In Support of Indie Books

What Makes a Book an Indie?

An indie book is any work that is NOT produced through the Big 5 publishing houses or one of their imprints. This means the author either self-publishes, or they work with a small, independent press to bring their book to print.

Independent authors and publishers aren’t ruled by the almighty bottom line like the big publishing conglomerates are. Therefore, they can put out literature that doesn't fit neatly into current market trends. Indie books have more freedom to experiment with narrative structure, mix genres, and tackle unconventional themes. The result is fascinating, innovative stories.

Did you know that indie authors and indie presses are also small businesses? We, the readers, are their customer base. Who doesn’t like supporting small businesses and getting new books? But unless you are lucky enough to have unlimited funds, your wish list is probably more ambitious than what your budget can manage.

So, what can you do to support indie authors and presses without breaking the bank? Here are 15 suggestions.

Head to the Library

1. Borrow their book from the library. Do they get royalties from checkouts? No. They earn royalties from the book’s sale to the library but not from it being in circulation. However, having a book checked out on a frequent basis could influence the acquisitions librarian when it is time to purchase more works from that author.

2. Speaking of libraries, did you know you can request that they add a book to their collection? At my local library, I can pick up a form from the information desk, fill it out for my desired title, and hand it in. Although this doesn’t guarantee that they will buy it, it helps to put little-known books on their radar.

Recommend

3. Write a review on a site such as Goodreads, BookBub, or Amazon. Reviews are free advertising for authors. Positive starred reviews influence the all-important marketing algorithms, pushing the listing up the search results, making it more likely to get noticed.

4. Speaking of algorithms, putting a book on your “Want to Read” list on Goodreads or a “Wish List” on Amazon also positively influences the digital powers that be and gets it more exposure.

5. Tell your friends! Word of mouth is a powerful factor when someone chooses their next read.

6. Do you belong to a book club? So many times, clubs make selections recommended by celebrities or best-seller lists. Bring up indie works! Explain how important it is to support books that don’t get as much press. You may create a whole new group of fans. Sometimes, small presses or individual authors offer incentives for book clubs, such as discounts on orders or sending swag such as bookmarks or stickers. They may even be willing to video conference into your club meeting. (Psst! My publisher does offer bookclub discounts! Also, I LOVE visiting book clubs. I even bring along themes goodie bags for those in attendance!)

7. Post what you love about the book on social media. Reading communities on Instagram and TikTok, referred to by the hashtags “Bookstagram” and “Booktok,” are where thousands of folks find out about new books to add to their shelves. And if you do make such a post, remember to tag the author, the press, and include a link to where an interested party can purchase the book.

Follow and Share

8. Follow your favorite indie authors and presses on social media and sign up for their email lists. Strong follower counts can benefit authors who are querying new works among agents and presses, showing they have a ready-made audience base for their work.

9. Share their posts on your accounts. Are they promoting a new project or a literary event? You can help them get the word out with the press of a button.

10. When scrolling through your feed, if you see a picture or quote that reminds you of a theme, scene, or image from an indie book, take a moment to add a comment about that connection. These organic mentions happen in casual conversation all the time, so why not online as well?

All Hands on Deck

11. Are one of your favorite indies taking part in a festival or other event, either in person or online? Attend it! Invite a friend! Your presence is like a vote cast in favor of that festival or platform hosting that author again.

12. There are a variety of contests that acknowledge indie authors, illustrators, editors, and publishers. It often only takes a few minutes of your time to fill out a questionnaire and cast a vote.

Read, Read, Read!

13. Most authors are not one-trick ponies. They often have a back catalog of short stories, articles, blog posts, and other material, many of which are available online for free. Some platforms allow you to leave comments. And, hearkening back to tip #9, share those articles on social media so that others can also discover these little-known gems.

14. Independent small presses sometimes establish lists of dedicated readers they will send digital advance reader copies to, commonly known as ARCs, ahead of official release dates. The only thing they ask for in return is that the recipient writes an honest review and, if they feel moved to do so, help hype the book online. Individual authors may put out calls for ARC readers as well.

Get Personal

15. Tell indie book producers what their work means to you. Writers will slave over every word they put down for months or even years at a time, often with little to no feedback. Independent publishers often work without pay or make just enough to keep the lights on and to produce the next book. You, sitting there and enjoying the fruits of their labors of love, are why they do this. So tell them. Did you see yourself in one of their characters? Did something they wrote help heal a hidden hurt you carry around with you? Was the story they shared able to bring you joy and escape during a hard time in your life? Let them know. The world needs their stories. Sometimes, they need you to remind them of that.

Here’s the thing, fellow indie readers, I know we can’t buy every new release or throw dollars at every crowdfunding endeavor. But by doing a little here, and a little there, and encouraging others to join in, those efforts can accumulate into a movement of support that is greater than the sum of its parts. We can each play a valuable role in the ecosystem that brings new books into the world. 

Thanks for reading!

Sarah

P.S. Some writers  choose to use subscription services or other pay-to-read options for their blogs and newsletters. As for me, I’d like to keep these articles free to read. But hey, if you would like to make a little contribution through Ko-fi, that would be cool! It helps to pay my website fees and feed my fancy pencil addiction.