I'm an author, so books are always on my mind. I'm also a reader -- a voracious one who reads in multiple genres. Most of my friends and some of my family also read like crazy, so this year when I thought of presents and then thought about my poor wallet, I decided to make my gifts do double duty: I'm buying books -- they make great gifts AND I'm supporting an author.I'm staying away from the NYT Bestsellers. My friends and family will have heard of those on their own. I'm trying to stick with small press and indie authors who need our support. Thankfully, in my work running tours with Goddess Fish Promotions, I've come in contact with hundreds of authors I wouldn't have otherwise heard of. And it's opening a whole new door for me.
I've gone on a search. Smashwords is one of the best places to look for small press and indie authors. And, many of those folks offer their eBooks at a super low price (many times as low as $0.99), so if I find something that looks just right for a friend ("Fezariu's Epiphany" by David M. Brown for the fantasy lover, "Brainstorm" by Gordon Kessler for the thriller lover, or "Farsighted" by Emlyn Chand for the YA lover for instance) I can buy the eBook and read it to make sure it's a good book. Most of my friends and family don't own eReaders, so I buy print.
And here's the neatest thing about indie authors. With some exceptions (David M. Brown lives across the pond, for instance, so it's cost prohibitive) they're more than happy to personally autograph a book and send it to you.
I suppose I could just buy a gift card to Barnes and Noble and send it, but I love that I'm able to use my knowledge of the small press / indie market to help them discover new authors they might not have found otherwise.
So, yes... it's books for Christmas this year! I've found a way to make my dollar do double duty.
What are some small press and indie author books you can recommend to me in all categories? Not just romance, but mystery, YA and more?
First, let me thank you for recognizing that there are quality books which are not traditionally published. Many of us choose not to go that route for a number of reasons, and often we are overlooked by readers. If I may, I would like to mention my two award-winning inspirational romance novels. They are both part of my Forever Love series: the first is "A Forever Kind of Love" and the second is "Waiting for Tomorrow." Although it is actually a sequel, WFT can be read independently as I included enough back story for the reader to easily follow the plotline. Both are appropriate for ages 15-up. (no explicit content). They are available through any online retailer as well as my website www.freewebs.com/debsbooks. Both are available for Nook and Kindle as well. Thanks again, and I hope you will check them out!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie!
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