#indie authors

[selenekallanwriter]

John Oliver gets it, as usual. AI Slop is one of the best episodes of Last Week Tonight I've seen so far. Gen AI is theft. Those who use it are not authors or artists, they're grifters profiting from real creatives.

[veronicaleighauthor]

[ekingston]

STEAL THIS POST.

don’t just reblog but REPOST, rephrase, do your own research and run with it however you want. DM me to email you the high resolution images if you need them. just help spread the word.

more info & links here.

[rotten-whispers]

Rabbit Hunt has finally been published!

You can find this dark-fantasy novel on Amazon as a physical copy, and on Itch.io as an Ebook! The first chapter is also available on Itch.io as a free demo. See the masterpost here!

Prince Syr and Royal Guard, Raoul, have faced an agonizing personal betrayal. They are fleeing Europa, amidst 10 other unsuspecting souls. Rurik, a mage from the north, battles an undecipherable plague. Danon, whose home has been destroyed, seeks a world away from war and civil uprising. A man torn apart by love makes a horrible mistake. And within the bloodthirsty Empire of Gaule, a guard of five mages has been summoned to fulfill an unspeakable order by the Duc. All will convene in the most Wretched of Lands, led by the gods towards an inescapable destiny. They will soon learn that struggle is futile, as fate always falls As the Gods Will.

* This novel features LGBT+ characters, alternate history, and realistically-horrific magic! But it also includes adult themes (gore, obsession, abuse, and sexual assault), and is 18+.

[thisqueerlove]

Queer Books by Black Authors 🏳‍🌈📚

Happy Black History Month!

This is in no way close to all Black Queer books. This is just what I put together in a couple weeks of researching, if I counted right there should be 158 books across 8 genres including a few upcoming releases. Most of these authors also have multiple books so please check those out too!

Please check trigger warnings before going into any book, especially the horror and historical. TheStoryGraph is a good place to find content warnings.

Read and support Black authors and creators all year round, not just in February.

