Choosing authors for TBR list.

[Joanie]

How do you choose which self-published authors to support?

Are any group members, and if so, who are they?

Are you an active reviewer or has your tbr list had to be put on hold?

For me, my criteria are authors supportive of fellow indies. Many are members of this group here and/ or on Instagram. My reviewing had to be curtailed at the beginning of the year, but working through my summer list.

What about you?

I look forward to seeing your answers!

Thanks,
Joanie 🤗

[Anna]

Mine are mostly self-published, interspersed with trad pubs. However, I manage only a very few books most of the year. I'm hoping that when I publish my work-in-progress, I'll have time to read, and I shall choose some from here.

[P.L.]

I support and review independent authors whose work I've watched develop (example, people in the critique groups I'm part of.) Also, independent authors I meet through goodreads or twitter.

I've never gotten the hang of instagram when it comes to the indie-author angle. Are there specific hashtags there? Is it more for certain genres? I write science fantasy.

Thank you for supporting indie authors!

[James]

For me, it’s simply a matter of whether or not a self-published author offers me what I like to read. If so, you’ve got a paying passenger for the roller coaster of a read I long for your book to take me on.

I love cinematically-styled mysteries, thrillers, and action adventure. Sadly, this group has very few in supply thus far. And the few I’ve tried that billed themselves as such were middling to over par. I’ve occasionally review swapped for genres I dislike (such as romance, fantasy masquerading as sci-fi, and dystopian “Hunger Gamesesque” reads). But to read them without something in return … ain’t happenin’, as the kids say nowadays.

Having once served as an assistant public librarian for well over a decade, I was honor-bound to act as custodian of all forms of free speech and constantly man the watchtowers to defend the written word from marauding censors. But no more. As a “free man,” so to speak, it doesn’t matter if you’re woman or man, tan, black, or white, you must write what I (with emphasis on “I”) like. And honestly, this’s the case for most people.

[Marcelle]

I will always participate in our BOTM, but if I am going to go out and select a book, I like, James will select a genre I enjoy. I wouldn't want to read a book about war because it is not something I generally enjoy, and so I would find it difficult to complete or give a solid review based on the book. If it is not something I would typically read on our BOTM, I try to judge it based solely on the writing technique, if the book was able to peak or hold my interest at all, etc. Generally, I prefer to read Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, and I will pull in some sci-fi if the blurb interests me. 😊

[James]

By the way, lest I forget, I’m currently savoring another of one of my favorite self-published authors’ delights. Roger Cave of Bolton, England (near Manchester, the home of the sublime soul singer Lisa Stansfield) writes a smashing, and I use the term advisedly, series of military thrillers and action adventures that are similar to traditional author Dale Brown’s books and the cinematic 007’s. His leading man is called Alec Fincham of Her Majesty’s Special Boat Service — think Navy SEALS for those stateside— and 2 of my favorites are Medusa Defence and Red Queen. The titles, by the way, represent chess moves; and Fincham is quite the martial strategist.

Another self-published author whose mysteries and science fiction I enjoy thoroughly is Mister WT Keeton of Kentucky. His unusual private eye Cadmus Lincoln is a modern day version of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe and Robert B. Parker’s telegenic Spenser in Lincoln Confidential: The Goddess of Strife and The Serpent at the Plain of Panope. Like Mr. Cave, his titles are also illusory: They represent lesser known Greek deities whose tragedies shape the plot. Brilliant.

Mister Keeton also wrote a smart science fiction duology in the style of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s “John Carter of Mars” that veers off to become a sort of biblical Buck Rogers in The World of Erganna and The Ergannan-Largon War.

If Misters Cave and Keeton were members of Self Published Only Club, for example, their royalties would blossom by way of my unyielding support. So, I’m not hard to please, if you write what I like.

[Joanie]

All the best on your W.I.P, Anna!

[Joanie]

Marcelle wrote: "I will always participate in our BOTM, but if I am going to go out and select a book, I like, James will select a genre I enjoy. I wouldn't want to read a book about war because it is not something..."

Thank you, Marcelle! And all your participation is very much appreciated! ❤️

[Joanie]

P.L. wrote: "I support and review independent authors whose work I've watched develop (example, people in the critique groups I'm part of.) Also, independent authors I meet through goodreads or twitter.

