Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell

An inspiring & lively memoir about a woman who took back the reins of her life to find her own kind of freedom

While some of us were unknowingly enjoying our last few days of freedom in early March of 2020, others were getting the worst news of their lives. 

With a young daughter to take care of and a newfound freedom she was ready to explore, Jennifer Belcastro was hit with an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. When COVID hit, all hell broke lose, but, unlike some, Jennifer used it as an opportunity to fight for her life with force. 

Even Strong Girls Cry is an emotionaljourney through a cancer diagnosis, the early days of COVID in America, and even the politics that altered how she’d live her life moving forward. I won’t give away all the juicy details explaining the sensational subtitle—How My Solo War Against Cancer, Covid, and Political Corruption Actually Saved My Life—but I will say you’re in for a doozy with this book.

The titular “Strong Girl” is exactly how I’d describe Belcastro in this memoir, for a variety of reasons. As a woman in her mid-forties, she has lived an impressively active life, even after her cancer diagnosis. It is in the early days of that diagnosis that she completes her certification to become an official personal trainer, contributing her newfound love of working out to getting in the best shape of her life. 

But it’s her mental strength that will impress readers the most. Belcastro takes on the role of health advocate when faced with doctors and political interferences that attempt to block her from getting the surgery that will likely save her life. I most admired Belcastro’s determination to keep pushing on to find a solution for her situation when so many “important” people were slamming the door in her face. When the easier choice would be to let these people assert their control over her life, she took a stand. She has herself to thank for that outcome. Women everywhere will gain inspiration from this personal journey. 

In addition to the compelling story outlined in the subtitle, this book includes some background scenes from the past that ended up being some of my favorite scenes of the memoir. Fresh out of college, Jennifer makes some downright impulsive life choices that add color to her life and provide examples of how the universe really can work in your favor. Having all of these puzzle pieces to fill in the gaps of what made the woman we’re reading about today helps to better paint the picture of Belcastro. There’s always a clear image of the woman we see in the present thanks to these illuminating, interesting backstories. 

I loved how willing Jennifer was to change her environment with little to no plan on what will happen next. In one scene, she shows up to San Francisco with no job and no housing arrangement, and yet she still manages to pull it all together. In another, she agrees to go to college in a town she’s never been to only to find out that it neighbors a few potent slaughterhouses. She leads a colorful life and finds herself in some eye-opening situations, some that will make you giggle and some that will make you gasp.

The political components of this book, much like the time period that it takes place in, could cause some division amongst readers. Politics plays a part in this book for a reason though, and understanding the need for other people’s opinions is part of that point. 

Even Strong Girls Cry is an eye-opening & insightful memoir that will make readers second guess the things they’re willing to accept. The universe works, but Belcastro might work a bit harder. And she’s got a story to tell. 

Thank you for reading Jaylynn Korrell’s book review of Even Strong Girls Cry by Jen Belcastro! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

A game-changing book for writers to do what they love and get paid what they deserve

When it comes to books about writing, I’m a hard cookie to crack. I’m going to need more than just your generic advice: adverbs are bad, show don’t tell, write what you love, etc. What I want to know, for real, is how in the world do I do this without spending my whole life doing it for pennies per hour. There are definitely writing opportunities out there for me, but do I really have to take each nickel-and-dime one?

Writing for Money & Meaning is about as practical of a freelance writing book as I could hope for. Eason is an expert who started out like I did, tapping away on a keyboard for little-money articles and hoping that if I complete 200 of them in a month, I can pay my rent. But apparently, time is limited. I can’t just keep typing for 16 hours to get where I need to go. A writer’s gotta eat, too.

That’s where Eason comes in.

Businesses & business-owners now have an easier opportunity to publish books than they did 30 years ago. They don’t need publishers to take on their project, which is really more of a sales tool for their business than a product to sell and get royalties on.

Business-owners know how important their time is and how important an email sequence or landing page is. These things can make them tens of thousands of dollars, so many are willing to invest in a talented, hard-working writer. (That’s you.) But how do you get these jobs? How do you write outside of your comfort zone? How do you turn a $5,000 book project into a $15,000 book project? Eason’s got the answers.

I was so genuinely satisfied with this book. It’s incredibly readable thanks to an approachable voice, and it’s filled with direct and actionable money-making advice. If you’re a writer hoping to make a real living off of this thing, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by skipping it. 

Did you know: In addition to making good money as a writer, you can also write what you love? This may sound like a contradiction to a lot of writers, but not Eason. Her upbeat and positive tone, combined with that actionable advice, makes it seem possible. Not easy, but possible. She’s got tips for following your passion project and giving it the time it deserves in addition to the tasks you take on to pay the electricity bill. Sometimes you’re writing for clients; sometimes you’re writing for readers. As long as you plant your butt in the chair and stay consistent & productive, money and meaning are around the corner. 

I love so many pieces of this book, but my favorites are the conversations about the sales process, rocking the discovery call, closing the sale, and asking (and getting) more money than you think you can get. Not often do I find a book about making money feel quite as possible as I felt with Eason’s Writing for Money and Meaning. 

If you’re a freelance writer looking to sign off of the cheap pay sites and get (and keep) high-paying clients, look no further than this one. Practicality meets approachability in this extremely practical guide to copy, content, ghost, and creative writing.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of Writing for Money and Meaning by Julie Anne Eason! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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by Rose Atkinson-Carter

Which LGBTQ publishers should you be reading?

Did you know that around 4 million books published in 2023?

Between self-publishing and traditional publishing, new books are filling our shelves every hour, every day. New niches are arriving; old ones are rising to the top. Diverse voices are being shared, and, thanks to some dedicated individuals and imprints, long-standing inequalities of representation in publishing are being challenged. In this article, I’ve listed 7 of my favorite publishers focusing on LGBTQ+ literature.

These publishers are helping authors tell their stories, no matter who they are, how they identify, or what story they wish to tell. From under-represented tales featuring queer heroes, nonbinary relationships, and struggles with sexual and gender identity, the publishers below all champion humanity in all its many shades and preferences.

From fiction to nonfiction, children’s books to poetry, here you’ll find publishing companies that not only challenge the mind, charm the heart, and expand your horizon but, most importantly, show you that fantastic stories come in various forms.

Listen up: These 7 LGBTQ+ publishers have something to say.

1. Arsenal Pulp Press

With over 400 titles in print, Arsenal Pulp Press is a Canadian based LGBTQ publisher that is no stranger to printing boundary-pushing reads. From tackling social issues to publishing eye-opening LGBTQ+ memoirs and BIPOC literature, to adult graphic novels, gender study essays, regional histories, and cookbooks, they’ve always published with a keen eye on the type of literature that engages readers, challenges norms, and asks questions about the world around us.

