Conversations With Kav – It’s Indie Day! + I have BIG news + Giveaway

Okay, I have to give you my BIG news first and I have mixed feelings about it. Scared but excited too because I don’t do change gracefully. 🙂 I’M MOVING! Just got approved for an apartment downtown in a lovely historical neighbourhood. Close to a farmer’s market, two bookstores, the best vegan bakery in town, multiple parks within walking distance and a lake close by! Oh…and twenty minutes to a library. Do I have my priorities straight or what?

The downside is that I’m leaving the wee little house that has been my home for 22 years…and my garden.SOB! My new apartment does have a balcony but it’s north facing so I’ll have to educate myself about shade gardening. No more veggie gardening for me unless I can find an allotment garden close by. I thought I’d pot up a few perennials and see how they do – a hosta, coral bells and wild geranium so I have a little piece of my gardening heart with me when I go. 😦

My move in date is July 1 which couldn’t be worse because that’s Canada Day and the busiest and most expensive day of the year to move in Canada apparently. So the next two months will be spent packing and…gasp…weeding through my physical books because they all can’t go with me. The apartment is much smaller than my house. Unless I get creative and I have my thinking cap on.

Anyway, all this to say that there will likely be some bumps in the road as far as blogging goes. Partly because I’ll be busy getting the garden into shape for the last time (sob) and packing and cleaning and all that fun stuff so I won’t be able to physically read as many books as I usually do. I’ll likely listen more so it’s a good thing I went wild during that audible sale! 🙂 And then, when we get closer to my move date I’ll likely have to stop blogging for a week or two until I get internet connected at the new place. I’m playing all that by ear so stay tuned for more announcements to come.

Okay, now for some Bookish Conversation!

Since I’m concentrating on reading more Independently published books this year and you all have helped me so much by introducing me to indie authors in recent months, I decided to proclaim every fourth Sunday:

Indie Author Day!

We will celebrate by sharing indie books we’ve read, highlight new indie books coming out and wrestle with the conundrum of how to discover new-to-me indie authors and how to tell if a book is independently published in the first place.

Here’s my definition of indie publishing:

  • the author pays all production costs
  • the author hires and pays for his/her own editor
  • the author hires and pays for cover art to be made
  • or, the author creates his/her own cover art
  • the author performs the technical magic I don’t understand to make the book appear on Amazon as an ebook or a print book (surprise, that costs too)
  • the author pays for a voice performer if they decide to add an audio edition
  • Basically, the author writes the book and then does the work of a legion of professionals in order to get it out into the world all at their own cost
  • Oh, and the author does all the marketing too.

Personally, I think these hard working Independently published authors deserve their very own day every month. So we’re going to give it to them. Celebrate their dedication to their craft and help sell some books!

How to tell if a book is independently published by the author:

You think this would be the easy part, but it’s not. It used to be. Ten years ago you could look at the copyright info and it would list the author’s name under publisher, or CreateSpace Amazon (or something like that) so, easy peasy. No publisher listed meant independently published.

But then authors started getting creative (poor things can’t help it, it’s in their DNA) and they started making up cutesy little publisher names to use instead of their own. So Mabel Bowser who publishes cozy dog mysteries might decide to use ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree Press’ and unsuspecting readers looking for an indie book might skim right on by once they see the book was published by a press. Only it wasn’t really. So confusing!

So what’s a reader to do? I have no idea, other than to google search the ‘publisher’ to see if it’s legit. I might find nothing listed under ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree Press’ and therefore can correctly assume the book is independently published. Or, I might find a link to ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree Press’ but notice that it only lists the author’s books. That’s another indie clue. Clear as mud, right?!

If you have any suggestions on how to recognize indie published books, do share in the comments. And that brings us to today’s Giveaway…drum roll, please, because it’s time to share the book love with our Christian Fiction Independently Published Authors:

Giveaway Opportunity:

US – paperback or ebook (check to make sure the book you choose has the edition you want, some seem to only be in ebook format.)

