(a.k.a. The Month That Looked at March and Said “Hold My Coffee”) April did not stroll in politely. It kicked the door open, dumped a basket of Easter candy on the floor, and said, “Surprise! I brought deadlines.” This month was loud, fast, productive, and just a little unhinged, which, frankly, feels on brand at this point. I started April still shaking glitter, powdered sugar, and questionable life choices out of my luggage from New Orleans. Barely a week later, Easter arri

How Shared Marketing, Community Support, and Collective Visibility Create Sustainable Success Overview As hybrid publishing evolves, authors are increasingly seeking models that offer both independence and meaningful support. April’s insight explores how cooperative publishing — shared marketing, collective visibility, and community‑driven promotion — creates sustainable success without inflating costs. This model strengthens authors while preserving autonomy, and it stands i

We love celebrating big wins in our Indies United community, and today we’re shining the spotlight on Michael Deeze / Nelson, who just wrapped up not one, but two full‑length novels this year! Michael has been on a creative roll, completing: Book 3 of the Annie Abbott series Book 2 of the Thomas Quinn Chronicles Both manuscripts clock in at an impressive 65–70k words, marking a huge step forward in both series and a fantastic achievement for the year. Michael’s been on a crea

Story Impact Magazine Issue Two Is Here Are you running toward something when you travel, or away from it? That question drives every page of Issue Two of Story Impact Magazine — the Travel Issue — featuring eight travel essays set across Spain, London, Paris, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, Italy, and Turkey, industry insights for working authors, author interviews, poetry, and essential reading. I'm especially proud that several contributors are part of the Indies United Publi

Surviving the Inbox Every month I like to take a moment to share one of those little behind-the-scenes realities that make people tilt their head, blink twice, and wonder if I actually said the thing I just said. Spoiler: I did. I always do. This month’s moment of truth arrived courtesy of my inbox, specifically, the inbox I abandoned for five days while I ran off to the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival in New Orleans. A glorious trip, absolutely worth it… but my inbox di

Poetic Whimsy, Springtime Scribbles, and Stories in Bloom Hello again, dear readers! It’s me, Quibble — corners fluttering in the spring breeze, quill dusted with flower petals, and heart thumping in perfect iambic pentameter. April has arrived, and I’m positively singing with rhyme-time delight. The world is thawing, the birds are gossiping, and every story feels like it’s stretching after a long winter nap. And what better month for such lyrical mischief? April is National

Chaos continues. But so do I. March didn’t so much arrive as it sidled in , gave me a look that said “buckle up,” and then proceeded to live up to its reputation. It came in with that familiar “I have plans” energy, and honestly, it wasn’t wrong. Between Thriller/Suspense Month, the newsletter shuffle, the usual IUPH plate‑spinning, and prepping for New Orleans, the whole month felt like a sprint disguised as a calendar page. It was busy, it was loud, it was productive, and i

How Author‑First Models Are Reshaping the Industry Overview Hybrid publishing is undergoing a structural shift, away from opaque, royalty‑extractive models and toward transparent, author‑centered frameworks. March’s insight examines how this change began, why it accelerated, and how Indies United’s 2018 model became a prototype for the industry’s future. Key Takeaways Transparent hybrid publishing is no longer niche, it’s becoming the expected standard. Authors increasingly d

Ed DeJesus, author of the multi-award-winning thriller The Vulnerable, completed a successful Florida book tour, which included four local bookstores, a Podcast, the Southwest Florida Readers Festival, Barnes & Noble, and a featured speaking engagement at the Literacy Council Gulf Coast. Ed planned the tour for the peak tourist season and locations where most of his novel is set. Annette’s Book Nook, Fort Myers Beach, FL.1/8/26 Flutterbuy Books, Cape Coral, FL. 1/24/26 The Bo

If you love sharp‑edged mysteries, atmospheric tension, and a heroine who refuses to back down, now is the perfect moment to dive into Timothy R. Baldwin’s Cassie Maddox Mystery Series. For a limited time, both books are available to read for free. 🔍 Book 1: Shadows of Deceit Cassie Maddox makes her unforgettable debut in this gripping mystery that blends small‑town secrets with high‑stakes danger. When a seemingly simple case unravels into something far darker, Cassie finds