Some stellar titles from Arsenal Pulp Press include the much celebrated Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi and practical nonfiction like the forthcoming Special Topics in Being a Parent By S. Bear Bergman, which is an illustrated guide for parents trying to understand their child’s identity and queer experience.

2. Flashpoint Publications

Predating Y2K and the earliest days of digital publishing, Regal Crest Enterprises was originally a publisher of lesbian literature that grew to become much, much more. Now known as Flashpoint Publications, this US press champions sapphic romance and publishes books that defy stereotypes and expand binary worldviews. This LGBTQ publisher is a ray of sunshine in this vibrant corner of the publishing world. 

They have titles ranging all across genre spectrum, but the futuristic sci-fi romance, The Last Scion of Ra by K. Aten is an easy favorite! To couple that, Asher Faun’s collections of poems, Love, The Monster in the Closet, illustrates the kind of difference-making they’re capable of with their books.

3. Bold Strokes Books

Since 2004, Bold Strokes Books has been bringing quality queer fiction to the readers of the world. These books are memorable and deserve to be among the best of them.

With a dedicated and experienced team guiding each publication, they offer a diverse range of titles, such as Ride with Me by Jenna Jarvis, a stand-out journey of self-discovery, or the tongue-in-cheek mystery Bait and Witch by Clifford Mae Henderson. Bold Strokes Books captures diverse a myriad of queer experiences with their progressive and evocative titles.

Hey, readers! Don’t miss these recommended LGBTQ+ books from LGBTQ+ publishers.

4. Painted Hearts Publishing

Painted Hearts Publishing is an LGBTQ publisher publishing all subgenres of LGBTQ+ romance. Their catalog includes stories of paranormal lust, contemporary romances, sweet mysteries, historical romps, and urban fantasy adventures. The pages of a Painted Hearts novel are full of candid love, desire, and tenderness. Focused on expression, their titles are aimed toward readers who are looking for not just a great read, but a memorable one.

From Char DaFoe’s A Jade’s Diamond to The Panther and the Dove by Tiffany E. Taylor, Painted Hearts books feature deep characters and unflinching narratives. 

5. Cleis Press

As the largest independent publishing company in the United States focusing on LGBTQ+ themes, you’d think Cleis Press would know a thing or two about being an LGBTQ publisher. And you’d be right! 

With a firm eye on the horizon, Cleis Press has always aimed to serve books that change the way people think about romance, sexuality, and erotica; and not only that, to educate them too.

From fiction to nonfiction, their books cover much under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, and the many avenues of pleasure and romance. Their books will broaden your horizon not just in how you view the world, but in how you view yourself.

Their powerhouse nonfiction book The Transgender Child by Stephanie A. Brill and Rachel Pepper is a highly-praised, award-winning book that has helped countless parents support their nonbinary and transgender children since 2008. Translated into multiple languages and sold world over, this book is not only important, but it is unapologetic about what it stands for: love and acceptance.

Hey, writers! Want to know what people would say about your book if it was published today? Try group beta reading!

6. Interlude Press

An award-winning publisher and home to over 90 titles, Interlude Press is an LGBTQ publisher specializing in books that promote understanding and the wide range of experiences of people who identify under the inclusive umbrella of LGBTQ+.

The press was formed in 2014 to publish novels, novellas, short form fiction, and more. With a YA imprint, Duet Books also under their wing, their novels have won many awards, been featured in numerous literary journals and book lists, and most importantly, won the hearts of many readers.

Notable books include Born Andromeda by K.M. Watts or Felix Silver, Teaspoons & Witches by Harry Cook, two YA classics-to-be of self-discovery, inner-truth, and that light which yearns to shine in all of us.

7. Sapphire Books Publishing

An absolute gem in the halls of indie publishing, Sapphire Books Publishing is an LGBTQ publisher specializing in lesbian fiction, nonfiction, and biographical memoirs. Founded by Christine Svendsen in 2010, they produce quality novels that reflect the lives of the lesbian community and their authors. Embracing their diverse and different experiences, this is the heart of their operation. 

The community of authors and readers for Sapphire Books is a strong and welcoming one. Stories such as Control by Kim Pritekel & Alex Ross or Prairie Fire by Kayt C. Peck go beyond romance and dig for a deep experience, personal for not only the characters but the readers too. With complex characters drawing you into their worlds, these books are exemplary of the kind of excellence Sapphire Books is achieving.

Rejoice! Here’s a bigger list of publishing companies!

About the Author

Rose Atkinson-Carter is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace and blog that helps connect authors with publishing professionals and provides free resources on topics ranging from hiring a ghostwriter to setting up book advertising campaigns and everything in between. She’s previously written for Horror Tree, Writing.ie, Nessgraphica, and a number of other writing and publishing blogs. She lives in London.

Thank you for reading “7 LGBTQ+ Publishers You Should Be Paying Attention To” by Rose Atkinson-Carter! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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by Joe Walters

Writers, it’s about that time.

You’ve done the work. You’ve written, you’ve revised, revised again, gotten beta readers, implemented their feedback, edited, edited again, polished, and now you’re feeling confident that your book is pretty damn good. 

First of all, hell yeah.

Second of all, where do you go from here?

It’s easier to publish a book in 2023 than it has ever been. But that doesn’t mean you should necessarily take the easy route. Sometimes it could be the best decision; sometimes it could be the worst. Take your time and choose with confidence (and maybe a little guidance from me). This post includes info & tips for writers looking to publish with an indie press, to self-publish, or to publish with a major publisher.

Here’s an essential guide to publishing companies (with 50+ publishers included).

I’ve never shouted, “I love indie presses!” from the rooftops, but that’s only because I don’t like rooftops.

Independent presses run the full gamut—large, small, niche, broad, great, not-so-great, you name it. There are a lot of people out there who love books enough to publish them. An indie press can be a side-gig for a book lover or it can be a million-dollar business for a CEO with major connections and funding. 

Indie presses are important to book publishing. So many books in your local bookstore come from the same five publishers and their imprints–more on this in part 3!–but traditional indie presses expand the horizon of books and ideas. Many of these presses take risks on books they believe should be published even if they don’t fit a common model like salability and neat genre fits. I salute them (and review them) as often as I can!

So how do you publish with an independent press?

That depends on the press! Some indies require agented submissions, while others you can submit without an agent. You just have to follow each specific press’s guidelines, write your best book, and cross your fingers.