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible (if available) and also confirm that the book comes int he format you want

International – ebook if you have a US kindle account

You suggest an independently published Christian Fiction (or Clean Romance) already in print and leave the title and author in a comment and you will be entered in the giveaway. If your name comes up, then that’s the book you will win

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 2 2026

65 thoughts on “Conversations With Kav – It’s Indie Day! + I have BIG news + Giveaway”

  1. Oh wow. What awesome news—-bittersweet, yes, but sounds like an exciting move! I think you will be very happy! Close to a farmer’s market, two bookstores, a vegan bakery, multiple parks, & 20 mins to a library?!! It’s so spread out here in the country where I live, if you don’t drive you’re stuck! It’s beautiful here, but there’s no bus service either except in town. Will you have to switch your church? All the kinks will work out, it’s all just overwhelming at first, I’m sure.

    I have a lot of author friends I follow on FB & when they decide to step away from traditional publishing (even temporarily) I usually know about it, as with Joanna Davidson Politano’s new book. She promoted that one continually. I also get a lot of indie book ideas from the book club I’m in, Avid Readers of Christian fiction (probably there more than anywhere else.) If I’m unsure if a book is indie, I Google the publisher. I also subscribe to plenty of newsletters and find indies that way. As A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton was being promoted, she shared her cover & designer so I knew it was an indie. That book is a must read btw!

    I have read so many good things by launch team members about Stronger Than the Storm I’ll choose that one. It releases this Tues so I think that’ll work for this giveaway?? Thanks, Kav! Happy moving!!

    Stronger Than the Storm by Deena Adams

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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      1. Shingles virus 3-1/2 weeks in. Seems like it’s been 6 mths. 😳 Pls continue to pray pain will cease. A couple of large 1″ lesions broke prematurely & they’ve cracked. Burn terribly, but Vaseline eases pain somewhat. Calamine lotion at this point causes drying & worse cracking. Nerve pain in lower back & tummy above blister breakout so uncomfortable, I stay nauseated. I sound like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, “Oh me, oh my.” 😔

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      2. Ugh to your shingles virus being the long haul kind. I imagine any kind of movement is limited because of the pain and I don’t know how you manage to find a comfortable way to sleep with it being both front and back. I’ve been praying for your, Diane and I will keep on praying! Hugs.

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      3. I have to sleep on my left side all night & oh boy, when I have to get up to use the restroom. Just the awful-est! Thanks so much for your prayers!! Hugs!

        I’m so excited for you about your move & that everything will be so convenient for you. Eep!

        And Tracey’s suggestion about the geraniums is a good one. I have 3 hanging pots of them & one sitting in a plant stand on the patio (which lasted thru the winter) & 1 hanging pot of red ones in the front yard. They’re so hardy! When they start blooming less or about once a month, I add Miracle-Gro bloom boosters & they take off again. I also trim the dead blooms off at the bottom of the stem. A guy at the nursery told me to trim them that way & it works! You probably know this stuff, but in case you don’t. lol

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      4. Do you mean annual geraniums? They are marked as full sun here but I have cranesbill geraniums also known as hardy geraniums I think, anyway they have smaller flowers and mound, more like a ground cover. I’ll fix up a pot of them to take with me. Geraniums are a good idea. And hopefully these perennials will come back next year even if they are in pots. I’ll have to read up on that. Ohhh, an excuse to buy a gardening book! Bwahahaha!

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    2. There’s something to be said for country living. I don’t drive or I’d be tempted to look at something farther out. I rely on handy shopping and buses/trains to get around town and I’m well situated for both at my new address.

      I was thinking FB would likely be one of the best sources for indie authors and their books, but, as you know, FB and I aren’t on speaking terms. 🙂 Your newsletter idea is a good one. Once I figure out that an author’s indie I’ll sign up for their newsletter. I find websites aren’t always kept up to date.

      Stronger than the Storm looks full of family drama! The kind of story you can get emotionally invested in. Thanks for the introduction to a new to me author, Diane! Good luck!

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      1. These geraniums say annual, but if you keep them out of the snow or freezing weather, ours come back. They’re pretty lrg. We put them in the corner of porch or patio where sun hits them occasionally & they come back. Even in winter. Our purple petunias came back for the 3rd year. Now that’s crazy.

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  2. Congratulations on getting your new apartment. I’m excited for you and will be praying for you as you make the transition. (we moved 3 yrs ago so I remember it well.)

