10 - A book by a self-published author

[Nadine in NY]

A book by a self-published author.


I guess they really liked this category last year! Good thing I enjoy Courtney Milan, who has been self-publishing her books for years now.


Based on the wording of this category, I think it would be okay to read ANY book by an author who has at least one self-published book. A lot of authors have some self-pub and some picked up by a publisher, and the way I'm reading this, any book by that author would work.



Here is our Listopia from last year:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...



Our 2024 Listopia list is Here: A book by a self-published author.

[Dubhease]

Since Eragon was originally self-published, I'm using this prompt to read one of the sequels.

[Deb]

Dubhease wrote: "Since Eragon was originally self-published, I'm using this prompt to read one of the sequels."

Oh! I didn't remember this. I've only read the first one so maybe I'll use a sequel too.

[Michelle]

I'd highly recommend looking at SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off) for SFF reccos. Some amazing reads among the winners and finalists - I'd highly recommend last year's winner Small Miracles and Scales and Sensibility, a finalist from last year.

Also, for anyone who's a cozy fantasy fan, Legends & Lattes was originally self-published.

[Amanda]

It doesn't mean the book has to be self-published, just the author!

[Denise]

I'll be reading T. Kingfisher's What Feasts at Night (which is a sequel). T. Kingfisher is amazing.

[Anna]

I noticed that Holding On by Letting Go from the visually impaired authors prompt also fits this prompt

[Anna]

Amanda wrote: "It doesn't mean the book has to be self-published, just the author!"

I didn't notice that before. Thank you!

[Dubhease]

Freida McFadden self published her first book. So, mystery/thriller lovers could read her.

[Danielle]

Crown of Roses by Hillary Raymer. Perfect for fantasy romance fans who liked ACOTAR

[Brandon]

I may stretch this to include an author who published stories on places like Archive of Our Own and then moved on to a more traditional publisher.

[Nadine in NY]

Brandon wrote: "I may stretch this to include an author who published stories on places like Archive of Our Own and then moved on to a more traditional publisher."



I don't even see how that's a stretch! I think that's a completely valid method to choose a book for this one.

[Jackie]

I appreciate this version of the prompt expands it to anything by an author who has self published. That opens things up a lot! I'll probably pick either Bookshops & Bonedust or What Feasts at Night

[Jackie]

Also pssst to Nadine: the 2024 listopia says 'book that was self published' rather than self published author

[Nadine in NY]

Jackie wrote: "Also pssst to Nadine: the 2024 listopia says 'book that was self published' rather than self published author"


thank you!!! fixed it!!

[Ashley Marie]

Recommending my favorite indie author, Craig Schaefer, who has a high fantasy series and several UF series if anyone is interested in those genres!

[Ellie]

Kelley Armstrong now self-publishes in the UK, so I will probably use one of hers again but I do have Emma Newman's Before, After, Alone: A Planetfall Universe short story collection to read and Scales and Sensibility.

[Ron]

I might read my own. I've recently self-published a few books this year so they might be fun to get back into.


So, You're One of Those: A Collection of Poems and Short Essays

Requiem of Youth: A Collection of Poems

Requiem of Youth

[Tara]

A great new book, the book itself self-published, that came out in late 2023: Virtually BFFs
I highly recommend it, particularly if you like YA!

[Becca]

I really enjoyed Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian!

[Andi-Roo]

Jackie wrote: "I appreciate this version of the prompt expands it to anything by an author who has self published.

I had the same thought! Because Legends & Lattes was self-pub, but Bookshops & Bonedust was trad-pub, I wasn't sure it counted. But the prompt specifies the author, not the book! So I'm going with the same pick as you for this prompt.

[Cornerofmadness]

Here's a couple I beta read for a friend of mine. The downside is they're only on kindle Velle

Uncanny Investigations: From the Files of Mike and Shireen Chase and Moon of the Berserkers: A Samantha Darby Shifter Adventure by Scott McFadden (and I realize I need to review these)

[Anna]

Going to plug a friend's book, Dawn of Deoridium.

It's a smart SF/fantasy adventure tale, with a young woman as the central character. Recommending because I genuinely loved it.

[Ruth]

I would also include any author who had a book traditionally published and then self-published one or more after the book went out of print.

[Kayleigh]

I own copies of both of these, so will read one or both (lol), but All Saints Hotel and Cocktail Lounge and Russian Sleeper Cell by Nathan Monk will both fit this prompt.

[Rachel]

Denise wrote: "I'll be reading T. Kingfisher's What Feasts at Night (which is a sequel). T. Kingfisher is amazing."

I'm confused about T. Kingfisher. I also had them down as my choice for this prompt, but when I looked at their books, I saw them listed as Simon & Schuster, Tor, etc. So would they still work?

