50 Independently published books worth reading

I recently saw a list of 50 indie books worth reading, but it didn't include any of my favourites, so I thought I'd make my own list. These books, in no particular order, are some that I have read and enjoyed. They include self-published and those published by small publishers. These authors are often overlooked in favour of the bestsellers from major publishing houses, which is sad because there is a wealth of talent out there. Yes, there are lots of great books published by traditional publishers, but so many self-published books these days are just as good.

Some of the authors on my list have written lots of other great books, but I'm only listing one book from each author so that I can mention as many talented writers as possible!

Here's my list:


1. Into The Light, by Darcia Helle

2. The Guardian's Apprentice, by J. Michael Radcliffe

3. Gone, by Julie Elizabeth Powell

4. Horse Latitudes, by Quentin R. Bufogle

5. Crooked Moon, by Lisette Brodey

6. You Wish..., by Terry Tyler

7. 33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream., by Bill See

8. Joe Soap, by Andrew Peters

9. Metallic Dreams, by Mark Rice

10. Love & The Goddess, by Mary Elizabeth Coen

11. On The Holloway Road, by Andrew Blackman

12. Rock'n'Roll Suicide, by Geoffrey David West

13. Walkout, by Jason McIntyre

14. Playmates, by Jess C. Scott

15. Fastian: An Edgeweir Tale, by Jay Finn

16. An Eye For An Eye For An Eye, by Marc Nash

17. Northern Whispers, by Helle Gade

18. Contemplations: An Anthology of Short Fiction & Poetry, by L.M.Stull

19. The Conversationalist, by Justin Bog

20. The Rock Star in the Mirror, by Sharon E. Cathcart

21. The Funny Adventures of Little Nani, by Cinta Garcia de la Rosa

22. Ten Minutes in Heaven, by Ben Ditmars

23. Shadows of the Realm, by Dionne Lister

24. A Poet's Journey: Emotions, by Marta Moran Bishop

25. Sign of the Times, by Susan Buchanan

26. Pearls, by Tasha Harrison

27. The Bone Cradle, by C.E. Trueman

28. Beyond my Control: One Man's Struggle with Epilepsy, Seizure Surgery & Beyond, by Stuart Ross McCallum

29. Sink or Swim, by Stacy Juba

30. The Other Room, by James Everington

31. Oblivious, by Neil Schiller

32. The Word Gang, by Mark McKenna

33. Losing Addison, by Marty Beaudet

34. Harmony Bay, by Tom Gahan

35. Pixels of Young Mueller, by Jerry Schwartz

36. The Day the Flowers Died, by Rebecca May

37. My Schizophrenic Life: The Road to Recovery from Mental Illness, by Sandra Yuen MacKay

38. Cursed, by Jeremy C. Shipp

39. The Beatle Man, by Scott M. Liddell

40. Four Years from Home, by Larry Enright

41. What Remains, by Rosemary Poole-Carter

42. Fade, by Darren Smith

43. Musical Chairs, by Jen Knox

44. Caviar Dreams, by Judy Nichols

45. Breathing into Stone, by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

46. Rock & Roll Homicide, by R.J. McDonnell

47. Here All Along, by Lori Osterman

48. Adventures in Mother-Sitting, by Doreen Cox

49. A Song Apart, by Jeffrey Baer

50. Stone Cold, by Jenny Hilborne

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I'm sure I've left out a few of my favourites! I hope you'll try a few books from this list.

Happy Reading!
14 likes ·   •  23 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 08, 2014 04:14 Tags: 50-best-books, favourites, independent, indie, indie-authors, self-publihsed, worth-reading
Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Darcia (new)

Darcia Helle Fantastic list, Maria! I'm honored to be included!


message 2: by Maria (new)

Maria Darcia wrote: "Fantastic list, Maria! I'm honored to be included!"