Fantasy: 🏳️‍🌈🔮

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

The City We Became by N.K Jemisin

Legendborn by Tracey Deonn

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

Witchmark by C.L. Polk

Survive The Dome by Kososko Jackson

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

Blood, Flesh & Magic by Viano Oniomoh

Love & Lust by Karla Nikole

Brewed With Love by Shelly Page

The Divide That Binds Us by Michelle J

Temper by Nicky Drayden

Spells To Forget Us by Aislinn Brophy

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

The Witchery by S Isabelle

The Balance of Fates by Raquel Raelynn

A Wolf Steps in Blood by Tamara Jerée

Loving Safoa by Liza Wemakor

Son of The Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

The Secrets of Eden by Brandon Goode

Born of Blood and Magic by M.C. Hutson

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Drag Me Up by R.M Virtues

A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert

The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

Deadly Ever After by Brittany Johnson

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

In The House of Transcendence by Amanda B. Weaver

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

Sci-Fi: 🏳️‍🌈👽

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monet

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

The Splinter In The Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

The King Must Die by by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

Arc of The Universe by Nikki Alexander

Where The Rain Cannot Reach by Adesina Brown

A Song of Salvation by Alechia Dow

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

Jamaica Gingers and Other Concoctions by Nalo Hopkinson

Horror: 🏳️‍🌈☠️

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado

We Came To Welcome You by Vincent Tirado

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis

The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

No One’s Gonna Take Her Soul Away by Amanda B. Weaver

Something Kindred by Ciera Burch

I Feed Her To The Beast and The Beast is Me by Jamison Shea

The Forest Demands its Due by Kosoko Jackson

Monstrous by Jessica Lewis

All These Sunken Souls by Various Authors

The White Guy Dies First by Various Authors

Thriller: 🏳️‍🌈🔪

Ace Of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill

Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington

Romance: 🏳️‍🌈❤️

D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins

Cupid Calling by Viano Oniomoh

Let Them Fall by Simone Holiday

Nav's Foolproof Guide To Falling in Love by Jessica Lewis

Call Your Boyfriend by Olivia A. Cole

Finding Prince Charming by Jamar J. Perry

Second Night Stand by Karelia & Fey Stetz-Waters

One and Done by Fredrick Smith

The Honeymoon Mix-Up by Frankie Fyre

Ready To Score by Jodie Slaughter

Meet Me in the Sky by Jeffery K. Davenport

Whenever You're Ready by Rachel Runya Katz

Can't Let Her Go by Kianna Alexander

Leather, Lace and Locs by Anna Shade

Finding Joy by Adriana Herrera

More To Love by Georgina Kiersten

Basketball Jones by E. Lynn Harris

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters

The Rhythms Between Us by Yoe Apolinario

Chocolate Chip City by Be Steadwell

Contemporary: 🏳️‍🌈📖

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds

Outdrawn by Deanna Grey

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee

Friday I'm In Love by Camryn Garrett

The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

Just For The Cameras by Viano Oniomoh

Runnin' No More by G.T. Dípè

If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal

The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee

Out of Step, Into You by Ciera Burch

When The Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris

I Can't Even Think Straight by Dean Atta

Where There's Smoke by Aricka Alexander

Where The Stars Are by Micah Flowers

Solo Stan by Talia Tucker

One of The Good Ones by Maritza Moulite & Maika Moulite

Let's Talk about Love by Claire Kann

If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann

Patsy by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn

Everyone's Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni

Love and Sportsball by Meka James

Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr.

Skye Falling by Mia Mckenzie

Kings of B'More by R. Eric Thomas

Salt The Water by Candice Iloh 

Nate Plus One by Kevin Van Whye

Boys Come First by Aaron Foley

The Color of Honey by Ty Robbins

The Stars and The Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus

Historical: 🏳️‍🌈📜

That Could Be Enough by Alyssa Cole

Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L McKinney

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

Songs of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield

Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez

Isaac's Song by Daniel Black

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia

Under The Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparantta

My Government Means To Kill Me by Rasheed Newson

The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (this is here only because it's technically historical to us now even if it wasn't when it was written)

Non-Fiction: 🏳️‍🌈✒️

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

Don't Call Us Dead by Danez Smith

Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir by Akwaeke Emezi

Journal of a Black Queer Nurse by Britney Daniels

How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones

Black Boy Out of Time by Hari Ziyad

Black Queer Hoe by Britteney Black Rose Kapri

Punch Me Up To The Gods by Brian Broome

Some 2026 Releases: 🏳️‍🌈📚

Regrettable Regards by J.S. Jasper (2/3/26)

Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page (3/24/26)

In Between Days by Camryn Garrett (5/12/26)

I Accidentally Locked Down a Witch by Jessica Cage (5/26/26)

There's Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson (6/2/26)

Bad Queer by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan (6/2/26)

The Ties Between Us by Chencia C. Higgins (6/3/26)

Love Is a Contact Sport by Fredrick Smith (6/16/26)

Hallie’s Rules for a Recovering Romantic by Jessica Lewis (7/7/26)

The Case of Elmwood Ranch by Deanna Grey (7/15/26)

The Marriage Rebound by Meka James (7/25/26)

Find My Way Down To You by Julian Winters (8/4/26)

Bound By Fury by Noelle Monét (8/18/26)

[ljspencerauthor]

I've learned a lot about novel writing over the last few years, especially as an AuDHD self-published author. I keep seeing a lot of the same stuff over and over on social media, and I have a lot of thoughts about it

And because I'm having a "everyone's wrong on the internets" kind of day, I'm going to write it all down. Take what you like, leave the rest:

One person's trash is another person's treasure. This is the big one and the hardest one I had to learn as an author. Not everyone's going to want to read or like my book. That's just how it is, and really, that's ok. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to what they like to read. Just because someone doesn't read or like your book, doesn't mean your writing is shit. All it means is that your story wasn't for them.

Adjacent to that: Just because a friend or family member doesn't read your book, it doesn't mean they don't support your writing. They just may not be interested in the genre you're writing in, or they're not big readers, etc. I'm super lucky and grateful that both my Wife and my Mom both like the genres I write in AND are big readers, but a lot of my friends and family haven't read anything I've written. Again, it just means that my stuff wasn't for them, it doesn't mean my writing sucks.

