In 2025, I published my debut novel, The Whole Enchilada. I spent quite a bit of time debating how to put it out into the world, and found myself running up against a lot of angst – my own and others’ – over the validity of independent publishing. While indie writers and presses were once often seen as signs of poor quality and a lack of professionalism, much has changed in publishing over the past twenty years. Technology has evolved, giving us access to professional services and a global market of readers.
“Indie” is no longer synonymous with the vanity presses of years gone by. Today, thousands of incredible writers choose to publish their own work or have it published through small, independent presses. Some traditionally published authors have even chosen to go indie because it gives them greater control over the final product (not to mention a larger share of sales).
The result has been a flood of new fiction on the market. Some of it is, admittedly, poor quality. After all, access doesn’t equal skill. However, there is plenty of high-quality, professionally produced fiction available today that reflects a greater diversity of writers and topics. These books should be read and celebrated alongside whatever comes from the Big Five. As an indie writer (and reader!), and a radical egalitarian, I feel like it’s important to dedicate some of the space I occupy online to them.
My reviews are not meant as ‘ratings,’ so I don’t use stars or other tokens to rank them. Each review reflects my own reading and enjoyment of a particular book. I’ll share what I liked about these books and what I found challenging. I don’t review books that are AI/LLM-generated, poorly written/edited, or that I can’t bring myself to finish (for whatever reason).
I review indie fiction across all genres. If you’re interested in having me read and review your book, contact me here.