    It is a challenge sometimes to find the indie-published novels. I can think of two right now that do both. We spoke to Misty M. Miller at book club this week and found her journey to publication inspiring. She first started writing as an independent author but had a dream to be published by Bethany House Publishers. That dream came true for her. She has written 50 books. To tell the indie books from the traditional ones is easy because she puts her name as the publisher.

    On the other hand, Grace Hitchcock announced soon after her first few novels (one with Barbour and the other with Bethany House publishers) that she was going to write some indie books too. They make more money self-publishing. Her publishing name is Valmont House Publishers, making the reader search to see if this is indie or not.

    Sometimes you can tell by the cover, but these two women have very beautiful covers. That’s not a giveaway. I have found that some you can tell by the price point. They are 3.99 to 2.99. Many have it available on Kindle Unlimited for an extended time.

    Thanks for all you do. I’m excited for your new adventure.

    Nora finding hope

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    1. Thanks, Nora. I’ve already packed up three boxes of books so the transition is in full swing now! 🙂

      Wow, Misty M. Beller has published 50 books?! Her journey from indie to traditionally published used to be the norm, I think. But now more traditional authors are branching into the indie world like Grace Hitchcock is doing. Maybe because publishers are cutting back on the number of books they are publishing? Or looking for different types of books or the author wants to branch out into a different genre? It’s great that there are more options for authors now. Just a little more confusing for readers. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your insights, Nora. Happy Reading!

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  3. Understand how moving can be exciting and scary at the same time.  I, too, and a creature of habit and do not adjust well to change.  That said, strangely enough, it was me that suggested we move.  We had just went to our favorite place for a getaway and were headed home when I said “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t have to head home.”  Shocked hubby so much that he pulled over and asked me if I was serious.  We talked all the way home working out details, if it would work and did we really want to.  As soon as we got home, we planned our next trip up, but this time it was business and not all pleasure.  We actually found the perfect plot of land – close to town, on a good road and land we didn’t feel like someone else was right upon us cause after the last move (28 years earlier) I had turned into a country girl.  When we got home, we listed our home for sale and it sold on day two.  We found the perfect builder and to top it all off, he could start on it right away since he was in between two projects.  Thankfully, we didn’t have to move twice because our buyer asked if we could wait until their sale on their farm finished going through.  In our new home, we also downsized.  We didn’t want all the extra space of 3 bedrooms to just sit idle except for a few days each year when company come when a sofa with a pull-out bed would do.  We designed our own home around the two existing large fireplaces from the 1853 homestead.  Since it was a smaller home, we were able to put in all the things we had always wanted like hardwood flooring and granite counter tops.  But downsizing meant reducing our “stuff”, which we found to be easier than it sounds and really kind of liberating.  We had inherited from the grandparents and parents before and since we had the room, it was there someplace – never looked at or used.  We sold, gave away and trashed a LOT of “stuff”.  We knew our floorplan because we had designed it.  If there wasn’t a place for it – it went.  We have been here 9 years now and it was the best decision EVER!  Concentrate on the happy part and the scary part will take care of itself along the way.  Pray that your move goes as smoothly and you also find happiness in the knowledge that you did the best thing for YOU. ❤

    Now for my Indie book, as you know I struggle with finding them.  I wish I could pick OVER THE EDGE by Susan May Warren, but it doesn’t release for two days. ☹ If it has to be a book already released, I would pick EYEWITNESS SKETCH by Danielle Grandinetti. 😊

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Ah, thanks for the encouraging words and your move story. “Concentrate on the happy part and the scary part will take care of itself along the way.” Wise words, my friend. And I love that your got to design your own home! And the way everything worked out with the sale — that’s when you know God’s got a hand in the fine details! So happy it all worked out for you!

      FYI – Over the Edge by Susan May Warren is a Revell publication – so traditional publisher. I had no idea until I looked it up just now. I thought it was with her Sunrise Publishing company which I can’t figure out if it’s indie or a traditional publisher? So confusing. Anyway. So Eyewitness Sketch it is. Good luck, Kay!

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  4. Moving is never fun. Only good thing is when you are in and settled. Hope it goes smoothly.