Don't let just anyone read your first drafts. Vet your first (alpha) readers like a good therapist. They need to a) want to read the genre you write in and b) be able to give critique about the draft without being cruel. Your first readers DO NOT need to bludgeon your mental health to help you write better.

Find a good editor (or beta readers) under the same criteria that you'd use for a first reader. Again, people who edit your work to any degree DO NOT need to bludgeon your mental health to make you write better.

You don't necessarily need to break the bank to find a good editor or cover artists for self publishing. I can tell you that there are a lot of editors and artists floating around who need work. Ask your author friends for referrals. Go to the Writing & Reading, Co-working, and Artist categories on Twitch and poke around. Check r/HungryArtists on reddit. Be honest about your situation with a potential new editor/artist and ask if they can work with you. Maybe you can do some sort of payment plan, or some sort of work-trade, or a mixture of both. DO make sure you come up with a fair and equitable solution, though, and DO make sure you have a contract that allows either of you to leave the situation if it isn't working out. Ask your artist/editor/freelancer friends about how to write these. I can guarantee that someone you know will know someone who can help you.

Don't worry about whether your story is "original enough" or if it's been "done before." Sure, the concept you have for you story may not be something brand new, but it'll be unique because it's *your* story and *your* voice. There will be someone out there who will read it and your story will be important to them. (See point #1.) You never know, your story may even save a life.

Adjacent to #6: Don't worry about bullshit things like "Mary Sue/Stu" or tropes, or anything like that. Lots of what we consider classics these days have some or all of these tropes in it. Just because you self-inserted doesn't automatically mean your story sucks. Just because you have a trope or whatever doesn't mean your writing sucks. Good lord, have you read some of those classic American literary novels??? (I am so NOT a Hemingway/Faulkner/etc fan. Talk about tropes and self-inserts...)

Your first draft isn't always complete shit, and you DO NOT have to hate your first draft. You will, always, always, always have to edit it, however. Multiple times.

You DO NOT have to attend a writing workshop, participate in a writing group, or traditionally publish to be a "legit" writer. This is especially important for my neurodivergent folks, because a lot of writing groups, online or in person, follow a format that has been known to be cruel, racist, and shit for marginalized/neurodivergent authors. I'm not saying that ALL writing groups are like this, but honestly, follow #2, 3, and 4 for writing groups, too. Ask if you can observe a meeting or observe the Discord/online group for a bit before committing fully. If they've got people there who are being gatekeepers about what writing is legit or not, run, don't walk, to the nearest exit.

Adjacent to #9: If you're a fanfic writer, or just write for fun, and you post your story somewhere where the general public can consume your writing, then you are a published, legit author. Just because you don't get money for your writing doesn't mean you aren't a "real writer."

And on that note: If you're writing to get rich, you might want to reconsider. No one truly knows how or why certain books will sell or get famous, just like marketers don't truly know why certain ads will work one day and fail the next. Most books that get famous quickly are either done by folks who already have a large following, are already celebrities, or plain dumb luck. And if you try to "write to market" just because some so-called writing guru said so, are you truly writing *your* story?

And finally, since my grah is starting to slow down and my head is emptying: There is no "one true way" to write a story. Anyone who tells you that you must do X, Y, Z to write a good story is lying to you. Do you like to make detailed outlines that are about the same number of words as your finished novel? Then do that. Are you a consummate pantster and allergic to anything smacking of an outline? Fine,. Are you somewhere in between? Then do that. Only really write between midnight and 4 am? Have to write on your iPad while lying flat on your back? Prefer to use fountain pens and write the entire novel by hand before typing it up? Great! All of these are legit ways to write a novel. Do whatever you have to do to get your story written, my friend. DO NOT let anyone else tell you can't write it because you didn't write it the way they think someone should write a novel. Honestly, pretty much all of the writing advice out there is suggestion, not Holy Writ. You are not beholden to some amorphous Writing Cabal that decides who is and isn't worthy of slapping some words together and calling it a story.

Only YOU can write your story.

YOU are in charge of how that gets written.

There is NO "one true way."

Write. Your. Story.

[noahhawthorneauthor]

It is Disability Pride Month, behold the most epic of queer disabled book recs!