Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Blogoversary Day 2: Indie Love!

Hey peeps! It's day TWO of my blogoversary! Thanks for joining in on the fun! The main reason I initially started my blog was to help support the indie authors who weren't getting the attention they deserved.  Since then, I've developed really great friendships with some amazing authors, and I hope you'll give them a chance too! I wanted to highlight a few authors that have been a large part of my blogging journey

1. Vicky Savage, author of the Transcender Trilogy.
When I started reviewing, I read anything and everything I could get my hands on. I admit most of it was slush, but when I started reading Transcender: First Timer, I knew I had something special in my hands. I devoured the book in one sitting, and I knew I wanted to support this author into getting more publicity.

I started chatting with Vicky on a regular basis, and low and behold, not only is she a great indie author, but she's also one of the nicest and most generous people I've ever met! Vicky used to be a lawyer, so it gives me hope that if one day, I want to step down from being a doctor and become a writer, I won't be alone!

We've done a ton of events together, and since then have forged a friendship that I'm forever grateful for. She inspires me in so many ways-- finishing this trilogy on her own dime, becoming a cancer survivor, the list goes on and on. I was lucky enough to serve as her editor in the final book of the Transcender series, and I know she'll only get better and better.

http://vickysavage.com/
Buy Transcender on Amazon

2. Howard Shapiro, author of The Hockey Saint and Stereotypical Freaks. 
My friendship with Howard started very simply with a nice email of his, offering to send me a copy of his graphical novel for review. I'm not a big graphical novel sort of person, but I feel very strongly about giving new things a try. Boy, I'm glad I did!

I fell in love with Stereotypical Freaks-- I was surprised I was in tears by the end. I was shocked I could be moved so much by a graphical novel, and I knew that I needed to promote it. A few events later, Howard asked if I did much editing. I had already been a freelance editor to a few authors at this point, so I readily agreed. We started working on The Hockey Saint together, and it was probably one of the best editing experiences of my life. Howard is one of those people who is very open to suggestion, and if he is confused or doesn't agree, we have a wonderful conversation working out the kinks together.

Since then, I've been working on several books coming out of Howard's new indie book company, Animal, Inc, which has been a terrific learning experience. I've learned a lot about writing memoirs, graphical novels, and seen The Hockey Saint slowly come through production, which has been amazing. In addition, Howard and I have developed a wonderful friendship, and he's been one of the rare people to read and love my first novel, which means so much to me.

http://www.howardshapiro.net/
Buy Stereotypical Freaks

3. Ingrid Ricks, author of Hippie Boy: A Girl's Tale, now a NYT bestseller.
Ingrid is the first indie author that I promoted on my blog two years ago. And I was thrilled to hear that she made it on the NYT bestseller's list for the very book I fell in love with! I love that we've been able to develop a friendship, and I've been able to help her out in a small way. She's come so far in such a short time, and I'm really inspired by her personal story as well as her friendship.

http://ingridricks.com/
Buy Hippie Boy
 
4. Lindsey Loucks, author of The Grave Winner
I first met Lindsey at a Facebook party where she was promoting her book along with several other authors. She was the first author where I was very intrigued by her swag. She had a T-shirt, a gorgeous antique ring, among other things. I won the silver ring that night and loved it right away. I was immediately curious how this tied into her book. I asked her if she was interested in sending me a copy for review. She readily agreed, and I absolutely loved her book. It's this great combination of horror and paranormal fantasy. It's definitely become one of my top indie picks!

http://www.lindseyrloucks.com/
Buy The Grave Winner


Isabella Rockwell's War5. Hannah Parry, author of Isabella Rockwell's War
Poor Hannah sent me this book for review 9 months prior to me actually getting to it. I wish I had picked it up much sooner! I don't read much middle grade, but I was so glad I did in this case! I loved that it harkened me back to books I loved when I grew up, including The Secret Garden and The Little Princess. I think this is a wonderful read for that age group and also enjoyable to adults. It helps that Hannah is one of the sweetest people ever!

http://www.hannahparry.org/home.html
Buy Isabella Rockwell's War


6. Alyssa Rose Ivy, author of many paranormal books
Alyssa Rose IvyTalk about random meetings! Alyssa's husband is a friend of a friend, and I knew I needed to pick up one of her books! The first one I read was Beckoning Light, which I really enjoyed. I really recommend it! The sequel was even better. I still need to read the third, which I'm excited about. You never know where you are going to meet new people, new authors to root for, and I'm so glad that I met Alyssa!

http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/
Read Beckoning Light for Free!

These are just a few authors that have really made an impact on me in the last year. I really hope that you support your indie authors and accept books for review! I know there's a lot of slush to get through, but once in a while, you get a gem, and it makes it all worth it!