    My pick is A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton.
    paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

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  5. I’m so excited for you Kav! I’ve had downsizing on my mind for at least 10 years, but when we weigh out the pros and cons, we are better off where we are for now. Homes have gone up so much we could get a tidy sum for our house, but of course we’d have to turn around and buy in the same market. Or maybe just get a nice apartment. It’s getting harder and harder for us to maintain our house and yard by ourselves, so we are starting to hire people to do things for us. I don’t want my husband up a ladder on the roof cleaning gutters anymore.

    I know you will miss your house and garden, but it sounds like you are already figuring out how to make it work. The front of our house also faces north, and hostas are a good choice although they don’t come back but so many years and then they fade away. We’ve also had good luck with geraniums and even begonias. Both are so hardy.

    Per Indie books: you’ve given a lot of ways to spot them. A few ways I find them are by skimming the top 100 CF book lists on amazon, Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group on FB and also by following author newsletters. For example, Elizabeth Camden is a traditionally published author, but when she decided to try her hand at contemporary books, she went indie. I read about it in her newsletter. Her recent release, The Top of the World was fascinating and so full of historical info I never knew. (That seems to be her trademark as a former research librarian.)

    I found Chelsey Wellwood on an amazon list and since it was on KU I gave it a try. It was so good and others thought so too, it literally took off after that! Now I’m watching her fb page for the next book that she said would hopefully be out this summer.

    I heard about Emily Hampton’s The Lumberjack From the Cabin Next Door on the FB group. The readers who gushed over it were right! It was so funny, there are laughs on almost every page, and sometimes I need that. I went on to read her other fiction book, Dancing Towards Forever, also wonderful. Oh, and another way to tell, sometimes when looking at the book’s page there won’t be anything for publisher’s name like on Emily’s page.

    And let’s not forget recommendations from friends and our favorite Best Reads blog. I’ve read over 100 books by Shanna Hatfield but not Garden of Her Heart. When you recommended it, I decided to read it. I’m so glad I did! Loved it, and Petey may be my all-time favorite kid character. I went on to read book two. It was good but a bit sad as the struggles of those left at home during the war are evident. I’m on book 3 now and thought to let you know Petey is back in this one about the 2/3 point. Still such a funny little guy. I don’t know if Shanna has ever written Petey’s story, but I need to email her and suggest it. She always asks in her newsletter who readers are interested in seeing a story about. I can only imagine him as a teenager or adult!

    The flipside of indie books for me is the fact that authors have figured out the best way to sell them is by putting them on KU. In the last year I’ve read dozens upon dozens of indie published books on KU. So now I’m going to have to scramble to find an indie book that I don’t already have access to. If I find one, I’ll be back, if not it was still fun talking about this new and exciting group of authors and books.

    Have a great Sunday Kav and Best Readers!

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    1. Home ownership brings a whole other element to the moving decision for sure. I’ve been very blessed to have a landlord who has only raised my rent once in all these years but the house is showing her age and needs a good overhaul and that mold in the basement has to be dealt with properly. Those were the nudges I needed to think seriously about moving and then I had a couple of bad falls this winter and that left me wondering how I’d cope with the uneven ground to work in the garden all summer long so…

      Hostas are a good idea. I have some and up here they never die out. I’ve had the same plants from when I moved in here and they were established years before that. In fact, I’ve tried to dig hostas. up and they keep growing back anyhow. 🙂 Must be the cooler climate here. I’m going to pot a wee one and see how it feels about balcony life. I’ve never grown begonias before because the only shady area I have was taken up by hostas. They are considered annuals here, they don’t like our harsh winters. Come in lots of pretty colours though. That will be cheery.

      Speaking of Elizabeth Camden, I got one of her indie books, “Meet Me in Virginia” during the audible sale. Think that will be my next book after I finish with the cozy I’m listening to. And I didn’t realize she was a research librarian once upon a time! Thanks for the inspiration! I can always count on you. And I have that Chelsey Wellwood book too! I should do a whole indie author week! lol

      Sounds like the best way to learn about Indies is through word of mouth. We all have different sources and can share what we learn on Indie Days! FB seems like the best place from what everyone says…I’m jut not on FB anymore so I need to rely on my trusty on the spot reporter. 🙂

      Eeeeppp! So glad you loved Garden of Her Heart too. It seems like so many great indie books go unnoticed because they don’t have the marketing strength of the big name publishers behind them which is a shame. I just read the synopsis for the 2nd and 3rd books and they sound intriguing, plus, I’m thinking the third book features the nurse from the Garden of my Heart book as the heroine!

