Reviews of Good Indie Books discussion

If you're an Indie writer, we want to hear your story.

If you're an Indie reader, tell us about yourself and what draws you to independent books.

My name is Stephanie Fowers and I've published two books through Covenant Communications, "Rules of Engagement" and "Meet Your Match." Just last year, I decided to take the plunge and explore the adventurous digital world of Amazon (and other ebook stores) with "Prank Wars." It was a great experience and I'm excited to get more of my writing out there.
Right now I'm working on a YA Fantasy trilogy called 'Twisted Tales,' and I plan to release the first book on Amazon this coming year.
I never read a chick lit book before I wrote 'Rules of Engagement,' and then I became an avid chick lit reader. The same goes with indie books. Now I read tons of them, but it's hard to find the best out there with so many options. That's why I started this group. I'm hoping to connect readers to good independent books and get more chatter out there, so that we don't have to depend entirely on publishers to wade through the slush to find the good.
That's where I hope that you will come in. Every time you read a good indie book, PLEASE think of us and submit it to this board. It's nice to have a friend recommend a good book.

My name is Lezlie Word Tyson, and I have published five novels over the course of the past ten years. Four of these are part of the "Intents of the Heart" Series; three volumes and a prequel. I am working on the final book--the other bookend--now. It tells the story of Lauren, an abused girl and the relatives who take her in and help her to recover. The fifth novel was just released in April. It is entitled, "The King's Heart," and set in medieval England during the Anarchy. Lady Cornella is a ruthless tyrant who has the tables turned on her by a wiley steward...an act that forever changes her fate and that of the noble Houses of Tuttleberry and Worthington. All are available on Amazon in paperback form; the last two are available in ebook form for Kindle/NOOK/iBooks.
I wrote my first novel at 18 and have been fortunate to have some very good friends who were English majors/teachers who edit for me. Their brutal honesty has made me the writer that I am. I am hoping to find people who love to read who will review my books and help spread the word.

Lezlie, thank you for posting. You came to the right place. And your books sound interesting. I'm excited to look them up. Is your fifth book a standalone novel then?

Yes, "The King's Heart" is the first in what may become a series set in 12th century England. Hope you like it!

Stephanie wrote: "Lezlie, thank you for posting. You came to the right place. And your books sound interesting. I'm excited to look them up. Is your fifth book a standalone novel then?"
FYI It is available on Amazon through the 15th for FREE! The King's Heart stands alone...though I am thinking about a sequel. ;)

That's exciting!

It is currently in the top 20 of historical fiction free downloads on Amazon! It HAS been an exciting day. Thanks for your interest. I hope you get a chance to check it out. I have 4 and 5 stars on every review (Goodreads & Amazon.)

That's great news!

Hello, I'm an indie publisher/editor. The author of our latest title is computer-phobic so I'm here in her stead. We have only one other title before this one, three more in the pipeline. My wife started as a publisher to print a book about her paintings, and then we were approached by our friend & neighbor who lived through the rise of Hitler. European publishers picked up her memoir in French & German, and she asked us for help with the English edition- as the traditional publisher who were going to do that sat on the book for 10 years, until their option expired! (They had financial woes due to investing with Bernie Madhoff and couldn't print anything for a while).

We thought her story was amazing, and actually expanded her memoir by conducting over 30 hours of interviews with her to add more details. Now, we'd like to submit her WWII autobiography Sonia's Song for review- rated PG. I can offer a free eBook download for a "Good Self-Published books" group member to review (contact me if interested), and we also will have a free day on Amazon in the next few weeks as well. Here's the opening lines-

I stand three feet six inches tall when I am declared an enemy of the German State.

I would feel prouder of this distinction if I’d actually done something to earn it: like sabotaging a train by laying dynamite on the tracks, or willfully exposing my neighbors to a dread disease á la Typhoid Mary. But at the age of seven, my options for wreaking havoc are limited. In fact, my family and I have been spending more and more time by ourselves, in the shadows...

She also reads the first few chapters of the book here.

Thanks for reading!

Wow, that sounds amazing. I'll take you up on that download. I'm afraid when I read it that I'll cry the whole time though!

There are nail-biting moments, a couple "whoas" and tear-jerkers too, but overall it is uplifting. Just sent you a personal message with the link. Thanks for the interest!

I'm excited to read it!

Hello everyone. I've self published via Createspace. I found it to be an excellent venue to accomplish what I had set out to do: I've written a story that encompasses a unique journey.

With Love, The Argentina Family is a Creative Non-Fiction by genre; it is a memoir with a twist! Think of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” meets “Father Knows Best” meets “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.” And for old movie buffs like myself, this book is a nod to such classics, as “I Remember Mama.”

