Indie author interviews, news, spotlights, and more.
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Nowadays, the power to tell a compelling story is no longer limited to The Big Five publishers. An indie author controls their brand without the pressures of market demands, allowing creativity to run wild and unique stories to prosper. The writers spotlighted on this page span different genres, but they’ve got some incredible stories to tell. Get to know each with Nikki Elizabeth, an indie author from Ohio.
Articles
Indie Author Spotlight: Marilynn Vicente
“Publishing a book was one of my childhood dreams.
I’ve loved writing since I was a child. While most of my friends went to the movies or to the mall, I found myself writing stories in my journal either on my bed or on the floor.”
Indie Book Spotlight: Reflections of Imperfections by Laura Rose
Reflections of Imperfections, a dreamy collection of poems, is truly nourishment for the soul. It’s raw, vulnerable, and celebratory all at once. From the short and deeply reflective Haiku for the emotions to the story-like saga of Body Story, this lovely read is a delicious indulgence from start to finish.
Indie Book Spotlight: Siduri by JJ Vason
This was one of my favorite reads back in 2024. What a deliciously twisty, turny, and unexpected story! Lilith’s quips never missed a beat, and Siduri’s initial skepticism allowed us readers to truly embark on a story of discovery with her as she discovers that the boundaries between life and death are disturbingly thin.
Indie Book Spotlight: Caves and forests by Any Pascual
As always, Any Pascual’s prose delights with a delicious dive into humanity, this time intertwining it with lush themes of nature. The variety of topics she highlights and the flow from long poems to short is always so gripping, and Caves and forests is arguably her best work yet. Resonant and lyrical, I deeply enjoyed reading a few poems to kick off each day and set the perfect vibe.
Indie Book Spotlight: Star Lost by Amy Marie Ayres
Two AI stand in the middle of an empty office bullpen. It’s not a punchline… it’s part of the dystopian future dreamed up by Amy Marie Ayres. And what a Wilda ride it was! In Star Lost, Ayres plunges us into a hauntingly plausible future where memory itself is a commodity to be stolen, books are outlawed, and sunrise is the best time to walk since the rest of the day is too damn hot. And trees? Those are a mere failed experiment.
Indie Book Spotlight: Vessel by Samantha Jo
I was totally enamored by the worldbuilding and prose in Vessel by Samantha Jo. In this unique world, meteors seem to have brought mana, a type of magic, to humans. Particularly gifted individuals are able to absorb and fuse with mana, serving as Vessels able to bless the communities around them. This story follows Revered Calendula, whose bond with Brother Stokely is torture, to say the very least.
Indie Book Spotlight: A Thorn Among Roses by Hayley Anderton
What a fun, easy read by Hayley Anderton! Alana, The Cursed Queen, has given everything to save her kingdom. After a witch curses her, love is the only thing that can break through the dark magic… And though she finds that fabled true love, she still manages to be her own knight in shining armor.
Indie Book Spotlight: A Midflight Vampire’s Tale by Linda Ling
A Midflight Vampire’s Tale by Linda Ling is a refreshingly innovative take on the vampire genre, weaving together ancient Chinese history, modern lore, and a deeply personal tale of redemption. The story unfolds mid-flight, where two vampires reluctantly find themselves sharing a cabin. The setting of an overnight flight serves as the perfect backdrop for a tale that alternates between historical flashbacks and the present, building suspense and intimacy in equal measure.
Indie Book Spotlight: The Locket by Michelle Konde
The Locket by Michelle Konde is a fascinating read. The story follows the misadventures of Agent Burgh (and team), a rational man thrust into an irrational world where cults, bizarre artifacts, and supernatural forces come together. The book artfully balances high-stakes suspense with a richly built world, topped off with digestible and relatable dialogue.
Indie Book Spotlight: A Taste of Rhythm and Courage by Eddy Rose
A Taste of Rhythm and Courage follows Lion, a beast and undefeated gladiator, as he explores his love for Saradra, a flame-haired freeborn slave who he fears will be taken away as soon as she conceives. Their world is complicated and layered, a place where carnage and cruelty are viewed as entertainment and commonplace necessities, and I find it absolutely fascinating how the author threads such vivid personalities into it.
Indie Book Spotlight: A Fox Among Flames by Sara Puissegur
If A Sparrow Among Stars laid the foundation for Puissegur’s world, AFAF absolutely sets it alight. This second installment of the Celestial Destiny Series, coming in January 2026, takes everything that made the debut so stand-out – its heart, its peril, its sense of destiny – and sharpens it into something rich
Indie Book Spotlight: Monsters-in-Law by Jeannin Counts
Monsters-in-Law by Jeannin Counts is a delightfully weird, heartfelt, and utterly charming MM romance that manages to balance genuine emotional beats with gleeful absurdity. It’s the kind of story that makes you grin and tear up in equal measure… and then laugh when it’s revealed that Mothman is a secret tech guru.
Indie Book Spotlight: Carve Our Names in Fire (Radiant Shadows Book One)
Carve Our Names in Fire by Nicole Thorner… What an incredible story! To say I devoured it would be an understatement. Set in Kansas City (and later, Nebraska), the story follows Tessalyn (Tessa) Pryce as she finds love, order, and rebellion in a dystopian/supernatural world.