I've n..."

Thank you, P.L.! The only thing I do on Instagram is to post.

[Lynn]

Joanie wrote: "How do you choose which self-published authors to support?"

For my reading, I don't necessarily choose authors, I choose books that appeal to me. Certainly if I've enjoyed an author's book(s), I'll likely pick up subsequent ones to read. I do try to look specifically for indie authors' books that appeal to me.

Joanie wrote: "...Are any group members, and if so, who are they?"

As far as group members, I've read and enjoyed books by several authors who are members of this group (not always read through this group, though), including Anna Faversham, Gary Stringer, James Blakley, Philip J. Rutherford, Rebecca Crunden, Trana Mathews, and probably others I've missed. (I've also enjoyed some books from the bookshelf by authors who don't seem to be members of this group.)

Joanie wrote: "...Are you an active reviewer or has your tbr list had to be put on hold?"

I'm a randomly active reviewer, with ebbs and flows to my reviewing activity depending on home & family obligations and the need to keep working on my own books.

-Lynn

[Joanie]

S.Lynn wrote: "

For my reading, I don't necessarily choose authors, I choose books that appeal to me. Certainly if I've enjoyed an auth..."

Thank you, Lynn! The support you have shown is greatly appreciated!

[Xanxa]

Most of the independent authors whose books I read are known to me via Facebook groups or other online networking communities. I occasionally get recommendations on here or find something that appeals to me from other members' lists.

I like finding new authors and I'm always on the lookout for them among my favourite genres.

[Anna]

P.L. wrote: "I support and review independent authors whose work I've watched develop (example, people in the critique groups I'm part of.) Also, independent authors I meet through goodreads or twitter.

I've n..."

I can recommend your Aerovoyant, P.L. and I know you actively support Indies..

[Lynn]

Anna wrote: "I can recommend your Aerovoyant, P.L. ..."

Seconded!

(I knew I'd missed someone when I was listing group members I've supported. Sorry, P.L.!)

[Abby]

I really like to support SP/Indie authors who support their fellow authors. I REALLY like to support traditionally published authors who support SP authors.

[Gary]

Hard to imagine, but before 2020, I did not know indie publishing existed.

In fact, to take that back a step, I was working on my writing whilst on holiday in 2016 and somebody asked me if I had if I had my writing in epub format. I replied, "What's epub format?"

Having published on Amazon for the first time in late 2020, I joined Goodreads and became aware of the true scale of SP books. Even so, aside from reading my own work, only 4 out of the 24 books I read last year were SP.

This year, that total currently stands at 9 of 16, plus 1 I'm reading now and at least 2 or 3 more by the end of the year, so that's progress!

As for how I choose, well, all of the indie authors I've read I have come across on Goodreads. Out of a grand total of 4 different authors, 2 are group members (S. Lynn Helton and Marcelle Valentine) and 2, as far as I am aware, are not (Aino Lahteva and Jane Shand).

As I expand my range of authors, I'm likely to do the same. Start with group members who have genre books to their name.

I tend to agree with Lynn's comment, above, that I choose books, rather than authors. However, I will tend to gravitate toward active group members, simply because I'm naturally more aware of their output. It's such a natural thing, to me, that when I see a new name pop up in the comments, I click on their name and see if they've written anything that appeals to me.

[P.L.]

Oh, thank you so much S. Lynn and Anna!!!

<3 <3

I do like (love) the artistry of self-published authors! I have been blown away by so many of these titles!

[Ross]

Anna wrote: "Mine are mostly self-published, interspersed with trad pubs. However, I manage only a very few books most of the year. I'm hoping that when I publish my work-in-progress, I'll have time to read, an..."

Hello all!

I am sorry for being so darn late. But I will always take a chance to support my fellow self-published authors...Even over traditionally published ones! And especially over ones who already have their own huge fan base and fame levels.

I wonder how many of you are familiar with me and my writings...?

[Leon]

I am a very picky reader. I have a very narrow preference of genres I enjoy, so when I do venture beyond (oh, that sounds ominous), if a book doesn't hook me right away, I'll put it down, and if I don't like the book, that's my opinion, so I rarely write reviews.

I try to support indie authors in other ways by doing features/interviews on my blog and newsletter, following authors on social media, and retweeting their promotions.

We can all help in different ways.