My biggest recommendations for publishing with an indie press:

• Actually read a couple books from the press. Not only do you want to find out if their vision matches that of your book’s, but you also want to see if it’s professionally formatted and something you’d be proud to share a shelf with.
• Follow their submission guidelines exactly. They receive a lot of queries, and you don’t want to miss your chance at the very beginning.
• Google them & their books to find out any book publicity they’ve received. You want to see what kind of coverage your book could get.
• Make your book as good as it can be ten times over. Many indie presses want to take books that can slide right into a publishing queue. Since they pay their editors on their own dime, it’s a lot less of an investment to take on a book that requires fewer editing-hours to complete.
• Write and get feedback on a compelling query letter.
• Some presses take breaks in their reading periods. Don’t submit outside of them, and if you think your book is the best fit for that press anyway, wait for them to re-open.
• Many indie presses publish books across genres, but some ask for specific genres. Don’t submit if your book doesn’t fit.
• Some publishers frame their submissions as contests or awards. This is fine! You may have to pay to submit, but it usually helps pay an advance to the winning author, something not every indie press does.
• Actually like the look and applicability of their website! The online marketplace is an important one.
• Research what they do to market their books. Do they run a regular newsletter? Are they active on social media? Do they get a lot of book reviews?
• Ask their authors what their experience has been.
• Try university presses! (Not included in list below)
• Peruse more lists like on Duotrope, NewPages, P & W, and Bookfox.

Want to know what people would say about your book if it was published today? Try group beta reading!

Self-publishing is the right route for some people. There’s no getting around the fact that you get complete creative control AND a considerably higher royalty percentage than publishing with a press. You can publish that thing today if you wanted to, or you can transparently use it as a business tool to funnel clients straight into your business. 

You know what that means? More money!

But you know what it also means? More competition & less free help!

But before we get anywhere, it’s imperative that you recognize which part of the publishing process you are skipping: The gatekeeper.

An agent receives thousands of queries. Publishers do too. They choose only a select number of them per year—could be two, could be twelve, could be two hundred. It depends on what that particular person or organization is planning to do with their business. 

They choose only the books that they think will: sell, get acclaim, move readers emotionally, get optioned into a movie, or some other business-specific reason.

By skipping this gatekeeper step, you are not putting your book to the test in the market. I want you to have a published book too, but sometimes that book isn’t ready. You publish it early, and some readers don’t love it. Some might even find things hurtful inside it. That’s a big reason why beta reading and getting feedback is so important. Test the market. Take your time. Make that thing shine before publishing.

And if you do go the self-publishing route, make sure you read up on book marketing! Taking an honest look at what you’re up against—like the amount of actual work hours it’ll take to market—will help you decide if self-publishing companies are the right decision for you.

In addition to doing it all yourself, you can self-publish with a vanity or hybrid press.

A vanity press is one that you can pay to publish your book for you. They do the dirty work like uploading, designing, and accounting. Depending on whichever services they offer in your contract, they may also provide developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, cover design or illustration, and marketing. 

A hybrid press is a press that either A) requires some money to publish your book, but will front other costs; B) Doesn’t publish every book that is submitted to them; or C) a press that publishes some books on their own dime and other books by being funded by the author.

Some vanity or hybrid presses are awesome to work with. They care about their authors, provide great customer service, and are upfront about their fees and requirements. Others are not as awesome. Some have poor or nonexistent customer service and mislead authors to expect the brightest lights in exchange for more money. 

Some questions to ask your vanity or hybrid press:

• How much is the basic service and what specifically does it entail?
• What does the upgraded service include specifically? 
• Do you charge me when I need to make changes to my book or my book listing?
• How often are you available for marketing help and guidance?
• How many book cover mock-ups does your designer provide?
• Does the basic service include developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading?
• Are there any yearly fees?
• Can I get freelance services elsewhere and still use your company to publish?
• How long will it take to edit, design, and publish the book?
• Can you show me some books in a similar genre that you’ve published?
• Can you share any other authors’ contact information so I can ask their opinion of your company?

Don’t be afraid to say no to hybrid or vanity publishing companies. There are others out there. 

Here are some of our favorite indie books of 2022.

The big five publishers—listed below—publish many of the top-selling books of a given year. These books appear on reading lists, major media outlets, celebrity book clubs, and bookstores all over the world. They have many imprints and have published a ton of books for a long time. They are a sort of 1%, except they’re probably more visible than that.

As an author, these things probably sound great to you. If you want to get an advance and get financial backing for your book, publishing with a big five publisher is something you probably want to try.

But wait! 

In order to publish with them, you have to find a literary agent to represent you. Then they have to successfully convince a publishing house to publish your book. This is not easy.

Authors spend years perfecting their craft, making connections, publishing short form works in recognizable outlets, getting grants, increasing their social media following, and beyond in order to impress agents and publishers to increase their chances. But again, this doesn’t guarantee anything.

Yet again, some authors don’t take years. Some take one incredible story to blow the doors off, get signed, and get published. 

Lesson of the day: Write the best book you can. Pitch agents strategically. And write more books.

Parting words

Publishing a book is complicated. Choosing the right path, pursuing it at the right time, dealing with the repercussions of your choices: It’s all stressful but only because you care so much.

Take your time, publish the best book you can, and keep writing. That’s what it’s all about anyway, isn’t it?

What is the most important thing you need from from publishing companies? Let me know in the comments below!

About the Author

Joe Walters is the editor-in-chief of Independent Book Review and the author of The Truth About Book Reviews. He has been a book marketer for Sunbury Press, Inkwater Press, and Paper Raven Books. When he’s not doing editorial, promoting, or reviewing work, he’s working on his novel, playing with his kids, or reading indie books by Kindle light.

Thank you for reading “50+ Publishing Companies for Traditional & Self-Publishing: A Guide for Writers“ by Joe Walters! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post 50+ Publishing Companies for Traditional & Self-Publishing: A Guide for Writers appeared first on Independent Book Review.

by Joe Walters

Publishing a book is more possible than ever.

You’ve written a book. Maybe it’s a cozy mystery. A self-help or business book. A wickedly entertaining tome of literary fiction. Regardless, your beta readers say it’s amazing and you’re proud of it.

So how do you get it published?

Lucky for you, you’re approaching this publication in a time when getting a book published is as accessible as ever. While there are four primary options for publishing a book, you’ll want to know the pros and cons of each one so you can make the best decision for you.

Here are your primary options for publishing a book.

