It’s Indie April (yay!) so I thought I’d share a few ways you can support indie authors this month & beyond. But first… what is an indie author?
indie author (n): a writer who independently manages the entire process of bringing a book to publication | Synonyms: entrepreneur, badass, dreamer, storyteller, magic, hustle, heart
Just like an indie musician or an indie artist, indie authors pursue their passion without the financial, legal, and creative support of a major corporation.
Going at it solo means we’re not just the writers, we’re also the publishers. It can be hard to follow our dreams without guaranteed bookstore placement, lingering social stigma, rejections from the constant cold outreach, and the undertaking of alllllllll the promotional efforts. To be honest, there are days when it feels like I’ll never catch a break… But then I’ll get a nice DM or see a Bookstagram post or see someone new in my reader group, and it makes it all worth it.
Wondering how you can make an indie author’s day? Here are some ideas!
1. Connect with us on social.
Social media is a great tool for us to build our brand, engage with our communities, boost visibility, and find new readers. So much time, energy, enthusiasm, and thought is put behind our posts (and don’t even get me started on those aesthetic reels ?) to make them as fun and informative as possible! Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Facebook, etc. are key components to an indie author’s marketing strategy. Following, liking, commenting, sharing, only takes a second and are some of the easiest and simplest ways you can support us!
2. Add our books on Goodreads.
This helps increase reader interest and can be a great signal for others to add to their TBRs! To do this search for the title on Goodreads.com. Beneath the cover, there will be a green Want to Read button.
3. Sign up for our newsletters.
These are typically sent out 1-2x a month (trust me, we don’t want to spam you!) and they’re the best way to stay up-to-date on announcements, cover reveals, author life, ARC sign-ups—and if IG goes down (like it always does) we’ll have a way to stay connected! Links to newsletters can most often be found in our IG links in bio or on our websites.
4. If you’ve read our books, please leave a review.
Reviews help us find our readers! There are also some platforms where a book needs to reach a certain threshold of reviews in order for the algorithm to notice it and start including it in purchase recommendations and other in-site promos.
5. Put in a request at your local library.
Most libraries have a form you can fill out online. It’s usually under something like “Purchase request” or “Suggest an item we don’t have” in their site’s menu. You might need to have some extra details handy, such as the book’s genre, age level, and format. Some bookstores also take requests if the book meets certain requirements—usually this means the title is available for purchase through IngramSpark, a major distribution platform, and it is marked available for returns. This is something the store could look into, though!
6. Slide into our DMs.
This doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be done via Instagram. A quick email or using the form submission on our website is just as special. We LOVE hearing from our readers!
7. Join our reader groups.
Reader groups are the place to get alllllll the inside scoop, including first looks, peeks at works-in-progress, polls, exclusive access to bonus connect, and to connect with the author (and other readers) on a more personal level. In my reader group, I’ve even given out free sticker packs and have asked for volunteers to help beta test things for me!
8. Recommend our books to your friends.
Word-of-mouth still proves to be one of the best ways to generate hype and increase interest, pages read, and sales for indie books. Whether it’s in a Facebook group or on Discord, Bookstagram, or even in person, every mention helps!
9. If you’re able, purchase our books directly.
Retail sites are wonderful for accessibility and visibility, but they don’t often work in the author’s favor. In most cases, it means having to include big discounts and splitting revenue. Ordering directly from the author (typically via their website) means 100% of the profit goes to us. It also allows for a more personalized experience—plus we can include extra goodies like character art! ?
Of course, there’s absolutely no pressure at all to do any of these things! We love our readers no matter what and you don’t owe us anything ♥
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my Instagram post for a chance to win some awesome fantasy books by 5 indie authors!
← The giveaway is open 4/1/24-4/7/24.
I hope you enjoyed this post about how you can support indie authors! If you’re looking for some book recs, check out this blog post for a great list of urban fantasy romance books!
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