Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews is set to feature author Myra McIlvain  in an upcoming podcast episode airing Sunday, March 1 , from 5 to 6 PM CST . This special segment follows Amy Shannon’s recent review of McIlvain’s novel A Long Way Home , a story that blends richly drawn characters with evocative settings stretching from the events of 9/11 to the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Known for her deep connection to 19th‑century Texas in previous works, McIlvain steps into new territory with

Marie Judson’s Elf Stone of the Neyna  launches readers into a universe where mind magic meets star travel, and the boundaries between science fiction and fantasy dissolve into something entirely new. Awarded a Literary Titan Book Award, this first book in the Lost Xentu Series has already earned praise for its immersive worldbuilding and unforgettable heroine, Yanda. From mind-speak and stasis flights to toxic moons and domed prisons, Judson crafts a setting that’s as strang

Submit to the Small Bites Short Story Contest by January 31 st If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to share your writing with the world, this is it. The Small Bites Short Story Contest is open for submissions until January 31st, and one powerful story—5,000 words or fewer—could open doors you’ve only dreamed about. This year’s theme, What the Light Revealed , invites writers across genres to explore moments of illumination: truths uncovered, secrets exposed, transfor

Join the fun on Monday, February 2nd from 5:00 to 6:30pm at Books & Beverages @Meridian, located at 200 N. Main Street in Buda, for an evening of mystery, conversation, and literary celebration with author Leslie A. Piggott. Leslie will be featuring her newly released novel, Shattered Links , the eighth installment in the gripping Cari Turnlyle Series. Known for its sharp twists, emotional depth, and a heroine who refuses to back down, the series continues to captivate reader

H. Max Hiller’s Shell Game , the seventh installment in the acclaimed Cadillac Holland Mysteries series, continues its remarkable run on the global stage. The novel has just been named a Finalist in the Literary Global Book Awards  in the mystery category—an honor that marks its third international literary award. This latest recognition reinforces what readers and reviewers have been saying from the start: Shell Game  is a standout entry in a series known for its sharp plott

Engine for Authors In the ever-evolving landscape of indie publishing, success is rarely found in isolation. It requires a blend of creative fire and strategic vision—a way to cut through the digital noise and establish a presence that lingers. As a crime novelist here at Indies United, I’ve spent years exploring the intersection of high-stakes storytelling and the practical mechanics of reaching an audience. Today, I am thrilled to introduce a project that brings those two w

Fr esh Pages, Deep Reflections, and Shelfie Smiles Hello again, dear readers! It’s me, Quibble, back with ink on my scarf and a grin as wide as a bookshelf. January has arrived, and I’m positively buzzing with the promise of new beginnings. The snow is still falling, the cocoa is still warm, but the stories? Oh, they’re deeper, more reflective, and brimming with literary magic. This month’s genre spotlight is Literary Fiction , and let me tell you, I’ve already stumbled acros

As the year draws to a close, we pause not just to look back, but to celebrate. Indies United has grown brighter, fuller, and more alive than ever before and it’s all thanks to the voices, stories, and creative sparks that make our community shine. ✨ New Authors, New Books This year, we welcomed fresh voices into our fold, each one adding their own magic to our shelves. From debut releases to seasoned storytellers, our gallery has expanded into a living library of imagination

The Greatest Gift You Can Give an Author This Holiday Season The holidays are a season of giving, of warmth, of connection, of small gestures that ripple outward. For authors, the most meaningful gift doesn’t come wrapped in paper or tied with ribbon. It comes in words: a book review. When you take a few minutes to share your thoughts about a book you’ve read, you’re giving an author something priceless: Visibility : Reviews help books shine brighter in crowded marketplaces,

A Portal for Readers and Dreamers Every so often, a doorway opens, not the kind you find in your hallway, but the kind that hums with possibility. Inkrealm is that doorway. It’s our new VR book world, a place where stories don’t just sit on shelves, they breathe, shimmer, and invite you to wander inside. Inkrealm is more than a gallery. It’s a sanctuary for book lovers, a playful labyrinth where you can: Wander through the book gallery : Discover new releases as they arrive,