Option 1: Traditionally publish with a major publishing house

You know those books that appear in nearly all of the bookstores around the country? How about the ones that get picked up by major book clubs like Reese Witherspoon’s and Emma Watson’s?

If you want to get your book seen by the most amount of people, you probably want to try traditionally publishing with a major publishing house.

A major publishing house could be a press within the big five publishers (like Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster) or it could be a larger independent press like Graywolf Press.

But you can’t just go knocking at PRH’s door asking for a contract. You’ll need a literary agent first.

Major publishers and larger indie presses do not accept unsolicited submissions from the author, so you’ll need to send a query letter, synopsis, and a few sample pages to a literary agent. If an agent wants to represent you, they’ll submit your book to editors at one of the major publishing houses for you. You both will have to sit back and hope the publisher will purchase the rights to your book.

If you want to take this route, you should be aware of a few things:

• It might not work. All you can do is write the best book you possibly can and start querying. So write, rewriter, revise, revise again, go through beta reading, revise again, and send that baby out there.
• For fiction, you’ll need to finish writing your book before you query.
• For nonfiction, you may be able to send a book proposal instead of finishing the project first. Just check out the agent’s submission guidelines.
• Do your research on literary agents before you query. Don’t send out large batches of queries to every agent you can find. Each agent specializes in certain types of books, so check out which genres they’re looking for and a few of the books they’ve already gotten published.
• Literary agents work on commission. When your book sells, your agent gets a portion of the sale. Do NOT pay an agent upfront to take on your manuscript.
• When a major publishing house decides to give you a contract, they may give you an advance. It could be pretty high or relatively low. But regardless of how much it is, don’t spend it all in one place. It could get you into some iffy financial situations.
• You’ll need to earn out your advance before you start earning royalties. This means that you won’t get paid per book sold until you make enough to cover how much the publisher gave you at the beginning of the process.
• There are tiers within traditional publishing. If your press believes a certain book could make more money than another, that certain book will receive a higher advance and book marketing budget. Your agent will likely communicate this stuff with you as well as help you make the decision if being lower tier in a major house is actually better than being higher tier at a smaller house.
• If you have no money to expend on getting your book published, this is your best shot at having the best product.
• Major publishing houses often use bookstores as one of their primary marketing targets. If you have a dream of walking into a random bookstore and finding your book there, shooting for a major publishing house might be a good place to start.
• This is a terrifically lengthy process. You might wait years after querying your book to be published, so put on your comfy pants and get working on your next project.
• In 2023, even major publishing houses don’t use a lot of their marketing budget on book tours. It’s possible that some of them do, but if you’re looking for a book tour, just be aware that you might be covering the travel expenses.

Want to know what people would say about your book if it was published today? Try out group beta reading!

Option 2: Traditionally publish with a smaller publisher

If you’re looking through my window, you can see me jumping up and down while I type this, chanting, “SMALL. PRESSES. RULE. BABY!” A small press is a publishing house often made up of less than ten staff members who work their butts off to publish books they believe in.

Oftentimes, that means they’re taking on books that won’t be accepted by major publishers for any number of reasons. One of those reasons? Maybe a major house thinks your book doesn’t have a salable hook, so they don’t buy it. But a small press? They might not care. If they find a terrific book in their slush pile, they’ll get to work on making sure it reaches its audience. Small presses also accept submissions directly from the author, so you won’t need a literary agent for them.  

A small press’s goal is often about putting an amazing book in front of its audience. They work on books regularly, giving them the expertise to understand how things sell and how they can utilize their personal connections to get you into bookstores, do author events, and get your book reviewed. A small press might give your book more attention than a major publishing house would (especially if you’re published on a lower tier with a major), so it could give you immense joy to be able to work with them. The small press community is one of the kindest I’ve come in contact with, and I couldn’t be more grateful to work with them at IBR to spread the word about their great books.

If you decide to take this route, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• You may not get a large advance or any advance at all. Small presses do not usually have large budgets, so you and the press might move directly into the earning-royalty phase.
• Much of the marketing work could fall on your shoulders. While these small presses can offer you increased validation when pitching for events, shelving queries, reviews, and more, you may still need to be the one pitching it. But the press will likely give you pointers and offer the help they can. I give book marketing tips too!
• Some small presses take different royalty percentages than others and publish in different formats than others. Just make sure you do your research and agree to their terms before you sign the contract. It’s okay to turn them down.
• If you’d prefer not to spend too much money on your book, this is your second best option. You’ll likely have to pay a few fees for optional marketing (like events, conferences, editorial reviews, or maybe even contests), but you won’t be asked specifically by a small press to give them any money.
• While many major publishing houses are stuck in New York, small presses can be anywhere. That means if you’d like to shoot for a local press, you’ve got a great shot at finding one near you.
• Did you know that indie and small presses are often the recipients of major book awards? Well, you do now. Small and indie presses publish risky and non-commercial material that don’t always get picked up by major houses, and in return, judges recognize the uniqueness of the concepts, ideas, and writing with awards. If you think you’ve got a special book that might not fly off the shelves but will impress whoever it’s read by, you should check out smaller indies.
• All in all, a small press is a team of publishing professionals who believe in your work and want to help readers find it. If you run into anyone running a small traditional press, give them a high-five for me. I’m sure they’re busy with their other jobs, but I’m also sure they’d love to hear that they appreciate the work they are doing. I know I do.

Discover new publishers by reading about these impressive indie press books!

Option 3: Use a hybrid or vanity press

This publishing option is perhaps the most controversial.

If you head onto your favorite social media group or publishing forum, you’ll get advice from people telling you that you should never pay to publish your book. While this advice is well-intentioned, it also spreads unnecessary anger toward companies who offer valuable services to authors.

The terms “hybrid press” and “vanity press” have one major thing in common: the author pays a publishing company to provide the service of publishing a book. Each vanity press has a different model of how these payments work. Some presses accept only specific types of books, others accept anything they can get their hands on, and a few will only take on products they truly care about.

Regardless, vanity or hybrid publishing is a form of self-publishing where the author receives all of their author services in one place. As a self-published author, you will need to purchase author services anyway, so you might find the convenience of getting them all in one place is great for you.