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32 comments:

  1. Hi, I'm Jennina! :) To be honest I am not really familiar with indie books and authors. I was introduced quite long ago when I started visiting blogs and joining giveaways, and I think it's a little too late. Reading indie is on the top of my list now! Most of them, I found out, really deserve the spotlight and the applause. In my opinion all authors whose books I have read are my favorites; once they get me hooked with just one novel, they certainly will get me hooked with the novels they will publish sooner or later. :)

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  2. I love Taylor Dean. Her books are sweet, clean romance and that is a refreshing thing in today's sex obsessed world!

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  3. I honestly have not read a lot of indie authors. But I definitely will now!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  4. I dont know to many Indie authors but i do know Alyssa Rose Ivy!! also just grabbed THORN and thats an indie that looks amazing!
    ❤ Brittany @
    Please Feed the Bookworm

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  5. Christina, thanks so much for supporting us indies! I’m honored to be in such great company on your blog today. Recently I read a survey that indicated over 90% of readers don’t care who published a book as long as it’s well written and interesting to them. That's great news for those of us who, like you, are passionate about delivering a great product and entertaining readers. Thanks for helping us get the word out!

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  6. Thanks Christina for such kind words and I wish I could say enough about how great you are! Your support and friendship is easily the best thing that has ever happened to me via my writing. It's been tremendous working with you and I hope that I will always be able to work with you on any book I do in the future.

    Thank you as well for your support of indies! It means a tremendous amount in this day and age and again, thank you for EVERYTHING you do!

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  7. To be honest I don't read a lot of Indie Authors, but thanks for the awareness and info, I think i might pick one up next time!

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  8. Thank you so much, Christina! Your support has truly meant a lot to me!

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  9. Thank you so much, Christina! Your support has truly meant a lot to me!

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  10. I havent read any Indie Authors

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  11. I believe I've only read one Indie Author so far and it's Nikki Jefford!

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  12. I don't think I have read any Indie authors though I probably will now. Thanks for the giveaway!! :)

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  13. I don't think that I have read enough indie authors to pick a favorite, but I love to try new books/authors.

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  14. I have so many favorites it's hard to pick! So are few of them are Alyssa Rose Ivy, Dianna Hardy, Devyn Dawson, Jessica Sorensen, Tara Brown, & Cambria Hebert. GOSH I know I'm missing like a ton, but that's the ones that popped into my head.

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  15. I'm rather fond of Amanda Hocking.

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  16. I'll admit to not reading a ton of indie authors but I do adore Annie Cosby and her book Learning to Swim! It's sooo good!! :)

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  17. I am so excited for Anna Banks Trilogy, Lissa Price Starters and Enders, and The Taking by Kinberly Derting

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  18. My favorite Indie Author is Amber Garr because her writing has so much freedom and is so detailed! She starts her stories so amazing and doesn't let go of that grasp that it has on you until they end, even then you will have a book hangover!!!

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  19. Honestly, I don't typically know who is indie and who isn't. Good authors come in all kinds of packaging, I guess. That said, I'm pretty sure Hugh Howey (of the Wool/Silo and Sand sagas) is indie, and I think he is the bomb! Thanks :)

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  20. Tim O'Rourke is my favorite indie author. I love the worlds that he builds and the characters he creates. He has created one of my favorite heroines, Kiera Hudson. She is totally badaxx!

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  21. Colleen Hoover. I just love every book that she writes.

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  22. I have not read any of these books, but I will check them out. Thanks!

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  23. Isn't it sad that I haven't heard of the authors on this list before? Atleast now I'll be on the lookout. My favorite indie authors are Krista and Becca Ritchie. Their Addicted series is one of my all-time favorites, and it's so easy to fall inlove with the characters in their stories <3

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  24. My favorite indie authors are Krista and Becca Ritchie! I love all their books and their Addicted series (they co-wrote it) is one of my all-time favorites!

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  25. I honestly have no clue who is Indie and who isn't. But I love a lot of authors who probably are. Maybe Lydia Kang is? She's so amazing and she has a beautiful writing style. To top it off, she is a fabulous person.

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  26. I'm so ashamed to admit that I really can't tell the difference between who's an indie author and who isn't! I will definitely be looking up the authors you listed here! I don't know how to pick a favorite because I don't know who all is considered an indie author... to me, as long as the writing is good and the story is interesting, it doesn't matter whether they are considered indie or popular.

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  27. Colleen Hoover, even though technically she's under Atria now, which is an "indie" imprint of S&S.

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  28. My favorite Indie authors are Krista & Becca Ritchie, Nashoda Rose, KR Conway, DL Roan, Leigh T Moore, Tara Sivec, and several more!!

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  29. Unfortunately, in Hungary there aren't available a lot of books... :-( But I'm interested in Lindsey Loucks, Hannah Parry and Howard Shapiro books. :-)

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  30. Ooo I didn't realize that you started to support indie writers! But, that's awesome~
    Hmmm... I think... hmmm... I honestly dont know if a writer is indie or not because if I like a book, I just read and support them ><

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  31. I love Colleen Hoover (although I'm not sure if she's an Indie author), along with Quinn Loftis.

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