Indie Awareness:Self-Published Books I've Recently Read … and you should too
I've been a good literary citizen this year!
By that I mean that I have read several independent authors' books. Some have been advance reader copies (ARCs) and others I've purchased in digital, paperback, or hardcover form. All are available on Amazon.
The wonderful thing I have to share with you is that these books are REALLY good. Go, indie authors!
It occurred to me this summer, after I'd put up my Little Free Library, that readers are hesitant to read books written by authors they don't know. (They're even picky about the ones they do know.) I stuck neon-colored stickers on a few of my titles and wrote "Local Author" on them. Then I signed the title page and wrote a quick note, which began with "Dear Neighbor."
Visitors to the LFL snapped those books up quickly. Other indie books have been taken, just not as fast. What this says to me is that we all need to focus on becoming better known. We need to make an effort to meet people online and in-person in the real world. If we do, we'll be sure to sell more books.
Keep that in mind as you make marketing plans, and I will too.
Without further ado, here are seven indie novels I've read so far this year:
THE FOURTH PORTAL [by J.A. Merkel]
I read JA's novella titled Bear (The Fall Gauntlet series) and was very impressed with his writing. The Fourth Portal marks his venture into the fantasy genre. This is a longer book (Bear is a novella) with a cool premise that catches fire in the second half.
Summary: Upholding her tribe's highest law, Fenri must keep her heart—the body's fourth portal—closed at all times, or face execution. Fenri is a Knowledger, a brilliant collector of information who dreams of discovering the ocean’s secrets. The tribe’s Masters grant her permission to explore the ocean, but only if she first traverses the perilous desert with four strangers to retrieve a precious base metal. Despite a condition that makes her slower and weaker than her counterparts, Fenri accepts the mission, eager to prove her worth. She will succeed or die trying.
DARK SANDS [by J.S. Harmon]
I read the ARC for this book, which will publish on September 25. Dark Sands is an accessible sci-fi novel. What stood our for me was the horror element mixed with excellent character development.
Summary: Among the first wave of specialists deployed to the planet Cahros is Tarlo, a young and optimistic biologist who has spent his life dreaming of adventure among the stars. For all his excitement, he feels a little out of his depth—everyone around him seems smarter, stronger, and better equipped to deal with whatever challenges lie ahead. The team is surprised to learn that the planet is home only to a barren, lifeless desert. All is quiet. That is, until night falls.
DRAGONFLY DOWN [by Annette Masters]
I'm a big fan of this author. Annette writes YA, and this is her second book (The Hennessy Lie was her debut). Both are currently picking up all kinds of honors.
Not only does Dragonfly Down have one of the most gorgeous covers I've ever seen, it's also one of the most gripping, intriguing, twisty YA novels out there. Masters knows how to get the most out of family secrets and the teenage determination to uncover them.
Summary: Ever since Laurel Greenleaf witnessed her father’s murder, she’s faked emotional stability, which is quite a feat, considering her mother is the world’s leading expert on adolescent trauma therapy. Tragedy strikes again when Laurel’s sister is presumed dead after an explosion. Refusing to accept or grieve Ollie’s death, Laurel rejects all evidence linked to the disaster . . . until the investigation ties her to arson, and she’s forced to solve the mystery of what happened that night.
THIS SIDE OF THE HUDSON [by Julia Bodwell]
Julia Bodwell has a gift for building tension and bringing on the big surprises. The star-crossed lovers in this book may be meant to be, but the the secrets between them are bound to tear them apart. An intense read.
Summary: Nick Webber and Kennedy Winters are from two different worlds. She's a private school Manhattanite with a musical prowess that could rival Beethoven. He's a public school Jersey boy destined for UCLA on a soccer scholarship. But when Kennedy's family dies and she's sent to live with her aunt and uncle in New Jersey, their worlds collide.
PORCH LIGHT [by Katy Keffer]
It has been a long time since I've read an entire book of poetry, but I had no problem speeding through Porch Light. Perfect reading for a crisp autumn day when the colored leaves are just beginning to fall.
Summary: At its heart, Porch Light is a story about growing up and gratitude. This debut collection of poems is an appreciation of childhood, nature, and character instilled from a central Kentucky upbringing.
OLYMPUS RISING [by Zoe Routh]
I look forward to every book Zoe Routh writes. This is Number 3 in the Gaia near-future eco-series, and it's as intense and entertaining as the two that came before.
Summary: Earth is dying. The Moon offers hope. But power corrupts, even in the vacuum of space. Commander Xanthe Waters fights to secure humanity's future energy source, helium-3, but a covert struggle for its control erupts. Xanthe finds herself caught in a web of political intrigue and betrayal, with her crew’s survival and Earth’s future on the line.
FAMILY TIES FAMILY LIES [by Jacqueline Boulden]
For those who like women's fiction and mystery, this novel is sure to entertain. At its core, it tells the story of a family secret slowly unearthed, but just as important, it's about a woman faced with the loss of a parent.
Summary: Rose has never liked returning to Lake Amelia in the foothills of the Adirondacks for more than a couple of days, but she has no choice. Doctors discover her mother has more health issues than anyone suspected, and Rose needs to help care for her. While poking around in the attic of her childhood home, Rose discovers personal items of her late father’s that hint of a secret life—and send shockwaves through her family.
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