However, you’ll also want to be picky when choosing your hybrid publisher. There are a few presses out there that have caused outrage when it comes to poor customer service, hidden fees, and an overall outlook that has a problematic goal of taking your money instead of helping you. These problematic businesses exist in every industry, but just because a few companies have backward goals does not mean that every one does.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering hybrid publishing:

• Weigh your options heavily. Do your research and discover the pros and cons of using a hybrid publisher instead of self-publishing.
• Understand your goal prior to hybrid publishing. If your goal is to have a book that you can love out in the world, this could be a good option. If your goal is to make money off of your fiction, it’s possible that a hybrid publisher could get you there—but it may be a bit more difficult.
• Some hybrid presses operate on a model that will not benefit you. Ask questions about how much things cost, why they cost the way they do, and if you would prefer to do it on your own or with someone else. It’s possible that a mean-spirited hybrid press feels pushy and/or makes promises that seem unlikely. It’s fine to say no.
• There are some truly wonderful hybrid publishing companies. They have kindhearted staff members who want to see you succeed and do everything they can to help you get there. They may work in publishing full-time, and this may be your first time trying to sell a book. Utilize their expertise and experience.
• If you enjoy your experience with a hybrid press, make sure to share it with other authors. There is so much negativity surrounding this type of press, and I think publishing forums and social media groups would be a better place if we all approached these different types of publishing with respect.

Looking for something new to get for your birthday this year? Check out these gifts for writers!

Option 4: Self-publish your book

With the advent of new technology, the process of making a book available to the public has become easier than ever. But that doesn’t mean self-publishing a book successfully is easy. And really, if you’re considering publishing a book, that should be the number one goal: doing it right.

If you self-publish with strategy, you can take advantage of the much-higher royalty rate and potentially pave your way to making a living with your writing. Honestly, this might be the best way to make a living with your writing.

Before you go hitting the publish button though, you should consider a few things:

• When you self-publish, you are doing the job of multiple people at a traditional publishing house. Prepare yourself for a ton of work and not enough time in the day. And because of that, you’ll want to hire some experts for your production team.
• Just like a traditional publishing house, you’re going to need a realistic budget to work with. If you skimp on paying for essential services like cover design and copy editing, your product will suffer because of it. And once you put something out on the market, you won’t want to make the mistake of having to fix stuff afterwards. You only have a few shots to impress your first fans, and if you rush the process and skimp on a budget, you could lose those lifelong readers.
• At traditional publishing houses, the staff members have valuable experience and an expertise that could stop you from making a huge mistake. When you’re self-publishing, you are all on your own. There’s no one telling you that you cannot leave that problematic scene in your book. Your editor might suggest that you remove it, but it’s up to you to make the final decision. Just make sure you get plenty of input from outsiders before you publish: from developmental editing to beta reading and beyond.
• Do your research on trustworthy author services. It’s important to trust and believe in the people working on your book, so before you hire your developmental editor, make sure you believe they can do the best job for you. There are quite a few out there, so get sample edits and hire the one you believe in and can see yourself working with.
• Take. Your. Time. There are a million reasons why traditional publishing takes a long time, but perhaps the most important is that you need to do loads of preparation before a book is made available to the public. Don’t set a publishing date as a goal and force yourself to finish it if things get pushed back. It’s more important to do it right than to just do it in general.
• Treat your book like a business. This is a product. And you are the owner of that product. How can you make sure your production team is offering everything you need while also giving you the time to be the content creator (or writer) who can come out with the next product?
• You could be putting yourself in the position to make the most money off of a book sale as possible. Not too shabby! Only downfall? You’ll have to front the cost of the book’s production, which means if you don’t have much money when you begin your project, you may be better off trying to traditionally publish instead.
• It is a bit more difficult to get self-published books in bookstores. Due to returns and other bookstore policies, your dream of seeing your book at Barnes and Noble may be a bit harder to achieve. Not impossible though!
• Self-publishing can be extremely rewarding, so if you’re thinking about taking the plunge, I wish you the best of luck! And send us your book to get reviewed after you do!

What do you think is your best path for publishing a book? Let me know in the comments below!

About the Author

Joe Walters is the editor-in-chief of Independent Book Review and the author of The Truth About Book Reviews. He has been a book marketer for Sunbury Press, Inkwater Press, and Paper Raven Books. When he’s not doing editorial, promoting, or reviewing work, he’s working on his novel, playing with his kids, or reading indie books by Kindle light.

Thank you for reading “Publishing a Book in 2023: Which Path Should You Take?” by Joe Walters! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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by Jeffrey Abelson

What are the keys to book cover design?

Let’s get this out of the way first: professionally crafted book covers outsell homemade designs.

You may have a knack for this. You may have a good eye, a strong keyboard-clicking finger, and a limited budget. But if you want to sell more books, there’s no better place to start than a professional book cover design. Your primary marketing tool is your book cover, so make sure it:

• Grabs Eyeballs: Your book cover distinguishes your work from an endless stream of competitors.
• Conveys Genre: Book buyers care less about reviews and recommendations than genre. If a buyer reads fantasy, they’re not looking for romance!  
• Sells Your Brand: “Making the book cover identifiably yours marks your book in the reader’s mind. When you write that next book and the cover is similar, you’re building your author brand and your core readership.”

According to Reedsy, “it takes most authors six months to a year to write a book. A writer’s timeline depends on the genre of the novel, the word count of the story, the amount of research you do, and the time you spend editing the completed draft.”

Every writer and book is different. While Gone with the Wind cost Margaret Mitchell 10 years, Stephenie Meyer wrote Twilight in three months!

While authors with a traditional publishing contract can concern themselves with simply turning in a finished manuscript, as a self-published author, you not only conceive, outline, write, edit and revise; you’re the creative director, marketer, and publicist.

Derek Murphy (writing for CreativIndie) claims that self-published authors “spend $2000 to $5000 to publish their books.” And while you can always do the work yourself and limit cash outlays for publishing and book cover design services, you may be hurting your chances for success.

Earning your living by writing books, particularly fiction, is highly competitive. “Including self-published and commercially published, over 4 million new books were published in 2021.” According to Publishers Weekly, fiction represents about 11% of those 4 million, or a staggering 440,000 books including yours.

As an indie author, how do you distinguish your work and give yourself the best chance for optimum sales?

Assuming you’re not E.L. James, Paula Hawkins, Dan Brown, or another writer with a string of bestsellers and a distinguished author brand, you must rely upon a great book cover design to grab eyeballs and clicks.

Your book cover is your most important sales tool. Conventional wisdom (and market research) makes certain things very clear, among them being this: it’s the first thing anyone sees.

Whether you need a romance, mystery, YA or fantasy book cover (or ANY genre), a professional team of experienced book cover designers really is your best bet.