      Good to know that a lot of indie books are on KU, though I don’t think they make as much money per book that way. Maybe the volume increases the overall amount? Must be so hard to figure those things out for authors. Happy Reading, Tracey!

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      1. I just read an indie author say somewhere that they made more per book as an indie author. I’m sure the more they sell matters and also how popular they are. They get paid by the page and that makes it worth their while to make it good enough to continue. All those details of publishing yourself though, that would be too much for me.

        I loved Garden of the Heart, it’s going on my favorite list for 2026. And yes, in the 3rd book Billie Brighton is the nurse from the first book. Zane West is Rock Laroux’s friend that comes looking for him. I have about 30 pages left to finish, I just couldn’t hold my eyes open last night.

        In the second book it took me a little time to realize the connection. Ryatt Danvers, who was Petey’s best friend in the first book goes to live with his aunt. That’s the main FC Delaney Danvers. So, there is a common thread running through all 3 books.

        Begonias are an annual here too, but my husband keeps a bunch in pots on the patio. When we cold weather in the fall, he moves the pots to the garage, cuts them back and waters maybe once a month. Then in spring we have a good start on our patio plants. We’ve had some pots going 6 or 7 years.

        I enjoyed Meet Me in Va, the first book in the Far and Away series. The main FC, Alice in that book has 2 brothers. Quentin is the MC in The Top of the World, and the other brother Adam will be the main MC in the third book. Camden said the third book should be out late in 2026. I’m looking forward to that one too! Your scoop of the day 😉

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      2. Oh, so on kindle unlimited they get paid by the page so if you DNF a book they lose out? That’s motivation to keep reading! I’m surprised that an author makes more money self publishing considering the initial cost they have to put in to get the book published. That’s encouraging. I’ll keep trying to get my library to buy more indie books too. That can be tricky but I’ve noticed they seem to be getting more in nowadays so they must have worked out a buying system for them somehow.

        You have me excited about continuing that Shanna Hatfield series now. I’ve added the second book to my wish list on audible so as soon as new credits come in….

        And thanks for your tip about the begonias. I have never grown them before. I’ll be on the third floor so my balcony will be way above the frost line so I’ll give your husband technique a try and see what happens. Don’t think I’ll need to water them though with all the snow we get. It will be my first balcony gardening experiment.

        Look at you with another insiders scoop! At least I’m not too far behind with Elizabeth Camden’s series…yet!

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  6. Congratulations on the new apartment! After living so long at your place, it makes sense this would be a big jump and change for you. Enjoy the process!

    As for indie books, I just read a great CF Nordic Romance that comes out Tuesday – Of Flaw and Scorn by Vera Bell. The indie book I’d like to win in the giveaway would be Uneasy Street by Becky Wade. It’s an older book, but one I don’t have yet.

    Jolene – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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    1. Uneasy Street is awesome, but then, so is Becky wade so that’s not surprising! 🙂 I heard about Of Flaw and Scorn during the last RCW – someone even won a copy so thanks for the reminder that it comes out this week! Good luck, Jolene!

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  7. Congratulations on the move!! I understand the task of going through your books, I did that for our move in December. We will moving again, hopefully in the spring of next year. Good luck with everything! (not entering the giveaway, just chatting 😉 )

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    1. Yikes — moving again so soon? I can’t imagine that. I live a fairly uncluttered life (except for books and plants) so hopefully it won’t be too arduous. Happy chatting with you, Cindy. 🙂

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      1. We moved into a rental, with the plans to only be here a year or so, until we found our next house. We couldn’t find one in December, so this was plan B. We are not fond of the rental and I am already to be in another house…just got to find the right one!

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      3. We do have a few boxes in the garage (mostly stuff we are storing for our kids), and some boxes in my daughter’s room because she is not living with us, but we still have a lot of her stuff. She is hoping with her next move to take more with her. Right now, her room is tiny.