My book is a reflection of my distinctive journey as an immigrant under considerably unique circumstances. Although countless of Argentine immigrants have come to the United States, many of them of mixed ethnicities, not many can say that they wore out five passports before the age of twenty-two! Because of my dad's fringe benefits from Pan American Airlines, we used to travel all the way down to South America on a drop of a hat...my mom would have our suitcases packed faster than Superman could stop a speeding bullet! My sister and I lived for ten years without truly having a "summer vacation." Argentina is below the equator; when it's summer here in the U.S., they are in the dead of winter! As a budding romance intensified, so did the politics and governing powers. It was not necessarily the best time to be criss-crossing the continents.

With so many colorful characters, exciting scenarios, and fascinating history, this absolutely is a unique and inspirational story.

I hope you take a look at it.With Love, The Argentina Family: Memories of Tango and Kugel; Mate with Knishes

"One of those unique and wonderful manuscripts that come one's way all too rarely"
-- London Publisher

The Seven Gifts came to Earth and lay dormant, unseen, like seeds in an empty desert. Then the rains came, as an Angel bearing seven mysterious books. Woven within them, far from the eye of a casual reader, were the simple truths of The Seven Gifts. The Angel chose a young boy to reveal them: to endure a wild, spiritual odyssey through seven arcane and bizarre worlds in pursuit of a lonely white dolphin - the final veil hiding the wonder of the seven gifts; and the enigma of the Angel, and the mystery of himself. And perhaps the mystery of us...

"Beautifully written tales capture the mind, heart and spirit" - LL Book Review
"Walks that fine line between profound and insane" - Inkweaver Review
"It is really a wonderful, unique book" - Zuzka Vašíčková

Details, reviews & excerpt @ http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66...

Full length review copies HERE

Hello all. I am Giovanni Russano. I don't exactly know how to classify my current release. Some say sci-fi, others say horror. A few have seen it as a book on psychology, I am in that group.

I am seeking honest reviews from anyone willing to read. For as much as I seek reviews to increase my chances it is also for the betterment of my craft. So please, good, bad or ugly, I want nothing more than honest.

I put a reviewers package here on Goodreads (linked below) and can send PDF copies to anyone who wants to go beyond what's in the following link...

http://www.goodreads.com/reader/41904...

Hello Everyone!

I've written 5 non-fiction books for various publishers, some not necessarily topics I would have chosen but my editor requested, so I wrote. I've worked in the music business for 20 years and so most are music-related books. Someday, I will finish my novel.

My husband, Kevin Crouch, just finished his first novel in a series, titled Borrowed Lives. It is about a young woman who discovers she has a gift for time travel. It's pretty fabulous, even though I am slightly biased.

There is also a short story, Idella Pinson, about one of the characters from the book. The novel is historical fiction/time travel/new adult.

I hope you're all having a fabulous day!

Stephanie wrote: "My name is Stephanie Fowers and I've published two books through Covenant Communications, "Rules of Engagement" and "Meet Your Match." Just last year, I decided to take the plunge and explore the a...">

Hi Stephanie. I'm going to check out your books. I had a book almost picked up by Covenant Comm, but instead went with Horizon (Truth or Dare, Do You Have The Courage to Change Your Life), who I believe is now owned by Covenant. Congratulations on your success.

Hello, friends and neighbours!

My name is Trevor Zaple and I've published my first novel, Disappearance through a friend's start-up, which has turned out to be more or less a self-publishing venture without shelling out the startup funds :D. I would love people to read it and review it, although if you would just like to read it I don't mind at all. PM me for a copy, no worries.

If it were a movie, taken verbatim, it would likely garner an NC-17 rating, although it's not an "Adult" novel, if you catch my drift. It just features some disturbing situations.

Trevor, what is your novel about?

It's about the lives of survivors in Toronto after 95% of the population vanishes for no discernable reason. Many of them see the newly depopulated world as a chance to build a utopia but the situation soon becomes untenable.

It's core theme, though, would be the triumph of real love in the face of adversity.

Hi everyone I too am an Indie writer. But I feel as if I write for everyone else except myself. You see I don't consider myself an actual writer. I'm actually a marketer that has creative writing capabilities. People enjoy my stories because it's about them. I show them sides of themselves they never even seen before. How many of you knew you were a God? Let me show you

We Were Once Gods

We were once Gods,
living high in the mountain tops
Free of order, roaming the free land,
The day was young, but it had yet to grow,
Giving time the opening to run aimlessly

But then the day grew old,
Time limited itself, order became my captor
holding me with its bare hands as time marks my new boundaries,
I now sit on a flat land with no ups and downs
Restricted to travel a day's worth abroad my new land,
Never again are we to reach our beloved land

The mountains were high
And the Greenland was low,
Never again we were to access our beloved land,
Foreign to us as we now know it,
But still strong in our roots
To only serve as a reminder to what kind of life we once lived,
As our only option we helped these new Gods grow,
Nurturing the Gods because they remind us of what was once ours,

For we too were once in their land,
As we had fallen from the mountain tops,
They will do accordingly,
Side by side in the land where time age,
No longer in the Mountains where youth persist
For this is the life of us Gods