In a book cover experiment, the team at Reedsy ran competing book ads featuring covers created by self-published authors against identical ads featuring professionally redesigned covers. The professionally designed book covers:

• Had a click-through rate that was 12.5–50% higher than their non-professional counterparts, across genres including YA fantasy, nonfiction, romance, and mystery/thriller.
• The higher click-through rates indicated a 35% increase in a book’s marketability.

Before you get pursue book cover design

Make sure a developmental editor or beta readers have read your manuscript. You don’t necessarily need to get copy editing done before talking to a designer, but you should know your story well. Sometimes when you get big-picture feedback from betas or a developmental editor, you realize that your initial idea for the cover might have to be removed from the book completely.

Now it’s time to get a great cover, but before you do the folks at Scribe recommend you:

1. Research the competition – Study book covers within and outside your genre, particularly recent and successful work. “Go to Amazon books and search in the category your book falls into. Search Pinterest for artsier titles if you’d like. If you want a classic, look to Bookcoverarchive.com for the best, most avant-garde titles.”
2. Bookmark the designs you love – When you’re ready to approach a designer, you can send links to your favorite covers and concepts that appeal to you. “Designers see the world visually, and the best way to get a point across to them is to show them.”
3. Don’t limit yourself – Bookmark logos, ads, movie posters, websites, collect any visual design you can share with your graphics arts team. “You are essentially creating a collage (some people call this a mood board) of visual inspiration and ideas that can help your designer understand how to best get your book’s message across to your audience.”

5 Critical Elements of Book Cover Design  

Understanding the five critical elements of a winning book cover design creates a stronger partnership between you and your graphics art team. These elements include:

• Composition: The artistic and harmonic arrangement and relationship between typography, images and colors  to create “symmetry, proportion, and rhythm.”
• Genre: Utilizing specific design conventions to communicate genre, i.e., dragons, swords, serif types and decorative borders to convey fantasy.
• Tone: “The suitable visual code to convey a certain genre of the book.”
• Visual impact: The successful use of design elements to grab attention and “to trigger an impulsive and emotional response.”   
• Clarity: Simply, accurately, and consistently communicating an intended message. That means indicating genre and an implied narrative.

Case Study

“For the cover, the author wanted to avoid a cliched depiction of a boxer. Looking to the story for inspiration, our cover cooks based the concept on an excerpt from the book…

“The interplay between the title and the illustrated ring, along with the stark, unforgiving color palette of bright blue and red against pitch black, suits the dark humorous tone. Exuding literary fiction, the cover is completed with the brilliant red blood spilled on the canvas.”

Conclusion

Book cover design is a complex and rewarding art form. These designers have been putting in the work and have seen how and why certain designs sell. If you take anything from this, I want you to know that great book covers are essential if you want to find success with your indie book.

About the Author

Jeffrey Abelson is a New York-based writer and editor. Though writing and editing pay the bills, Jeff loves playing his guitar and photography and used to run a home photo studio out of Inwood, in northern Manhattan. He currently resides in Niskayuna, a small town in Schenectady, about 20 miles northwest of Albany.

Thank you for reading Jeffrey Abelson’s publishing guide “Five Critical Elements of Successful Indie Book Cover Design!” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Jadidsa Perez

A Lot of Questions illuminates the darkest corners of humanity with humor and intelligence.

Jordan Neben’s debut is filled with invigorating food for thought. This nonfiction work broaches many questions about religion, philosophy, human nature, imperialism, racial segregation, and a number of other quandaries that have vexed humanity for epochs. 

The book is split into six essays with specific topics that all reflect on the antecedent and contemporary aspects of human behavior. The overall aim of the piece is to leave the reader inquiring into their own experiences, interrogating aspects of their own life, country, and beliefs. 

The essays touch on issues that may be difficult to question for more than one significant reason. The first two essays, in fact, center on pietism and religious institutions. The remaining essays focus on the ways human empathy can be transactional and contingent upon proximity, the worship of controversial historical figures, colonialism, the hypocrisy of nationalism, and more. 

Each section has a conclusion that is not meant to provide a clear answer to these questions or offer a convincing call to action, but instead to instigate deliberation on systems that are often considered sanctimonious. With all of this, I had a number of expectations going in; all of which A lot of Questions transcended. 

Neben creates one of the strongest debuts I’ve read in a while. A Lot of Questions does not simply look at the surface of ideas; it plunges deep into the waters of human behavior. The prose is clever, neat, and most importantly, accessible. Neben clearly explains any concept that is introduced and creates analogies that are easy to understand.

The book does not hone in on only one perspective. Instead, it looks at many different angles. As Neben himself admits, humans are extremely complex, thus history itself is almost a labyrinth. 

By providing different viewpoints of extreme but pervasive situations such as war, the reader is able to encounter viewpoints that they may not have considered previously. The reader is asked to think critically, the ultimate goal of the book.

The stand-out essay is “Ruminations on Religion.” This first of the six essays leaves a lasting impression. Neben contrives stories of cults that have worshiped televisions, expelled foreigners, and had ritualistic sacrifices. While initially the stories may seem far-fetched, Neben shows the ways in which the stories are eerily similar to how we function today.

A Lot of Questions is an incredible read—emotionally intense but extremely important. I eagerly await Neben’s future works.

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Genre: Nonfiction / Philosophy

Print Length: 374 pages

ISBN: 978-1639883592

Thank you for reading Jadidsa Perez’s book review of A Lot of Questions (with no answers)? by Jordan Neben! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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by Joe Walters

The term “book blurb” is used to describe a few different things in book marketing.

But it shouldn’t.

I get it. Language changes as the industry changes, so I’m not harking on this or anything.

All I’m saying is—we shouldn’t confuse the term in publishing anymore. 

What are book blurbs?

I’ll tell you.

Blurbs are short book reviews written by authors or experts in the book’s field. They are used by authors & publishers on their marketing material. 

It is not a “book description.” 

A book description is written by a publisher, book marketer, or author, and it describes the contents of the book. For reference, on an Amazon product page, this description is placed beside the book cover on Desktop or below the book cover on Mobile. This book description doesn’t (usually) express opinions on how well the book is written. 

That’s what blurbs are for.

If a browser comes to your Amazon product page, they may scroll down to the section that says “Editorial Reviews” (see below). There, they’ll read what authors or experts in the book’s niche have said complimentary about the book. As an author & publisher, you can get blurbs or editorial reviews to increase validity in your product.

Here’s what it looks like on Amazon:

You can also find book blurbs on the front or back cover of a book, like this:

Okay, so now that this is out of the way…

How do you get book blurbs or editorial reviews?