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  8. Congratulations on your move and if you’re already packing I’m sure the move will go smoothly! We’ve lived in the same house for 40 years (as of this July) and want to downsize, but making limited progress on that daunting project. Ahem, we have stuff😊

    I agree that finding indie published authors is difficult. I read a few that I’m familiar with, Misty Beller, Mandi Blake, Shanna Hatfield, Jennifer Rodewald. I thought Tara Grace Ericson was indie, but I’m not sure. Same with Rebecca Hartt.

    I’m currently on a break from KU so my pick is The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano. It’s coming to my library but their new releases seem to be slow to arrive.

    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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    1. I’m nothing if not organized when moving. I’ve helped friends move who hadn’t even started packing the day the moving truck arrives, and no, they didn’t pick movers who packed as well.) Talk about stressed out (me not the movees. lol) 40 years in one home is a lot of stuff gathering for sure. Good luck, Sandy!

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  9. Congratulations on your move! It is a terrifying and overwhelming time for sure but it will out smooth out in the end. For me I have found it takes about a year for me to get properly settled in. It’s a very sad and stressful time for those of us who don’t like change as much so prayers and virtual hugs 🤗🙏

    I find most of my indie books from FB and IG. There are so many it’s hard to list them all. Here are some though.

    Ashley Worrell

    Temperance Johnson

    Pegg Thomas

    Anne Perrualut

    CC Warrens

    Alena Mentink

    Candace West Posey

    Heidi Gray McGill

    Karen Witemeyer (hybrid)

    Grace Hitchcock (hybrid)

    Becky Wade (hybrid)

    Gabrielle Meyer (hybrid)

    Jody Hedlund (hybrid)

    Addison Crissone

    Angie O’Reilly

    Roseanna White(hybrid)

    Emily Ann

    Tammy L Gray (hybrid)

    Kiersti Giron(hybrid)

    Lynne Tagawa

    Joanna Davidson Politino (hybrid)

    Urcelia Teixeira

    For the book I’d like to win, Wages of Sin by Urcelia Teixeira! Thnx Kav and best of luck with your moving!

    sarahdar0801ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Thanks, Sarah. I mix of ‘oh last time for this’ blues and ‘Ohhhh, it will be so much fun to….’ excitement. And two months seems so long to anticipate/dread the change. Bwahahaha! Not like I won’t have lots to do in the meantime.

      Thanks for sharing that lovely list of self publishing authors, quite a few are new to me so I’ll be checking them out. Glad you mentioned Urcelia Teixeira because I have the second book in the Angus Reid Mystery series on my TBR pile. I haven’t tried any of her other series yet but I do like the way she tells a story and that’s based only on the first Angus Reid book but is sure made an impact! Good luck, Sarah!

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  10. Congrats on the move! I hope it’s relatively stress free for you.

    The book I pick is The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano. I find it hard to locate the Indie books. At least this one was advertised a bunch on FB, so I knew it was coming!

    kathrynlvossATgmailDOTcom

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  12. Blessings and MEGA grace as you enter this new season! May you encounter many new and exciting adventures.

    Awakened – Roseanna M. White

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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    1. Thanks, Caryl. Exciting adventures sound like fun as long as I don’t run into a body in the stairwell of my new building and wind up starring in my own cozy mystery novel. Bwahahaha! Good luck, Caryl!

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  13. Congrats on the move!  We’ve been in our house over 30 years, so I dread the day that we move.  I understand the anxiety and excitement all rolled into one.  It also sounds like things will be very convenient for you.  I just hope they have a reliable elevator, since you’re not on the ground floor.

    I know little about indie authors except for Becky Wade.  She Zoomed in to my book club recently and she said she would only be indie going forward. The year she had breast cancer she also didn’t have a book contract (I think she said she declined one?).  She said it was a relief to publish a book at her own pace (especially during her recovery). It also sounded like if done properly, you could make more money.

    I just wish my local public library would order more indies.  I’m not afraid to ask, but am usually turned down.

     There is a group on Goodreads called “Christian Indie Authors,” and I did a quick scroll and did’t really recognize any names.

