. The freedom. The speed. The fluidity. The ability to commit to a specific vision. I’ve heard indie authors list these reasons and more for spotting a fork in the road and opting for the nontraditional path.

Every completed novel has likely had many eyes on it, but a completed indie book may remain uncommonly true to its author’s original vision. And who knows? That specific story may land with the right reader, at exactly the right moment.

• Be a Part of an Author’s Story

While authors choose to publish indie books for myriad reasons, most of us make that choice with our eyes wide open. To be blunt: we understand that a fair amount of hustle will be involved, and that most of our self-promotion will likely fall on our shoulders.

Personally, I’ve found connecting with other authors, publishing professionals, and readers immensely gratifying. The sense of community has caught me off guard in the best way. I don’t at all mind the hustle the way I worried I would.

Because I’m a reader, too. When I was the girl growing up with her nose in a book, I had no idea how many people adored books the way I did. The way I do. And while I love playing with words, I find it difficult to articulate how connected I feel to other author’s journeys. I genuinely feel thrilled when they have a win. Across the board, I’ve never doubted a deep sense of reciprocity when I’ve engaged with indie authors, too.

If I review someone’s work, I always feel their gratitude. If I promote someone’s launch, that effort will be shared and appreciated. Make no mistake: I don’t support people to receive their thanks. I support indie authors because their work is varied and compelling and absolutely worth my time. But gratitude is often the byproduct when we take the time to acknowledge what others are trying to build.

For any author, hearing “I loved what you wrote” is its own magical love language. For an indie author, it might be the quiet nudge that encourages a writer to keep going.

Maybe an indie author is always an underdog, but underdogs have a way of giving us the best stories. When you support indie authors, you become an integral part of their story. They wrote the words first, but you’ll help those stories take on new life.

• Build your Bookish Community

If you’re interested in reading more indie books, I have some ideas for you! First, I’ll highlight that supporting indie books opens doors to new bookish communities. So, I’d encourage you to begin where you are. Your local bookseller will likely have local indie recommendations, and librarians are a rich source of underrated indie reads.

If you prefer engaging with digital communities, start with your favorite social media platform or Goodreads. You can search for indie books generally, limit your search to a favorite genre, or check out which books your favorite authors are recommending. If a book looks appealing, don’t be shy! I’d consider reaching out to the author directly. They’ll probably have information about upcoming events, fun giveaways, and further opportunities to connect.

Prominent reviewers such as Kirkus Reviews provide detailed reviews of indie books. These reviews can be key for discovering the book that fits you best.

I’ve always believed that books find us when we need them. Indie books are simply another pathway to that connection. While I’m not precious about any book’s backstory, I’ll always take pleasure in helping someone live a dream. When you support an indie author, you can be assured you’re doing just that.

I hope you’ll join me in making space for books by indie authors. And after you discover your next favorite indie read, I hope you’ll reach out and share its title!