I am a book marketer for Sunbury Press. I used to be a book marketer for Paper Raven Books & Inkwater Press. I’ve been chatting with indie authors for a long time now about making sure readers & browsers discover their books as salable products for years.

This is what I tell indie authors when they ask what’s most important in selling books.

• Your cover should be incredible. The best it can be. So so so so good. Book covers are EVERYTHING.
• Your book description should be crisp and catchy and leave readers wanting to find out more.
• A strong subtitle (especially for nonfiction) can sell so many books all by itself.
• You should have at least three book blurbs. The bigger the name the better. If you can slap “#1 New York Times Bestselling Author” onto the accreditation of your blurber, you’re going to get yourself some extra attention from book reviewers and booksellers.
• You should get book reviews on Amazon as soon as you can, as many as you can, and make sure they keep growing.

It would be best to have blurbs before publication, but you can keep working on it after publication too. It’s obviously important to get consumer reviews to show that people are buying it and saying nice things about it, but there’s a different layer to blurbs or editorial reviews.

These reviews communicate that not only are consumers enjoying this book, but professionals in the book’s niche are too. Think of it almost in terms of Rotten Tomatoes’ “Tomatometer” and “Audience Score.” You want to make sure browsers see your book as good for the regular everyday reader as well as “certified fresh” by the people who read and write for a living.

Here are some ways authors & publishers use book blurbs to market their books:

• Use the quote on promotional material such as social media graphics, posters, bookmarks, book trailers, press releases, websites, and more.
• Add the quote to their book’s front or back cover.
• With your Amazon Author Central account, add it to the “editorial reviews” section on your book’s product page.
• Design or purchase a graphic that highlights the review and place it on your book’s product page using Amazon A+ Content (or the “From the Publisher” section).
• Include the quote in your pitches to booksellers, libraries, conferences, other reviewers, and more.

Get the gist yet?

Book blurbs are doing work every single time a potential buyer goes to your product page. All you have to do as a marketer is get readers to visit the page, and the reviews, cover, and description do the rest.

So how do you get book blurbs or editorial reviews?

Well…you’ve got some options!

First, make sure your book is ready. It doesn’t have to be copy-edited yet—just make sure the story and structure is in its final shape and you’re proud of the characters and sentences. You can tell your hopeful blurber that the book hasn’t been copy-edited yet in the pitch letter. (Don’t worry–I’ll get to that!)

What kind of authors or experts should you add to your list?

It depends on your genre, but here are some options:

• Authors in your genre
• Professional reviewers (Independent Book Review, Foreword Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, etc.)
• Professors & academics in your niche (usually for nonfiction)
• Industry leaders (like non-profit and organization directors in your niche)
• Museum curators (for nonfiction)

Okay, now write down all of the ones you can think of that might apply.

Feel free to dream big with your blurber list. The bigger the name, the better the blurb. (But be aware of your good ol’ writerly friend Rejection.) 

After you list their names in a spreadsheet, find their available contact information and input it. Email info is best, but if you’ve interacted with these people on social media before, you may be able to contact them via direct message. (But please please please don’t be weird or pushy).

In your list, be sure to include authors below that “dream-big” stature too. These people are probably awesome and their books are probably awesome too, but you usually know when an author isn’t so popular that they have trouble keeping up with emails. Just like with college applications, it’s usually good to have some backups.

But don’t send anything yet!

Look at your list. Read each one of them and realize that each one of them is a human, and you are about to request that they do work for you.

Yes, your book rules, I agree, but it’s important to recognize that reading takes literal hours to do and then writing a book blurb takes time too. You’re going to want to be patient and understanding going in. Don’t come at this coldly; be a friend, a good literary citizen.

How do you ask someone to blurb your book?

This is such an anxiety-riddled thing. Asking people you admire to do work for you is not easy and quite humbling. But if you’re pitching someone, this is exactly what you (or your publicist) would do–ask.

In an email, text, or direct message (if appropriate), make sure you keep your pitch personal. Call them by their name. Tell them how you know them. If they mean a lot to you as an author, let them know why (briefly). 

After this, ask them if they’d be interested in writing a blurb for your book in [x amount of time]. I usually like 4-5 weeks, with a buffer of when you really need it at like 8. 

Then I’d recommend adding a very short description of your book with genre denominations after your request; they’ll want to be interested in the book if they’re going to read and vouch for it.

Also, if they have a book that just came out or is forthcoming, you can offer to blurb theirs back, but know your audience. If you’re telling Stephen King that you’ll blurb his book for him, I don’t know if he’ll care that much. 

If you want to promise one or two actual book cover space, you can definitely do that. That may actually help convert them into saying yes. But don’t promise it to everybody right off the bat or your book cover is going to be a smorgasbord of too many cheeses.

I’d recommend only sending about three pitches at a time, top of the list to the bottom.

But what if you don’t have contacts? What if everyone says no?

Don’t worry, old sport. (Sorry)

But again, you’ve got options.

Take a look at book review companies.

You can request a review for free from companies like Independent Book Review, Kirkus, Reader’s Favorite, and Foreword Reviews. (If you’d like to submit to IBR, you can learn more about what’s expected here.) You (or your publicist) would request a review by following their submission guidelines, and then you’d cross your fingers and hope for the best.

In some instances, you can guarantee a book review company to review your book.

These companies pay their writers to cover a range of popular books on their own dime to make sure those platforms remain important to readers. 

And remember–reading takes literal time, so if you want an honest review, an opportunity to receive a blurb, and the chance to be featured in their outlet, you can pay for a review.

Do you have to? No! Definitely not. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable at all times. But also, just know this is an option.

Some people are all gung-ho about never paying for reviews, which I agree with when it comes to customer reviews on Amazon & Goodreads, but editorial reviews and blurbs are a different animal.

If you have it in your marketing budget, you may find it helpful to guarantee a book review from a professional book review company. This way, you don’t have to pitch and hope for your book to be reviewed. You’ll save time in researching and pitching outlets, and you can guarantee that a reader from that company’s team will read, assess, and provide an honest review of your work. Not only might you get a blurb or two for your marketing material, but you could even learn a thing or two about how your book is being received by readers.

If you want to give it a shot, I take pride in how we run our editorial review service here at IBR. Not only are our readers the best ones we can find, but they care deeply about the genres they get paid to read.

What do you do when you get your blurbs?

Dance party!

But also, where you are in your publication process? You may want to keep the blurbs under wraps so that you can share them a little closer to your launch date, or you may want to share them with your newsletter following right away. You also may want to start using them to pitch other platforms or blurbers, or you may want to wait. If you’re publishing with an indie press, make sure you share it with them.