Small Bites Short Story Contest – 2026 Winners Announcement We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Small Bites Short Story Contest . This year’s theme, “ What the Light Revealed ,” invited writers to explore moments of illumination — truths uncovered, secrets exposed, and transformations sparked by clarity. The stories that rose to the top did exactly that, each offering its own flash of insight, surprise, or revelation. Choosing winners is never easy, but th

Every month I like to take a moment to share one of those little life‑moments that makes people tilt their head, blink twice, and wonder if I actually said the thing I just said. Spoiler: I did. I always do. This month’s moment of accidental honesty happened while I was juggling emails, festival planning, and the usual parade of author chaos that wanders across my desk like it owns the place. You know how some people start their day with meditation, intention‑setting, or a ge

Indies United Publishing House is delighted to announce that Jim O’Neill’s powerful metaphysical novel, Valley of the Blind , has been honored with a Literary Titan Silver Book Award. Following a recent editorial review, Valley of the Blind was automatically entered into the Literary Titan Book Award competition—an award reserved for books that demonstrate exceptional storytelling, clarity of craft, and meaningful contribution to their genre. The judges praised Jim’s work fo

Children’s author Ron Kinscherf has been invited to appear at the Books by the Bay Literary Festival on March 28, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida. He will be participating as one of the festival’s children’s authors and will be reading and hosting a seminar for kids, contributing to the event’s robust youth programming. Books by the Bay is Pensacola’s premier literary festival, organized by the Emerald Coast Writers and held at Bayview Park overlooking scenic Pensacola Bay. The

Thrills, Twists, and Shamrock Shenanigans Hello again, dear readers! It’s me, Quibble — wind-tossed, corners damp from spring drizzle, and heart pounding with suspense. March has arrived, and I’m positively vibrating with plot twists and green-tinged glee. The air smells like possibility (and maybe a little rain), and the stories? Oh, they’re fast-paced, unpredictable, and absolutely delicious. This month’s genre spotlight is Thrillers and Suspense , and let me tell you, I’ve

February came in like a caffeinated squirrel and left like… well, a caffeinated squirrel that found the espresso machine. It was short, it was loud, it was chaotic, and somehow I still got things done. Mostly. Probably. Let’s not look too closely. Publishing Mayhem & Milestones February was a lively month around Indies United, the good kind of lively, the kind that means things are happening, people are creating, and the house is humming. We wrapped up our Small Bites Contes

Indies United Publishing House is thrilled to celebrate Lisa Towles, whose powerhouse storytelling has once again earned national recognition. This year, two of her thrillers received honors from the prestigious Reader Views Literary Awards, a program known for spotlighting standout independent voices across genres. Towles’ psychological thriller Switch was awarded the Reader Views Bronze Award in the Thriller/Suspense category, recognizing its razor-sharp pacing, layered i

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Indies United has lost one of our own. Author, filmmaker, storyteller, and friend Robert J. Emery has passed away. Bob was with us almost from the beginning, one of those rare souls whose presence becomes part of the foundation. He brought with him not only his books, but a lifetime of creative achievement: writer, producer, director, and author, known also by his pen name R.J. Eastwood. He was a member of the Directors Guil

(Spoiler: nothing about it was normal.) You ever have one of those days where you sit down with a clear plan, a full mug of determination, and the naïve belief that the universe will let you follow your schedule? Yeah. Me too . Today. Again. I started the morning with the noble intention of tackling my to‑do list in order. A simple plan. A reasonable plan. A plan that lasted approximately… seven minutes. Because the moment I opened my email, the Publishing Gods spun the Wheel

Hear me out on this. At Indies United, we’ve long suspected something: our authors aren’t entirely human. Sure, they look like regular people. They drink coffee, misplace their glasses, and occasionally forget what day it is like the rest of us. But beneath that ordinary exterior? Superpowers. Real ones. The kind that keep stories alive and the book world spinning. Let’s break down the evidence. They juggle more roles than a comic‑book shapeshifter. Writer, editor, marketer,