Forget paradoxes. Forget machines. Behind the Now bends time in ways you’ve never seen. Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews has chosen Bob Freeman’s Behind the Now  as its Book of the Month , spotlighting a novel that reimagines time travel with fresh originality and haunting resonance. In Behind the Now , Freeman invites readers to step beyond the familiar tropes of time machines and paradoxes. Instead of revisiting the past to undo history, protagonist José discovers that crossing the

A Month of Tiny Tales, Genre Cheer, and Holiday Whimsy Hello, dear readers! It’s me, Quibble, your ever-curious literary sidekick, back with a snow-dusted scarf and a heart full of stories. December has arrived, and I’m positively twinkling with excitement. The cocoa is hot, the books are stacked, and I’ve got glitter in my binding. This month? It’s all about short stories, festive reads, and a genre spotlight that sparkles with magic: Fantasy! December is National Short Stor

By the end of November, Ron Kinscherf will have visited nearly 750 children and gifted around 400 books this year, each one a doorway to imagination, creativity, and possibility. Whether he's speaking to wide-eyed kindergarteners or thoughtful middle schoolers, Ron tailors each visit to meet young minds where they are. For the youngest groups, he explores the magic of storytelling: how ideas take shape, how illustrations breathe life into characters, and how adjectives add sp

We’re thrilled to share that Indies United author Marie Judson has been selected to participate in the very first Book-It! Book Faire, hosted at the stunning Sea Ranch Lodge on the Northern California coast. This celebratory gathering of local literary voices will take place on Saturday, December 6th, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm , offering readers a chance to meet authors, explore new works, and enjoy the creative spirit of the region. Marie will be reading from her work and signi

No good deed goes unpunished; but in Mexico, do the bad? Ana Manwaring’s gripping thriller Kickback has officially advanced to the ShortList for the 2025 CIBA Clue Award—an honor reserved for standout works in the Mystery and Thriller genres. The Clue Book Awards, a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs), spotlight emerging talent and exceptional storytelling in suspense fiction. And Kickback delivers. Set against the vivid backdrop of Mexico, Kickbac

A Month for Shared Stories, Cozy Chapters, and Anthology Magic Hello, dear readers!It’s me, Quibble, your ever-curious literary sidekick. back with a fresh leaf of adventure as we tumble into November. The air is brisk, the stories are simmering, and I’ve swapped my Halloween costume for a scarf and a stack of anthologies. This month? It’s all about togetherness, imagination, and the joy of many voices bound in one spine. At Indies United, November is Anthology Month, and I’m

We’re excited to announce that Indies United author D. Krauss has launched a new YouTube channel titled Leave The Lights On  — a fresh creative space where his storytelling takes on a visual life of its own. This channel offers a glimpse into Krauss’s cinematic imagination, blending narrative depth with atmospheric visuals. His latest uploads include: MiGE: Story 2 – Choice (26:03): A compelling continuation in the MiGE series, exploring the consequences of decision-making.

A Conversation with Glenda Carroll What happens when a lifelong swimmer turns tragedy into fiction? When a former sports columnist channels Shakespeare to craft a modern-day whodunit? In her latest interview, Glenda Carroll opens the door to her creative process—and it’s anything but ordinary. From open water races to open-ended plots, Carroll shares the unexpected inspirations behind her Trisha Carson mystery series, including the newest installment,  Better Off Dead . But t

A Storyteller driven by Innovation, Intuition and Imagination We’re excited to welcome Ron Schultz, a seasoned author, editor, and creative force whose work spans nonfiction, fiction, television, and film. Ron has written, co-written, and edited over 30 published books covering topics like social innovation, entrepreneurship, science, meditation, and complexity. His book Creating Good Work (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) showcases insights from leading social entrepreneurs, while

A Night at Culver Stockton College Last night, I had the pleasure of visiting Culver Stockton College to share a short reading from my mystery novel Blue Garou  with a room full of bright, curious creative writing students. They’d read the book in advance—always a humbling honor—and came prepared with thoughtful, incisive questions about the creative process behind it. We dove into the art of world-building and the alchemy of character development, exploring how a fictional N