Just definitely make sure you add them to the editorial reviews section on Amazon when you can.

And when you do, format it professionally. Here’s a good format I like:

• “This is not just a story of prohibition in America, it’s a story of womanhood and strength. The feeling one is left with when closing Gathering Storm is one of steely determination and hope.” – Independent Book Review

or

• “This is not just a story of prohibition in America, it’s a story of womanhood and strength. The feeling one is left with when closing Gathering Storm is one of steely determination and hope.” – Steph Huddleston, Independent Book Review

Best of luck to you, friend! If you have any questions about book blurbs, let me know in the comments!

About the Author

Joe Walters is the editor-in-chief of Independent Book Review and the author of The Truth About Book Reviews. He has been a book marketer for Sunbury Press, Inkwater Press, and Paper Raven Books. When he’s not doing editorial, promoting, or reviewing work, he’s working on his novel, playing with his kids, or reading indie books by Kindle light.

Thank you for reading “What Are Book Blurbs and How Do I Get Them?” by Joe Walters! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post What Are Book Blurbs and How Do You Get Them? | IBR Book Marketing Series: Part 1 appeared first on Independent Book Review.

Reviewed by Alexandria Ducksworth

John Cressman pulls at our heartstrings in this captivating fantasy role-player story

If you combined Ready Player One with Dungeons and Dragons, you might get pretty darn close to VEIL Online. This book is a must for adventurous readers who love journeys with dragons, mages, rogues, and trolls.

The journey of VEIL Online begins in the real-life world with protagonist Jace Burton. Jace is a programmer for the behemoth gaming company WorldCog, the company behind VEIL. Players enter the game through their virtual reality gaming pods, but this is beyond your typical gaming console. When you play in VEIL, you’re literally in it—able to transfer both your money and consciousness into the game after you die.

When you’re alive, you can log off whenever you want to.

So when Jace gets off from work to find himself stuck in VEIL, he’s got some questions to ask. There’s only one conclusion: Jace is dead in real life. But how did he die? Did somebody kill him? Is WorldCog behind it? As Jace progresses through VEIL, readers will uncover the game’s secrets and meet helpful and entertaining characters along the way.

One thing is for sure: Cressman definitely knows how to write a page-turner. He guides readers through twists and turns, surprises, and constant danger. Like in every good fantasy RPG, there is never a dull moment. Every time Jace succeeds in a quest, a new problem arises. When Jace finally transfers his way to another human body, it’s a level one—no magic, no advanced skills. Jace has to start from scratch.

Readers will empathize with Jace’s character, not because he’s a gamer, but because he is pretty much alone. His friends mainly consist of his WorldCog coworkers. He has no immediate family, and his love life barely exists. I appreciate Cressman not having Jace as your typical, lonely gamer character. In the real world, society sometimes automatically condemns gamers to be anti-social, awkward, and only have fictional friends. That’s not the case here.

Jace builds a new family in VEIL. He gathers some NPC friends, a feline companion, and meets Charlena, the elf archer who slowly reveals herself as a possible love interest. It’s a great opportunity to explore the concept of virtual relationships. 

Gamers will be all over VEIL Online. The air of mystery surrounding Jace’s permanent place inside the game will really get readers flipping the pages. Those who love fantasy, adventure, and online gaming will be delighted with it. And this is only Book One of Cressman’s series, so we’ve got plenty more to look forward to.

Category: Fantasy LITRPG

Paperback: 536 pages

ISBN: 978-0984408733

Thank you for reading “Book Review: VEIL Online (Book One)” by Alexandria Ducksworth! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Steph Huddleston

The search for family and belonging in the midst of the dangerous bootlegging industry

Storm Surge by Sherilyn Decter is the second book in the Rum Runners series (book one review here). This series follows Edith Duffy as she seeks to rebuild her life and identity in the illegal liquor industry during Prohibition. While book one, A Gathering Storm, focuses primarily on Edith’s establishment of herself within the bootlegging scene of 1920s Florida, Storm Surge focuses on Edith’s relationship with other characters within the novel. 

Edith’s relationship with her young ward Leroy is of particular note throughout this book. Leroy is a young boy of eleven, brought in during book one to assist Edith with the running of her speakeasy. In this sequel, the relationship between Leroy and Edith is explored in greater depth, and the pair faces several challenges together, including historical child labor laws and Leroy’s mysterious parentage.

Once again, Decter demonstrates her level of dedication in research for her historical fiction. The historical details are rich and, for the most part, absorbing. The world of 1920s Prohibition Florida feels vibrant and engaging. The balance between historical detail and plot has been successfully navigated and improved upon in this Rum Runners book two.

Although the dialogue in Storm Surge fluctuates in character distinction and authenticity at times, the overall plot flow is smooth and often assisted by aspects like tarot card readings interspersed throughout the novel. These readings are provided by one of the characters and build tension and expectation throughout both A Gathering Storm and Storm Surge novels.

Edith must determine what the people in her life, Leroy included, mean to her and what she will sacrifice for them. Storm Surge raises questions around motherhood and the anxieties that face many women as they care for the children in their lives. Edith’s struggle against conservative gender roles begins in A Gathering Storm and is continued throughout Storm Surge, in particular relating to her maternal capabilities.

“But that’s the thing, Cleo. I’m not like Mary Carmichael, [Leroy’s] friend Jay’s mother. She stays home all day, baking and sewing, doing good works in the community, active in the church. If that’s what I’m measured against, there’s no way I can meet that.”

Storm Surge introduces us to a new Edith Duffy that is beginning to allow herself to form emotional attachments and become vulnerable once more. It is that vulnerability that shows her progress and recovery following the events of A Gathering Storm, beyond just the development of the bootlegging business itself. The desire for family is the heart of Storm Surge. As a reader, the desire for seeing Edith happy and connected with those in her life keeps you reading on.

“Family isn’t always about blood. It’s the people in your life that want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who stand by you, no matter what. And it’s got nothing to do with baking cookies.”

Storm Surge is perfect for lovers of historical fiction with heart, suspense, and familial bonds. Decter has successfully presented an entertaining, gritty character in Edith Duffy, and Decter’s sensitive portrayal of the anxieties surrounding traditional female roles and motherhood is a testament to the way historical fiction can relate to readers on a deeper level. Decter has provided another quality historical fiction novel in Storm Surge, and I look forward to seeing what is next to come for Edith Duffy in the series.

Paperback: 478 pages

ISBN: 978-1777127725

Thank you for reading “Book Review: Storm Surge” by Steph Huddleston! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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