I love all your books, Darcia! I used to read only bestsellers, and I'm sure most people just go to their nearest bookstore or look at the bestseller lists before buying a book. I hope this list helps show people that it's worth trying books by new and unknown authors. All the writers on the list are so talented.


message 3: by Cinta (new)

Cinta Thanks a lot, Maria! So happy to be included in a list with so many fine authors!


message 4: by Ben (new)

Ben Ditmars Amazing list! I'm honored to be included with such wonderful authors and great friends :-)


message 5: by Terry (new)

Terry Tyler Thanks so much for including me, Maria; when I saw you'd tagged me on Twitter I thought, hmm, will it be YW or The Other Side! Actually, I haven't heard of half of these, so it's interesting to see the other choices

Big thanks for all you do for me xxx


message 6: by Doreen (new)

Doreen What an incredible list, Maria; I found some of my favorites there, too :-) I'm honored to be included, especially because this is a list compiled by you.


message 7: by Jenny (new)

Jenny Hilborne Thank you for including my book, Maria. I've read some of these titles and noticed a number of my favorite indie authors on your list.


message 8: by Maria (new)

Maria Cinta wrote: "Thanks a lot, Maria! So happy to be included in a list with so many fine authors!"

I love Little Nani's stories :) x


message 9: by Maria (new)

Maria Ben wrote: "Amazing list! I'm honored to be included with such wonderful authors and great friends :-)"

You're welcome, Ben. I have to find time to read more of your books :)


message 10: by Maria (last edited May 08, 2014 09:19AM) (new)

Maria Terry wrote: "Thanks so much for including me, Maria; when I saw you'd tagged me on Twitter I thought, hmm, will it be YW or The Other Side! Actually, I haven't heard of half of these, so it's interesting to se..."

Was hard to choose, Terry!! But I love both books, and Nine Lives, of course. Have to find time to read the rest of your books xx


message 11: by Maria (new)

Maria Doreen wrote: "What an incredible list, Maria; I found some of my favorites there, too :-) I'm honored to be included, especially because this is a list compiled by you."

Your book is very special, Dody. Hope this will bring you some more readers x


message 12: by Maria (new)

Maria Jenny wrote: "Thank you for including my book, Maria. I've read some of these titles and noticed a number of my favorite indie authors on your list."

You'e welcome, Jenny! Need to find time to read the rest of your books. The only problem with my favourite authors is that they write too fast, and I can't keep up with my reading list! :)


message 13: by Terry (new)

Terry Tyler ps, that 50 Indie books worth reading that is currently being done by a certain site - I had a good look at it one day. It's mostly just big groups of friends (mostly US) all banding together and nominating each other, over and over for every category a book could possibly fit in, so that the nominations are all very odd books, often with hardly any reviews or anything - completely open to abuse, and has been abused. I was trying to publicise the poll, but no 'real' nominations stand a chance.


message 14: by Maria (new)

Maria Terry wrote: "ps, that 50 Indie books worth reading that is currently being done by a certain site - I had a good look at it one day. It's mostly just big groups of friends (mostly US) all banding together and ..."

Oh, I see... Oh well, at least my list is real :)


message 15: by Maria (new)

Maria Jerry wrote: "It's so nice of you to include my book on your list, Maria. Thank you!"

Of course! Pixels had to be included! :)


message 16: by Angela (new)

Angela Thank you for this list, Maria. I've read a few...shall be looking out for some others :) x x


message 17: by Maria (new)

Maria Angela wrote: "Thank you for this list, Maria. I've read a few...shall be looking out for some others :) x x"

That's great! They all deserve to be read :) xx


message 18: by Lisette (new)

Lisette Brodey Thank you so much for including Crooked Moon on your list, Maria. I am honored. There are many books on this list that are on my TBR list, including some of your latest ones.

Thank you for all that you do to support your fellow authors.

<3 <3


message 19: by Stuart (new)

Stuart I am truly honoured to see my book included in your list, Maria. There are a few here that I have read and enjoyed immensely. Your psychological thriller Haunted would definitely be on my list!

Thank you! Ross


message 20: by Maria (new)

Maria Lisette wrote: "Thank you so much for including Crooked Moon on your list, Maria. I am honored. There are many books on this list that are on my TBR list, including some of your latest ones.

Thank you for all th..."


All your books are great, Lisette! Love them all, but Crooked Moon is my fave :) xx


message 21: by Maria (new)

Maria Stuart wrote: "I am truly honoured to see my book included in your list, Maria. There are a few here that I have read and enjoyed immensely. Your psychological thriller Haunted would definitely be on my list!

Th..."


Thanks, Ross! That's great to hear :) x


message 22: by Helle (new)

Helle Gade Thank you for including me in this incredible list of books and authors. You rock, Maria! xx


message 23: by Maria (new)

Maria Helle wrote: "Thank you for including me in this incredible list of books and authors. You rock, Maria! xx"

I love your poetry and photography, Helle :) xx


back to top