    Here’s my tiny indie List:

    Elizabeth Camden (only contemporaries)

    Laura Frantz (A Fierce Devotion only?)

    Joanna Davidson Politano

    C.C. Warrens

    Becky Wade

    Natalie Walters (Better Watch Out Novella)

    One indie author that is getting a lot of buzz these days is Joanna Davidson Politano, so I would choose The Life She Forgot for the drawing.  Yep, the library won’t get this one!

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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    1. Funny thing is that when I went to view the apartment the elevators weren’t working! Seems to happen a lot in older buildings. They weren’t out for long but it’s something to look forward too. 🙂 At least I’m not on the tenth floor!

      I think it must be more profitable for seasoned authors who already have a huge following and have established newsletters etc. I can see how the freedom could be enticing too, setting your own deadlines and having a say in all aspects of the book. Love Becky Wade’s books no matter who publishes them. Thrilled that indie is working out for her.

      For some reason it seems hard fro libraries to stock indie books. I know here in Canada libraries — big city systems anyway – have one ordering department that orders for all the libraries in the system and they get their books from one or two sources – jobbers who get books in from all the various publishers. Indie books don’t fit neatly into that kind of ordering system so it makes it difficult. They’ll have to figure something out with the increased popularity of indie books.

      Your tiny indie list is a powerful one — and all of them started out traditionally published except for CC Warrens. Thanks for sharing, Perrianne. Good luck!

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      1. Non-working elevators would definitely make me nervous in your situation!

        I agree with you that seasoned authors with a large following can probably go indie fairly easily.  The odd thing about Becky Wade is that of her last 3 indie books, the library has them in either e-book or audio.  Very unusual, but she IS a Texas author who lives in Dallas (about 4 hrs from here).  And yes, I would read anything she writes!  She is also very friendly.

        I also think you are correct about the library ordering system.  It almost sounds like ours has one vendor and if they don’t have it, too bad.

        Kudos to CC Warrens!  It feels like she’s really rocking the indie route, but our library won’t order her books. ☹️

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  14. Kav, how exciting about your move! Especially since it’s to a place with so many cool things nearby! But totally understand how you’re going to miss your current home and garden, etc. All the best with the work of moving and all the transitions, etc. I’m sure it feels a little overwhelming.

    I’m really wanting to read  A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton so that is my pick for the giveaway. Fingers crossed! 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  15. I can understand your sadness about leaving your garden. Hopefully all the plusses of the new apartment will offset what you leave behind. Sorting through books to giveaway/keep is so hard so good luck with that.

    The indie book I’d like is A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. I just discovered that there are allotment gardens in the neighbourhood. It might be too late for me to get one this year but they also grow veggies for the food banks and teach children how to garden and they are looking for volunteers to help so that’s promising. Lori Benton is a wonderful storyteller and this new book will be one to cherish after we’ve had to wait so long for another novel from her. Good luck, Pam!

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  16. Hi Kav, This is big news! All the best for your upcoming move. I’m sorry you’ll have to part with keeper shelf books that won’t fit in your new home. Never an easy task. 😦 

    Thanks for creating a regular posting day where you’re talking about indie books. They can be hard to find for a few reasons. Many authors (myself included) have been traditionally published and indie published. It’s harder for authors to get their indie books on the shelves in bricks and mortar stores. There’s also the problem of the book farm scammers pretending to be legit indie authors and trying to flood the market with AI-slop books (a bigger issue for nonfiction than fiction) which is damaging the reputation of indie authors with retailers, libraries and readers. 

    You’ve inspired me to take a look at my Fan Girling episodes to see which indie books I’ve featured on my podcast and at YouTube. Here’s the indie book list. 🙂

    Mostly Dead by Susan J Bruce (dropping May 8th)

    A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna M. White (I read a paperback ARC of the original indie book 15+ years ago)

    The Billionaire’s Nanny by Elizabeth Maddrey

    Her Mistaken Identity Cowboy by Karen Baney

    My Merry Mistake by Courtney Walsh

    Unexpected Danger by Penny Zeller

    Small Town Harmony by Milla Holt

    A Heart to Treasure by Dienece Darling

    Dead Ahead by Susan J Bruce

    The Rustler Hunter by R. J. Sloane

    Uneasy Street by Becky Wade

    These Long Shadows by Jennifer Mistmorgan 

    Easter in Gilead series (multi-author)

