In what feels like a previous life now I used to read and review a lot of indie books (10 to 25 a month), both for my channel at the time, and my website. I wrote mini reviews on Goodreads and occasionally on Amazon as well. I supported my fellow Indie authors as best I could for a few years in every way possible, from written reviews to hosting podcasts, from video reviews to social media posts. I think I did a lot of good during that time and helped other authors sell a lot more of their books than I ever did my own.
Nowadays I rarely read any indie books. I’ve read a lot of Science Fiction over the last couple of years, and plenty of crime stories and classics as well. I’m currently working my way through Game of Thrones, and wouldn’t mind potentially reading some more Fantasy after that, although I have a couple of Stephen King books to read first, and Virgin Suicide.
But while I’m enjoying reading more traditionally published books, and have no intention of giving that up, I do miss reading Indie stories and trying to support my fellow authors. I see big gaps nowadays where authors aren’t really supporting each other like they once did, and I know that I’m part of that. Where once my money went to authors with barely any reads, proud of putting their first book out, warts and all, now my few pennies go towards The King, Arthur C. Clarke, and Grrrrrrrr Martin. I don’t regret turning my back on the indie scene for a while as it’s been good for my own writing to read more of the popular and classic books, but I’d like to be able to once again offer some support to the indie scene.
I can’t do what I used to do. I don’t have the health, willpower, or energy anymore. Plus, I have a lot more of my own work to write, and more classics to read. But I will try to do something, even if it takes a little bit of time to fully form. I’ve been reading a lot of Short Stories on Substack and restacking the ones I enjoy, but while I will continue to do that (I just started a Focus on Fiction post that I’m hoping to do weekly), I know I’m capable of more.
So what I’m proposing to myself is trying to read and review 3-5 Indie novellas (and maybe occasionally something longer) a month. I know that’s not as many as I used to buy and review, but I don’t have the funds or energy for more at the moment, so I hope it is at least something. Where I want to differ from before is not moving on to the next thing as quickly and trying to support the book and author after I’ve reviewed it.
Previously, with my channel, I had to be constantly talking about new things; that was the nature of the beast, although I did come up with ways to go back to the books I loved a couple of times. But I don’t have those pressures this time, self-imposed or otherwise. I can read the books, write about the books, and then occasionally plug them from time to time long after the review. Obviously, the more I read, the more that will build up, but with only one social media platform (Substack) and doing written reviews instead of video reviews, I think I can manage it all better. I want to be able to support authors I enjoy long term.
I haven’t quite worked out all the details of the how yet; I just know that I need to do something. I see too many posts about the lack of support for new authors and indie authors trying to build a readership, and I can’t help but agree. I’m starting again myself, so I’ve seen and felt firsthand how difficult it is, and how much the landscape has changed in the couple of years I’ve been away. I’m under no illusions about being able to make a great difference at the moment, as I don’t have the following and support I once did, but I can try. As someone whose last book is still in single-figure sales, I know every sale counts, and I hope I can make some contribution towards that.
I’d like for whatever this turns out to be (Probably an extension of my newly started Focus on Fiction) to start in November, although I still have 2000 pages of Game of Thrones to get through. But hopefully, they’ll be read by early in the month, and I can then start reading your work. I have a few indie books saved on my Amazon wishlist, or websites bookmarked in my browser, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for new books too. I don’t want any free copies or ARC reads; I like paying for my books and supporting the author, but that said, I’ll be buying the cheaper ebooks rather than adding to my paperback collection as things stand (because my own sales suck and I can’t afford more paperbacks lol)
I haven’t worked out how often I will publish the reviews (maybe once a month), but I’ll restack them after and share them when I can. And as mentioned, I will continue to read and share as many short stories as I can as well within my new series of posts.
It’s getting tougher out there, so I hope this will help a little bit. Feel free to share a link to the book you’re most proud of writing with me on Substack (preferably novellas), and I’ll read and share what I can. I’m making no promises, as I really don’t have close to the energy I had a few years back thanks to health issues and life, but I will see what I can do and hopefully be able to push myself to help even more when possible.