[Ellie]

Rachel wrote: "I'm confused about T. Kingfisher. I also had them down as my choice for this prompt, but when I looked at their books, I saw them listed as Simon & Schuster, Tor, etc. So would they still work?..."

She self published before she got popular (anything under Red Wombat Tea Company is just her) but a lot of her backlist is now getting picked up by trad publishers. The way the prompt is worded she still counts though.

[Ron]

I'm probably cheating, but I'm self-published so I might start there. LOL!

If I can find others then I might give them a try.

[Rachel]

Ellie wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I'm confused about T. Kingfisher. I also had them down as my choice for this prompt, but when I looked at their books, I saw them listed as Simon & Schuster, Tor, etc. So would they ..."

Oh yay, definitely plugging her in then!

[L Y N N]

Any of Lisa Genova's books would qualify since she initially self-published her debut novel, Still Alice. All her books are based upon her experience with and knowledge of neurological disorders. She is a neurologist. I have a copy of her newest release Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting! I am tagging it now!!

[Melissa]

Power Poetry for the Soul by Shamila Saeed (https://www.amazon.com/Power-Poetry-S...). My copy is currently packed away (in the middle of moving), but it might also work for a the collection of 24 poems. I can't recall how many are in there.

[Kelsey]

If anyone needs a Kindle Unlimited option.... this series is self published: Coffee Shop Girl
10 books in the series. A little romance and drama.

Books in the series that work for other prompts:
A book about a writer - Smoke and Fire
24th book by an author - Protect Me
Second chance romance - Wild Child
Set in the snow - Lovesick
And I'm sure there's a 24 year old in one of them I just don't remember which one.

[Fran]

Alexis Hall self publishes some of his Kate Kane series, so any of his books would qualify. I especially loved Boyfriend Material, which would work for the LGBTQ+ romance and the enemies to lovers prompts as well.

Alexis Hall is a pseudonym, so books would work for the pen name prompt too.

[Cornerofmadness]

My friend Ann Chiappetta is a self published author. She has poems and prose and a memoir style book about adjusting to a guide dog.

[Lisa Marie]

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

[Tania]

I read Regarding Anna by Florence Osmund and it was pretty good.

[Rose]

I don't know who recommended Left Neglected but thank you. I was not looking forward to this prompt and loved this book. As a type A, planned/organized person who balanced work and kids and perhaps also worry about a few hairs on my chin I connected with this story on so many levels. It wasn't a book on my TBR but I did find a new book that I completely enjoyed for the challenge!

[Joanna]

Wool by Hugh Howey is great. He has some other books as well.

[Cornerofmadness]

A friend of mine has a new self pubbed out Moon of the Berserkers: A Samantha Darby Shifter Adventure. I beta read this one and enjoyed it

[Tisa]

I was wondering if Brandon Sanderson would fall in this category due to raising funds via Kickstarter for a book he wrote

[Ellie]

Tisa wrote: "I was wondering if Brandon Sanderson would fall in this category due to raising funds via Kickstarter for a book he wrote"

It's up to you, he has his own publishing company with a decent sized staff to "self-publish" those books, but plenty of people are happy to call him self-published.

[Aquaria]

Shae Sanders – Act Like You Mean It

My honest reaction was that it's obvious why it was self-published.

[Susan]

My ex, Kenneth Arbogast, is a self-published author. He is retired from the Coast Guard so most of his writing contains a lot of military lingo he doesn't always explain well for the civilian readers, but his books are available on Kindle through Amazon fairly inexpensively.

Kenneth Arbogast:
Sorrow Ledge
The Pale Horse and the Unicorn: A Pandemic Tale
Coast Guard Blues
A Death on Bear Creek: A Marty Galloway Mystery
Whinesburg, Ohio: Unofficial Report of The Special Counsel to Investigate the November 8, 2022 Election of The Governor of Ohio

[Rach]

Recommending one of my favorite indie self-pubs, a big high fantasy with good writing and no GOT nonsense:

The Ashes of Amori : Volume I

[Carly]

Anshita wrote: "I am reading Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher. Last year I read What Moves the Dead by the same author for the prompt 'A modern retelling of a classic' and loved it."

So, they are self-published?? That is great. Love their books :)

[Khalena Tate]

I read Butcher and Blackbird for this one!

[Kristen]

Dominic Holland has several books he has self published

[Alyssa]

Never Lie BY Freida McFadden

[The Pampered Librarian]

Alyssa wrote: "Never Lie BY Freida McFadden"

If she self-published at some point, I'll read her newest title The Teacher.

[Laura Ruth]

I greatly enjoyed Lucky Stars: A sci-fi comedy series by H. Claire Taylor. Review:

http://www.lauraruthloomis.com/whats-...