    Falling for a Devoted Cowgirl by Karen Baney 

    Hometown Melody by Milla Holt 

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    1. Thanks, Narelle. I’m consoling myself with the (ahem) 781 titles in my audible library. 🙂

      Thanks for your authorly insights into all things indie. I have noticed recently that independent stores in my area seem to making a real effort to stock indie books by local authors, also Canadian authors, so that’s a hopeful start. And I never thought about AI encroaching on the indie market. Grrrrr. That’s awful! I’ve never heard of the term ‘book farm scammers’ or ‘AI slop books.’ I feel a research spree coming on. Thanks for sharing your Fan grilling podcast/booktube list of indie authors/books you’ve featured. So many authors I still haven’t read yet but this is a nice place to start. Happy Reading (and writing) Narelle!

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  17. Oh wow, congratulations on your upcoming move! My family moved a few years ago for the first time in my life. I decided it’s not something I enjoy doing! 😂 A lot of our plants and flowers at our old house came from my grandmother who had a green thumb. Unfortunately, we didn’t think to take any with us and regret it now. 

    As far as an independently published book goes, I would probably say In Books & Battlefields by Heather Tabers

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    1. I wonder if there is anyone out there who enjoys moving? I used to move fairly regularly until this twenty year stint in one place. I’m out of practice! lol My heart dropped at the thought of leaving your grandmother’s plants and flowers behind. Hopefully the new owners will cherish them. I’m definitely bringing a few of mine with me. I love that title – Books and Battlefields! Good luck, Bridget!

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  18. I hope your move goes well. We probably should downsize to a smaller house and yard, but I don’t want to give up my neighborhood! We have the best neighbors! I guess we’ll stay here a little longer and see how we do.

    I just finished Elizabeth Camden’s The Top of the World and loved it! It’s indie published. Her historical books are aren’t.

    I’d love to read Lori Benton’s book, a Scattering of Light.

    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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    1. Good neighbours are important! Stay as long as you can. I’m about to start the first book in that Elizabeth Camden series…at least I think it is, it’s an indie contemporary anyway. Lori Benton is proving popular today! Good luck!

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  19. I think my way of determining if something is indie or not is the same as you’ve listed. It’s really tricky sometimes, lol.
    One indie book I’ve really been wanting to get ahold of is Partin: the Taken by Riley J. Perrie! I’ve got the first one (Partin: the Chosen) and reeeally want the second!

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  20. I wish you the best as you prepare for your move! I’m sure you’ll love your new location and the chance to make new memories. A move seems daunting but it’s a great chance to purge what you really don’t need.

    I love Joanna Davidson Politino’s writing and her latest is considered an Indie. I had the chance to read a digital ARC but I would love to have a print copy of The Life She Forgot for my keeper shelf. Thanks for the chance.

    Connie

    cps1950ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Thanks, Connie. And yes, there is something cleansing about critically assessing every stick of furniture and knickknack etc. I’m in major spring cleaning mode! Good to know The Life She Forgot is keeper shelf worthy! Good luck, Connie!

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  21. I’m going with a book from my wishlist- A Secret Infatuation by Jennie Goutet. It says published by Millefeuille Press, but I’m pretty sure it’s the author’s because it didn’t come up in a Google Search with its own website.

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  22. The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano has been on my Indie radar.

    Praying for God to bless you as you move and guide you as you purge things that are dear to you. I would be devastated if I had to give up gardening so I definitely know how difficult that will be for you but God has you in this new season of your life. Hugs book twin.

    leliamaet4(at)aol(dot)com

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  24. No more snow shoveling!!

    Books & Buried Secrets (The Willow Creek Mysteries, Book 1 of 2) by Melissa Alyse – Independently published, February 28, 2026 Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. Oh my, your new location sounds like a dream! Congratulations on your upcoming move! You do have my sympathies for the moving process though, and leaving your garden! As for books…. I’m Horrible at figuring out if a book is indie published or not! Usually I find out in an author’s newsletter. 

    “To Love a Lady” by Gabrielle Meyer

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