Indie Author Spotlight: Isabella Presley
In this special edition of the Indie Author Spotlight Series, Nikki Elizabeth and Isabella Presley hop on-camera to discuss Her Dionysus, the newest vampire book on the market.
Indie Author Spotlight: Tirzah Darnell
“When I was reading books at the age of five, I would get upset that they did not go the way I had hoped, so my mom told me that I could write my own books and make them turn out the way I wanted. That was when I wrote and illustrated The Ant in Tennis Shoes.”
Indie Author Spotlight: K.A. Claytor
“My first job was as a Page at the local library. They sent me to the basement stacks one day to sort old magazine issues, but instead I ended up reading them. I completely lost track of time and when I eventually wandered upstairs, the entire library was dark and empty. Everyone had gone home. And I was locked in.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Wendolyn Baird
“My books are filled with messy heroines, sentient buildings, chaotic families and friends, and the type of creepy-cozy vibes that I hope will make you want to bottle them up to carry them around your neck. I absolutely love hearing how drawn into my stories readers get. The overall consensus is that the details are undeniable and my characters are relatable. I think that’s the best… giving my readers someone to relate and a world to escape into.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Havelah McLat
“I understand it is hard to see other indie authors write more than you or publish a ton of books in a year. I learned that is not for everyone. I’d rather work on a story truly proud of and passionate about. Your story matters. You have to find what works best for you and your career.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Tas Kronby
“As soon as I could lift a pen, I started writing. My first chapter book was finished at age five, inspired by Nancy Drew novels. It was called The Homestead Mystery. It still makes me giggle that a little 10 page story was the catalyst for where I am in my journey 30 years later.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Emily Hodson
“Don’t overthink it. Even if you’re staring at a blank page on your computer for several minutes, just take a few deep breaths, don’t look at the clock, and start out by writing things like ‘“’Hello my name is,’ or ‘Once upon a time.’ Even though you’d most likely not keep that, it gets your fingers warmed up.”
Indie Author Spotlight: S.K. Horton
“I always wanted to be a physician, and never planned to do anything else. Books were a huge part of my childhood but were abandoned for medical tomes later in life. Once I finished residency, I happily reentered my novel-reading era.”
Indie Author Spotlight: H.C. Kilgour
“The indie community isn’t like it was one, two, three, or even five years ago. Reach out to just about any author and they will do their best to help you and steer you in the right direction.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Jennifer J. Coldwater
“I never imagined I would self-publish – and now I cannot imagine doing this any other way. When I set out to query agents and publishers, I had very little to show for myself. I saw self-publishing as an opportunity to build a following. Turns out, I love the process.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Kristina León Cuvée
“I’ve always liked a quote from Aaron Sorkin about this: ‘I don’t always agree with my characters.’ I echo these sentiments about my characters. Whether they’re well-intentioned or ill-intentioned, there’s a part of me in each of them and I understand them all.”
Indie Author Spotlight: James Tracy Wilson
“The future is so bright! I want to expand into other genres. I have a handful of ideas which covers dystopian, cyberpunk, adventure (think 80s Conan-inspired). So much to do and so little time!”
Indie Author Spotlight: Laura Rose
“I started writing my book kind of as a therapeutic practice, trying to make sense of my depression, reflecting, putting it to bed, that type of thing. I remember my therapist at the time telling me that the way I expressed myself was very clear and understandable and that I always managed to put a bit of humor (even if it was pretty dark humor) into my stories, and that I could turn it into a book one day.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Sara Puissegur
“Writing is my version of fun! But when I’m not writing, I like to read something new. For the past two years, I’ve done more writing and listening to music than anything else. No matter where I’m at or what I’m supposed to be doing, I find my mind drifting back to Hyrosencia – to epic sword fights and forbidden loves and a kingdom in desperate need of a savior.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Emerson
“My debut novel, All is Quiet in the Cosmos, is the first of my debut trilogy and has both queer and disabled representation in it. I typically write science fiction-blend fantasy or just fantasy. Those are my two favorite genres to read, but I really enjoy an eclectic mix of things.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Melissa Dymond
“I always wanted to be a doctor. I was set on it from age seven, and everything I did going forward was to achieve that goal. What I didn’t tell anyone was that I also had a secret dream to write.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Madeline Nixon
“I’ve made a conscious choice to have Canada as my setting because we deserve as much as slice of the literary pie as anyone else. And it’s really cool to see places that you know and have visited represented in books you read.”
Indie Author Spotlight: Harriet Ashford
“Now, I’ve had so much fun writing The Trouble With Love and Ink, I don’t know how I’ll write anything other than romcoms. I’m completely addicted to the second-hand butterfly/falling-in-love feeling.”
The 5 Indie Sci-Fi Books of 2024 To Watch For
Under the pens of independent authors, the world of science fiction is evolving rapidly with new and innovative ideas emerging every day. Some of the most exciting dystopian and indie sci-fi books of 2024 are poised to take us readers to new places, and these five books are ones you’ll want to keep on your radar.
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